When the founder of the Oak Bay Collector Car Festival, Ken Agate, moved to Oak Bay in 1979 from his home in New Zealand, he doubtlessly left behind cherished friends to make a new life in a new land.
What he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 leave behind, however, was his cherished 1938 Dodge Deluxe Touring Sedan. That, he had shipped over to Oak Bay and, when he started the festival 20 years later, that car was used as the logo for the event.
B次元官网网址淭he event this year is dedicated to Ken,B次元官网网址� said Ron Dempsey, the current organizer of the Oak Bay car show. B次元官网网址淜en ran it for about 20 years but, sadly, he passed away in the winter of last year. We visited him in the hospital after last yearB次元官网网址檚 show and showed him photos of the cars. He couldnB次元官网网址檛 speak, but his eyes were full of love for cars and his pride at the event. He was thrilled.B次元官网网址�
Determined to carry on that long legacy, Dempsey says that the show will continue to cater to anyone who has a car and feels passionate about their vehicle.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a non-denominational car show,B次元官网网址� Dempsey said with a chuckle. B次元官网网址淲e arenB次元官网网址檛 going to discriminate, and weB次元官网网址檒l cater to everyone from the 17-year-old with his first classic Volkswagen to the older generations who have classic vehicles from when they were young.B次元官网网址�
Dempsey recognizes that the echo of bygone eras hums in the engine of every classic car and that every car has a tale etched in its steel body.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 what I love about the show. Cars are often stories, and those stories make connections between generations,B次元官网网址� Dempsey said. B次元官网网址淭his year weB次元官网网址檒l have some folks on hand to broadcast and share some of those stories.B次元官网网址�
As an example of the time capsule nature of automobiles, Dempsey pointed out a 1975 Ford Pinto Sport Wagon that will be at this yearB次元官网网址檚 show.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a reflection of the time when graphic designs on vans were all the rage and it was FordB次元官网网址檚 attempt at making the pinto into a van,B次元官网网址� he said.
With Ken AgateB次元官网网址檚 passing, this will be the first year for a new team of volunteers to take the wheel of the show, now in its 24th year.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l have about 300 cars on display, each with their own story. ThereB次元官网网址檚 everything from a million dollar Mercedes to a Shelby Cobra, to restored Rolls Royce that was rescued from a burned out building and restored,B次元官网网址� said Dempsey. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l be giving out a special award this year in Ken AgateB次元官网网址檚 name and, of course, weB次元官网网址檒l have KenB次元官网网址檚 car there in the show in memory of the man who started it all.B次元官网网址�
Naturally, the show will feature some music as local band The Studebakers take the stage to entertain with a high energy mix of classic rock and country. (Studebaker was the name of a car company in the early 1900B次元官网网址檚.)
B次元官网网址淵ou have to have a band,B次元官网网址� said Dempsey, smiling. B次元官网网址淎fter all, itB次元官网网址檚 not an official car show until the band plays B次元官网网址楳ustang SallyB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址楲ittle Deuce CoupeB次元官网网址�. ThatB次元官网网址檚 mandatory.B次元官网网址�
There will also be a selection of food trucks on site and the Knights of Columbus will be on hand with their signature hamburger BBQ.
And, although the car enthusiasts in the show and the folks coming to admire these classic works automotive art love cars, the show will offer two bike corrals for the environmentally conscious riders who love cars but prefer to pedal their way to the event. Organizers expect to top their attendance figures of last year and expect more than 10,000 on site, so parking could be a challenge.
The festival happens on Oak Bay Avenue on July 21, from 8 am to 3:00 pm, and pre-registration is recommended for participants hoping to get their car into the show.
For more information on the show or to register for the show, visit oakbaycarshow.ca/.
