I was right behind everybody else.
What a great day, 7 510's in our area, another one that could not get in with us. At least 6 Z's.
I left the plant by myself, and James caught up with us on #10. We got to registration at 6:00 on the money, having picked up Aron and Byron on the way.
The organizers have this dialed, regi was quick, they grid up a pack of cars, then send them out on a 30+ car convoy to downtown, where everyone parks. They wait about 10 minutes, then send out another pack. Aron was in the lead of our 510 contingent, and, as we got into downtown, said to a parking guy that we were there as a group. The guy immediately let us park on a side street, which did get a ton of foot traffic. Very efficient.
We got set up and then went for a nice 5.00 breakfast at the Legion. By the time brekky was over, the sun was up, starting to build HEAT in the early morning air. Already the place was packed with cars and people. I don't know how this show relates for North America, but it has to be up there.
The quality of cars here in the lower mainland is staggering, with someone mentioning that a few truck loads came up from Barret Jackson, so the disposable income is pretty good here also. In the concours area alone, there are millions of dollars worth of classics, super cars and cars from a time gone by.
We did a lap of one of the blocks, then headed back to our cars for water and hats. By then lots of the usual people stop and say.."I had one of those...My Dad had one.....I had 3 of those that I wrecked....Gee...I'd like to get one...... James and I had a fellow stop, when he saw my airbox, and showed us an old picture of his 510, with BRE style stripes, that he had...with an ENGINE AIR TURBO KIT on it just like mine.
Ron and I headed out again, to go check the Rat Rods, some cool stuff, and some rat stuff. We got split up from Byron and James, so Ron and i headed out along the main drag, now seething with thousands of people, Holy Cow! One thing I was looking for, was the TOY GUY, and, sure as heck he was there, and Ron and I scored 1 each, the silver Hot Wheels 510, the only one missing from our collections! SCORE!
Also in the merchants section was a local fellow who rebuilds steering boxes, and has DONE Datsun stuff. I talked with him for a few minutes and he definitely knows his stuff. This will be a good resource I think for people here.
http://www.steeringsolutions.com/
After finishing the next kilometer of cars, it was back to the 510's and more fluid.
Highlight of the day for me was again meeting some old race friends and others. A few were from the Cannonball days, so of course it led to re-hashing the "good old" days, and some of our canyon trips, all at warp velocity, stuff that now would get you shot, your car crushed, and your heirs paying fines for the rest of their lives!
And yes, we DID have slaloms that hit 80 MPH through the lineal slalom!
I also ran into a long time friend who has more pictures and stuff from both the Westwood days and BRE connections, that would be staggering to be able to see and copy, as part of building our historical archives here. I will see what I can do.
I did another lap of a block of cars that I missed, finally running into a couple of 58' Chevy's, which was my second car. I had the low end model. Had a nice talk with one owner, I told him some of my tales of adventure with my Chevy, I should learn to bring my pictures of it to the car show. The only car that truly tried to kill me a few times.
I also ran into a young fellow with a 1950 Chevy Fastback, restored, great looking car. As I told him I HAD the original glove box manual for the thing...his eyes got BIG and WIDE.......and would he like it?! I have it because my Grandmother had one, bought brand new, which I drove for my drivers test. When I was 15, pre drivers license, I drove it with her from Winnipeg to Vancouver, in 1965, to move her out here close to my Dad. She used to drive like hell, but, could not really go over 60 MPH with it, as they had a splash oil system in that early straight six. The young fellow had converted his to the later straight, so he would not have to worry about that in the real world. I asked him what it might be worth, he had no idea, nor do I. I will do a bit of checking, but, one way or another I will give it to him. I think my Grandma would like that, and, like us, this young guy is a real car guy, so it will go to a good home! It has had 30 birthdays in my Bert Vorgon archives, so it does need to have another. This was the first 50 Chev I have seen, they were kinda rare I believe.
Back to the cars we went, again lots of people taking in the 510's. In the scheme of all the Detroit Iron there, I really do believe we have one of the rarer cars that was there that day.
I left at the tail end of everybody else, finding traffic a bit heavy out of Langley and Cloverdale. My car was running warm, just no time for some good airflow, and it was really hot out. On the drive home in the G, the temp went from 27 to 21 in the space of a few kilometers along Boundry bay, as this cool front came in.
Great day!