Splendour in the grass at All-British Field Meet last weekend in Vancouver..Cam Hutchins We’re starting to enter the heart of carnut season in B.C. , and this weekend is chock full of cool events, most prominently the 50th annual Coastal Swap Meet. A great memory of that event dates back to the Nineties when it was in Cloverdale and I took my now-27-year old son to his first car show. I also volunteer to create the posters for the Swap Meet from photos I’ve taken at past events. As a photographer I love it as there is so much cool stuff to see through a camera lens, and it’s a great way to catch up with all sorts of folks in the auto hobby. Despite the weekend’s busy schedule, I will not be doing any events Sunday as our youngest son flies home for a visit from the wilds of Saskatchewan. Meaning one less carnut getting in your way to snap photos of all the cool cars at the Whips show or the two high school fundraisers at either Maple Ridge Secondary or Elgin Park Secondary. I will also miss the big Mustang show in North Van, but I will be there next year. Last weekend we needed to do some landscaping on Sunday and I was so excited I woke up at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday. Since I was up, I headed to the All-British Field Meet and when I arrived, way before show co-founder Patrick Stewart told people to show up, there were already six cars lined up waiting to enter. As always lots of very interesting cars, and car owners, showed up, and one that really caught my interest was the ‘Smartie’ Purple 1961 Morris Minor Million. Turns out the car was part of the specially prepared Morris Minor model to celebrate the one-millionth production mark of the Minor 100. Just 350 were produced, with each UK dealership getting one in 1961. They were painted the colour of the first Minors, trimmed with white leather interiors and have and extra three zeros tacked on the end of the name badges. I was lucky to have exceptional light to photograph all the cars entering the show and was astonished at the number of Minis present. The Bentleys really caught my attention as they seem so huge and stately. Lots of cool little details to photograph. Close to where I was set up, I got to stare at the two beautiful Black Austin Healey 100-4s that were parked in front of some pink flower bushes. The cars really made the flowers look great! I have been shooting this event for years and it was the promoter Patrick Stewart who got me my first press pass for Laguna Seca to shoot for his Western Driver magazine. He and his wife Joan put on an exceptional event and they even present awards for youngsters at the show, ensuring that someone will keep bringing kids to a car show. Do the same this weekend! SHOWS MAY 24-25 What: 50th annual Coastal Swap Meet Where: Tradex Centre, 1190 Cornell St., Abbotsford When: Friday 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $8 per day, Children under 16 free. Parking $7 per day with in/out privileges Info: 604-540-6141 or info@coastalswapmeet.com Website: coastalswapmeet.com MAY 25 What: Elgin Park Car Show Where: Elgin Park Secondary, 13484 24th Ave., Surrey When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: $2 Registration: 7:30a.m.-10a.m. $15 and open to all vehicles. Proceeds benefit school’s Automotive Club and Tech Ed Department Info: macdonald_t1@surreyschools.ca Website: elgincarshow.com What: Wings ‘n’ Wheels Airplane Car Motorcycle Show Where: Abbotsford Flying Club When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: Drop-in and all vehicles welcome Info: 778-808-5887, 604-538-3814 or info@AbbotsfordFlyingClub.ca Website: abbotsfordflyingclub.ca MAY 26 What: GVMA’s 35th Annual Spring Show Where: Harbourside Place, North Vancouver When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. $20 and open to all Mustangs and Ford-powered vehicles. Info: 604-858-6763 or gvma@telus.net Website: gvma.org Facebook: Greater Vancouver Mustang Association What: The Whip Restaurant and Gallery Vintage Bike Car Show Where: The Whip Gallery Restaurant, 209 East 6th Ave., Vancouver When: 11 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: 9 a.m. Minimum donation $10 for cars $5 for motorcycles. Proceeds go to B.C. Cancer Society Info: 604-8740-4687 or info@thewhiprestaurant.com Website: thewhiprestaurant.com What: 8th Annual Maple Ridge Secondary School Show Shine Where: Maple Ridge Secondary, 21911 122nd Ave., Maple Ridge When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: 9 a.m. $15. All proceeds to MRSS Dry Grad Evening Info: 604-463-4175 or trevor_randle@sd42.ca What: VI Cruises Rendezvous #9 Spamfest Where: First Nations Campgrounds, Old Island Highway, Qualicum Bay When: 10:30 a.m. to … Admission: Free Registration: No cost, no prizes, no trophies, just good times Info: 250-338-6134, flleigh@telus.net, 250-248-7384 or vicruises@gmx.com What: Mopar Car Show Where: Coombs Fairgrounds, 1014 Ford Rd., Coombs When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: 9 a.m. $10 and
Origin: British invasion goes off as planned