Over 40 classic sports cars descend on the West Coast Railway Heritage Park Friday (May 1) for the start of the Spring Thaw Classic Car Adventure. The event is a three-day driving tour for pre-1979 sports and touring cars, offering enthusiasts the chance to get their classics out of winter hibernation and onto the beautiful roads of British Columbia.
After a trip to California for an event in 2008, local Squamish car enthusiasts, Warwick Patterson and Dave Hord, decided to bring the fun closer to home. While there are plenty of show-and-shine and high-end luxury tours for classic cars in British Columbia, the pair wanted to host a more budget-minded event that focused on the roads and driving experience.
"This event is for those people who would rather drive their car than polish it," said Patterson. "More than anything, our goal was to gather like-minded enthusiasts for a fun tour that wouldn't break the bank. Keeping a classic car running is expensive enough."
With a confirmed entry list of over 40 cars, it is clear that they weren't alone in their desire for such an event. Participants hail from as far as Oregon and Alberta, and are travelling in a wide variety of cars, including Porsches, BMWs, Alfa Romeos, Minis, an Aston Martin and even a rare Studebaker.
The cars will be on display to the public while the teams sign-in at the Railway Heritage Park between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday (May 1) for a perfect lunch-time detour. The event ends with a charity barbecue in Hope, B.C. at noon on Sunday (May 3). For more information go to www.touringadventure.com.
