Two of the spectacular classics that will be at the Crescent Beach Concours dElegance on Aug. 31st: Ethan and Troy Coopers Riley, left, and Gerry Sungs Intermeccanica Italia. Sung is joined by Dave Sanderson.Cam Hutchins Im going to miss some great events this weekend, but that doesnt mean you have to. There are great downtown shows in Ladner and Port Coquitlam, the Early Ford V8 Club sets up at Hougen Park in Abbotsford and the annual BurnOuts in the Sky Bradley McPherson Memorial Show Shine takes place tomorrow at the Twilight Drive-In in Aldergrove.Of course, its not like Im going to be car-starved as Im in covering Car Week in Carmel, California for the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada. That includes attending the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, the Concorso Italiano, and the historic racing at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. The annual BurnOuts in the Sky Bradley McPherson Memorial Show Shine takes place tomorrow at theTwilight Drive Inn in Aldergrove. PNG Files I got a little preview of that kind of racing last weekend during the British Columbia Historic Motor Races at Mission Raceway Park, and it brought back memories of my Westwood days shooting in the rain. Saturday midmorning the skies opened up, and considering the downpour I was impressed that not many cars spun out. Clearly a testament to the mad skills of the drivers in their precious old tin.. One of the older Camaros got into wet part of the drying track coming out of turn one and certainly showed us what racing in the rain is all about. Rain or shine, historic racing is great.My weekend actually started at 7 a.m. on Friday morning with a photo shoot of two cars for the cover of the Crescent Beach Concours dElegance program. This annual fundraising showB.C. Childrens Hospital Foundationtakes place on the Saturday of the Labour Day weekend at Blackie Spit in Crescent Beach.One of the two cars was a Riley, and really the only thing I knew about Rileys is that my dad had a framed print of which I now have. Turns out Riley started as a bicycle manufacturer in the 1890s before building cars and merging with larger companies. In 1952 it became part of British Motor Corporation and was shuttered in the late-Sixties after being reduced to making rebadged Austins.The other car looked familiar and when I asked if it was an Apollo GT convertible, I was told it was an Italia. Both made by Vancouver-based Intermeccanica. The company was the brainchild of Frank Reisner, a Hungarian-born engineer who was living in Canada and moved to Europe to build sports cars in the late-Fifties. After some success and some struggles he eventually moved to Vancouver and produced very high quality Porsche speedsters for decades. Franks son Henry is still making those, along with Solo electric vehicles under the Meccanica banner.Henry has been involved in cars since he was a kid and now he runs the car company, so remember to take a kid with you to a show this weekend.SH0WSAUG. 16Date: Aug 16What: Friday Night Rod RunWhere: Starts at AW Restaurant at Ivy Green Husky, proceeds through downtown Ladysmith and returns to AWWhen: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.Info: 250-246-0637, 250-245-2263 or duckwon@shaw.caWebsite: ladysmithshowandshine.comAUG. 17What: BurnOuts in the Sky Bradley McPherson Memorial Show ShineWhere: Twilight Drive Inn, 3360 260th St., AldergroveWhen: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Admission: $5; Children under 11 freeRegistration: 8 a.m. $20 and open to all vehicles, including motorcyclesInfo: 604-360-7455 or burnoutsinthesky@gmail.comWebsite: burnoutsinthesky.comWhat: Ladysmith Show ShineWhere: Downtown LadysmithWhen: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Registration: 8 a.m. $15 and open to all vehiclesInfo: 250-246-0637, 250-245 2263 or duckwon@shaw.caWebsite: ladysmithshowandshine.comWhat: Rods Rails Car ShowWhen: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Where: Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Downtown ArmstrongAdmission: FreeRegistration: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Open to all vehiclesInfo: cmelanson@shuswapins.com or 250 838 7707What: Beverly Corners Show ShineWhere: Cobble Hill Country Grocer, 5847 Chesterfield Ave., DuncanWhen: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.Admission: Free (donations accepted)Info: 250-748-1314 or info@beverlycornersshownshine.comAUG. 17-18What: Downtown PoCo Cruise Car ShowWhere: Downtown Port CoquitlamWhen: Saturday cruise starts at 6 p.m. at Leigh Square; Sunday show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Admission: FreeInfo: 604-674-2899 or info@pococarshow.caWebsite: pococarshow.caAUG. 18What: Hougen Park Show ShineWhere: Hougen Park, AbbotsfordWhen: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Admission: FreeRegistration: 9 a.m. $15 and open to all vehiclesInfo: 604-942-5651, questions@earlyfordv8bc.com, oldcars@telus.netWebsite: earlyfordv8bc.comWhat: Vintage in The Valley Vintage Motorcycle ShowWhere: Chilliwack Heritage Park, 44140 Luckakuck Way, ChilliwackWhen: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Admission: Adults $10; Children under 16 freeRegistration: By donationInfo: 778 242 7104 or wallylevy@hotmail.caWebsite: vintagemotorcycleshows.comWhat:
Origin: Big city and small town shows across B.C. this weekend
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Lowered VW’s owner says speed bumps are ‘discrimination,’ asks town to pay
Christopher Fitzgibbon and his lowered VW PassatMichael Cowhey / SWNS via the Daily Mail An Irishman whose lowered Volkswagen sedan suffered damage driving over his hometown’s speed bumps wants the town to pay for its repair because, he says, the traffic-calming measures are a form of discrimination. Christopher Fitzgibbon, 23, wants his small town of Galbally in Limerick, Ireland to pay for around £2,000 ($3,400) worth of damages done by driving his lowered VW Passat over the speed bumps, according to The Daily Mail. Fitzgibbon modified the car in March of 2016 to sit about four inches above the ground, but he claims the new speed bumps, installed in September of 2018, are six inches high, which means he can’t drive over them. “I feel discriminated against because I’m driving a modified car – it’s lowered, so it’s four inches off the road – and I’m being denied my right to drive on these roads,” he says. It doesn’t matter what speed I’m at either—I could be driving at 5 km/h or 80 km/h and it wouldn’t make a difference. Having to avoid the speed bumps has meant he can’t drive through the town on his commute, which used to be 50 kilometres. He also says he can’t drive into town to visit the post office, the shops or the pub (which you shouldn’t drive to anyway). Now he must use an alternate route that adds more mileage. Limerick City and County Council has responded by disputing Fitzgibbon’s claim regarding the height of the speed bumps; even though he says they are six inches tall, according to the town’s Traffic Calming Policy Document, they are in fact 75 millimetres tall, or less than three
Origin: Lowered VW’s owner says speed bumps are ‘discrimination,’ asks town to pay
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