Sunday, March 20
The afternoon began at the Hamsterly Beach parking area. Upon arrival at the museum we were welcomed and given a brief introduction by the volunteer staff.
In April 2019 the Club participated in a tour of Ross Bay Cemetery. Last month, a return visit was arranged, this time the focus being on the general arrangement of the cemetery, based on a plan going back to the time of Napoleon.
As on the previous visit, our tour guide was John Adams, an extremely knowledgeable member of the Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria. On this tour, John described the history of the cemetery, while pointing out interesting graves within each section.
Our tour included a look at designated areas of the cemetery (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian sections) followed by a visit to the ‘non-Christian’ part of the cemetery. In this southwestern corner, Chinese and Japanese Buddhists and First Nations people, who had not converted to Christianity, were buried. In 1909 a severe storm washed away graves in this area. To prevent further problems of this kind, the city built a retaining wall along Ross Bay and extended Dallas Road behind it.
John Adams finished the tour with a mention of the many trees planted at Ross Bay Cemetery. A wide variety of native BC species is to be found, many planted when a more park-like ambience was desired for the cemetery.
The afternoon concluded with refreshments at the nearby Ross Bay Pub.
The Event
In June, 2019, Chris and John Beresford participated in the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.Organized by the Endurance Rally Association every three years, the 2019 edition will be their seventh running of the event. Leaving Beijing on June 2, 2019, the route will go from China to Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan and then back into Russia. From St. Petersburg competitors then cross the sea to Finland before turning south to travel through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. From there they enter Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and finally Paris on July 7, 2019. The distance is estimated to be about 16,000km. Approximately 120 teams will participate in the 2019 Challenge, using cars dating from 1907 to 1976.
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, May 5, 2019, 10am – 3pm (rain or shine).
Location: Heritage Acres, Lochside Drive, Saanichton
Admission $5.00 per person to a maximum of $10/car. Children under 12 enter free of charge.
The day will feature a large display of English vehicles, including cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles. You will find all kinds of spare parts, tools, literature and collectables, all related to British cars. You might even discover your next car in the British “Cars For Sale” area!
Click HERE for Information Poster
Click HERE for Restoration Fair Registration
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.