There are two types of owners you might expect at any classic car show, says Ken Agate.
He organizes, and has for the past dozen years, the Oak Bay Collector Car Festival (formerly Blethering Place) that runs this weekend on Oak Bay Avenue.
“(There’s) the person into building and assembly, then they start another,” Agate explained. “Then there’s (the person into) the shining and caring for them. I’m a bit of each.”
Bill Botting of Oak Bay admits to being that guy as well.
“Build them and use them, that’s me,” he said, gesturing to his latest rebuild. “I’m going to use it daily. … (it’s) very good on gasoline.”
Botting picked up the 1938 Standard Flying Eight Tourer at a Garagellenium sale three years ago.
“We’ve restored the whole thing. It was in tough shape, rusted and everything,” he said of the wood-framed car that cost $3,000. “That car’s so rare … there are only two others with left hand drive in North America.”
He hopes to bring it – provided he gets it to start up again – to the show this weekend. If it won’t start, the Oak Bay senior will resort to his 1969 Jaguar that’s been in the event before.
The cars are a hobby that keeps the 86-year-old busy.
“My wife says, ‘It’s a good thing, it keeps you out of the pool halls,’” he said with a chuckle. Botting already has the basis for next year’s project – a 1956 Morris Minor. He plans to have that in the 2013 street party that includes entertainment, food and fun.
“It’s more than a car show. The community loves it because it’s like a street party with a theme,” Agate said. “People love talking to the owners and (owners) love talking to them because often they have something to offer each other.”
Prizes are awarded for crowd-pleasing cars including ladies’ choice; policeman’s choice; furthest travelled, for the car with the longest commute to the show; and best survivor, for an unrestored car nearest to its original condition.
Not-yet-finished cars and the shiny and spotless will commingle on the Ave. Sunday, Aug. 5.
About 300 vintage and special-interest vehicles are expected to start assembling on Oak Bay Avenue between Monterey and Mitchell streets starting at 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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1912 Detroit Electric car comes home
A vehicle originally sold new to an Oak Bay family in 1912 will take centre stage with other electric vehicles from then through now at the Oak Bay Collector Car Festival.
Did you know?
During the Second World War, the Standard was among the vehicles modified and used by the British military as a utility vehicle, earning the nickname Tilly.