Blog

The monthly South Island Branch meeting is now on the third Wednesday of the month in the training room at Central Saanich Fire Station No.1 

The next meeting is April 19, 2017. The new venue is larger than the last so all members are encouraged to attend the meetings and check out the new meeting space. The monthly presentations have been very entertaining.

 Parking is at the rear of the station, the access road is on the east side of the station (see map). The meetings are held in the training room located at the rear of the building with the entrance doors to the right as you approach the building. It will be quite apparent where to enter. Doors open at 7:00pm meeting starts at 7:30pm.

The Address is: 1512 Keating Cross Road, Saanichton, BC, V8M 1W9

View Map for details

The Old English Car Club & Saanich Historical Artifacts Society invite you to the 12th 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.