Car Shows

[caption id="attachment_8582" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Ian Wood's new ride, a 1965 Fournier-M​arcadier Barquette 1.6 litre sports racer - VRCBC photo Ian Wood's new ride, a 1965 Fournier-M​arcadier Barquette sports racer - VRCBC photo[/caption] Updated: April 22, 2013 The VRCBC teamed up with our friends at META (the Motorsport Emergency & Turnworkers Association) for a display at the big BC Classic and Custom Car Show at the TRADEX Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford. The Show was open from Friday April 19th to Sunday April 21st. The booth featured three all-out racing cars: the former Speedvision World Challenge Corvette C5 of Tom Johnston Racing, the beautifully prepared and very fast Vintage Formula Ford Tiga of Alan McColl and a newcomer on the local scene, the 1965 Fournier-M​arcadier Barquette 1.6 litre sports racer of Ian Wood. (These photos were taken late at night before the setup was completed.) Thank you to the many show-goers who dropped by the booth and said hello; we hope to see you again next year. And a very big 'Thank You' from the VRCBC to the many META folks who showed up (in race day uniform) to help us promote road racing at the Mission Raceway Park Road Course. The next big event is of course, our BC Historic Motor Races (here) on the May 25th - 26th weekend.

Updated: April 1, 2013 Brent Martin has posted some of his photos of the 'Brit Car Drive Up'on the VRCBC Facebook page here. They are great examples of the wide cross-section of cars that will be on display at the All British Field Meet at the Van Dusen Gardens on Saturday, May 18th. Posted: March 14, 2013 A press release from our friends at the All British Field Meet and Wilkinson's Automobilia.

Announcing The 'BRIT CAR' DRIVE UP

Brit Car Drive Up posterThe Olympic Torch Plaza at the Vancouver Convention Centre will come to life in a display of glorious British-built classic saloons and sports cars from the 1950's and 1960's as the Vancouver International Auto Show (VIAS) celebrates Brit Car Drive Up on Saturday March 30th, from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm.There will be two free Auto Show Passes for all registered Drive Up entrants courtesy of the Automotive Dealers of B.C., and  you could also win A $100 Gift Certificate from Wilkinson's Automobilia. (web site)

The Brit Car Drive Up is presented by the All British Field Meet - The Greatest Show on British Wheels and will feature and promote classics from the ABFM. This year's ABFM will again be held at the VanDusen Gardens on Saturday May 18, 2013. (ABFM web site)

Please join us for a brisk Saturday morning drive to the Convention Centre followed by a visit to the big Auto Show. Cars will assemble between 9:30am and 10:00 am at the Vancouver Planetarium parking lot, Vanier Park, Kits Point, Vancouver. (location) From there we will convoy down Burrard Street to the Convention Centre.

We anticipate a good showing with at least one Aston Martin DB5 leading the parade to celebrate Aston's 100th anniversary. Also, we would like Austin Healey's 60th anniversary to be well represented as well. But all 'Brit' cars are welcome to join in the fun as we take over the streets of downtown Vancouver. Clubs are welcome to bring membership promotion material and banners, as the VIAS will be promoting this event and a large crowd of spectators and media coverage is anticipated.

[caption id="attachment_6524" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The traffic was heavy at the SCCBC - VRCBC stand. - VRCBC photo[/caption] This year's Vancouver International Auto Show has again proved to be very popular with car enthusiasts of all types. Many of them have visited the joint SCCBC - VRCBC stand to ask questions about our road racing at Mission Raceway. Most of the questions have been about spectating but there has also been a lot of interest in getting involved 'on-track'. Two good friends of the VRCBC, Intermeccanica Custom Coach Builders (here) and Classic and Collector Car Insurance specialists, Hagerty (here) also attracted big crowds. Check out some more photos below.

The Three Mini Amigos welcome patrons to the Valleyview Lordco Auto Parts

Lordco Auto Parts in Valleyview hosted a Car Show in their parking lot on Sunday, September 18th, with all of the proceeds going to aid the Kamloops Food Bank. Maybe we are biased but the highlight of the show for us was the above trio of Minis. They perfectly illustrated the versatility of this long time favourite.

Jim Clark's completely original, orange 1976 Mini 1000 is in the middle. It was imported from Australia, which explains why the steering wheel is on the 'wrong' side. The green one on the left is Simon Griffin's 1974 Mini. It is an excellent example of a modified - but still streetable - car, with its Weber-carbed, bored-out 1100 cc engine, Cooper S front disc brakes and a full custom interior. Simon's car took 1st Place in the Peoples' Choice Award over about 90 other cars (mostly American 'muscle') in the day's Show and Shine!

The white car on the right will be very familiar to local Vintage race fans. It is VRCBC member Geoff Tupholme's full race version of a 1973 Mini with a 1293 cc engine and many 'go-fast' tweaks. (You will be able to watch Geoff and many other Vintage racers at the season's final event on October 9th at Mission Raceway Park.) Check out the engine photos below.

Good Show Chaps!