Blog

Sunday, February 24

The February Sunday outting was a visit to Anderson Precision Engines located just off Keating X Road. Prevoiusly the machine shop was operated by the JB Group, the business was purchased by Bonson and Sharee Anderson in July 2018 and renamed Anderson Precision Engines. A tour of the major machines in the shop included cylinder boring and honing machines, a Serdie head machine, crankshaft grinder and polisher, balancer, line borer and more. Both automotive and marine engines can be overhauled, the split being 75% automotive and 25% marine. Even air compressors can be rebuilt, the one such unit being re-sleeved at the time of the visit. 

The Old English Car Club & Saanich Historical Artifacts Society invite you to the 14th Annual Restoration Fair & Swap Meet

Sunday, January 22

Our first Sunday Drive of 2017 saw us revisit the Central Saanich Volunteer Fire Department. Since our previous visit, many years ago, big changes have occurred in the organization, most notably, a new Number 1 Fire Hall. The afternoon began at the Hamsterley Beach parking lot and damp weather did not deter several owners from bringing out their English vehicles and after route directions had been distributed, it was off to the first stop, the Central Saanich Volunteer Firefighters Historical Museum in Saanichton.

Saturday, January 23
Owner Jason Stoch welcomed some 40 OECC members to his Jetstream Custom Auto facility for our first “Sunday Drive” of 2016. Of course it wasn’t a Sunday and the drive from Hamsterley Beach to Sidney was quite uneventful by all accounts. However, the shop tour was very interesting indeed, as it included what has become a long-term project of our new Club President.
Jason began the tour with a description of the work he and five other employees undertake. And that includes just about everything except chrome plating and engine machining!

Sunday, November 22

The Pattersons put together a most interesting pair of visits for the club in November. Two quite different businesses, but connected, as one member pointed out, by the dedication of their respective owners in following their passions. Indeed, as one member said, it was inspiring to see people pursuing their interests with such skill and enthusiasm.

The afternoon began at Hamsterly Beach parking lot where route directions were handed out. A short drive took us to the first stop, the premises of Whiplash Customs. Here we were greeted by Al and Wanda Lambeth, who welcomed us to the shop with a description of the work that is done within. Basically, if it is made of metal, Al will restore or customize it to a client’s wishes. Motorcycles are a speciality, but the list includes gas pumps, Coke machines, pedal cars, barber’s chairs and yes full-sized cars. And the paint shop can become a woodworking area when required.

Sunday, October 25

As the saying goes, many hands make light work, and as a result, the annual Fall Classic Rally for the Faryon Cup was another great success. Event Coordinator’s Sue and Robin Patterson were joined by Susan Chapple in the planning process for this year’s event. Apparently the route was surveyed no less than five times! On the day, frequent previous winners Tom and Cheryl Rivers and Glen Fraser assisted at checkpoints along the way (all the better to give others a chance at the big prize). David Bradley was the official photographer for the day.

The organizers were also able to arrange suitable weather for the afternoon, encouraging nearly two dozen teams to arrive at the Hamsterly Beach starting point.

And at the start, a four page set of directions, also containing 29 questions, was supplied to navigators. The start was staggered, with departure times being noted. But before leaving the parking lot, a test was put to drivers ­­— how close could they place their vehicle to a parking pylon without knocking it over. Results were mixed.