The 2003 Cowichan Valley Car Picnic - our 18th year - was held on August 10th in mostly sunny conditions, although there was rain on some other parts of the Island and some of our regular picnicers didn't make it!

August 11, 2003

18th Annual Cowichan Valley Car Picnic

Selected Prize Winners

Rare and one-of-a-kind vehicles from all over the Island were once again a major attraction at this year’s Cowichan Valley Car Picnic, held Sunday at Brentwood College in Mill Bay.  Says Picnic spokesman Mike Bieling, “we had a great turn out; about 250 cars, trucks, motorcycles, street rods, military vehicles and other things with wheels that are harder to describe.  Although we have a core group of about 125 diehard Car Picnic fans who turn out every year, no matter what the weather, the other participants change all the time, and you can count on some real surprises to turn up.  Being a sucker for old English cars, I was really impressed with a mint 1962 Land Rover 109 ‘Dormobile’ camper, the likes of which I’ve never seen before. This rarity has been in the family of Victor and Margaret Gerwin of Duncan since new, and won the ‘African Safari’ award.  Steve Harris of Parksville, who always brings out something unusual and British, arrived in his current work-in-progress, a 1946 Humber Sedanca de Ville limousine (in which the chauffeur sits out in the weather), one of only five built with this very unusual body for what was considered a mid-market car.  Bob McCartney of Shawnigan Lake showed up in his 1953 Alvis TA21 open tourer, which I thought was a wonderful example of a classic, understated English four-seater convertible.  It reminded me of a small Jaguar of that era, perhaps better built but less flashily styled, which may explain Jaguar’s success and Alvis’ eventual decline as passenger car manufacturers.  And a car from Victoria that looked very British, but turns out to have been built right here on the Island, was Ross Pelletier’s 1994 Ross Type 35 roadster.  This little red two-seater, complete with cut-away doors and slab gas tank behind the seats, is not a kit car, but is a unique, owner-built, all-steel car.  As such, it was presented the ‘Art Degraaf’ Award by the family of the well-known local car-builder and enthusiastic Car Picnicker, who passed away in 2002.  

 The ‘People’s Choice Award’ this year went to a 1920 Detroit Touring Convertible, which I understand was originally a steam car but was at some point fitted with a regular gas engine.  The fixtures and details on this incredible car, which belongs to Ken and Linda Newcombe of Victoria, give real meaning to the term ‘The Brass Era’!  A more-restrained but even more substantial representative of that early period of motoring was the second place People’s Choice winner, an impeccable 1914 Cadillac 7-Passenger Touring Car driven by Jim and Melanie Morley of Nanaimo.  Looking at this massive, beautifully built vehicle (the oldest in the show), you can see why Cadillac became the ‘standard of excellence’ for American automobiles.  Prizes for the ‘Best Picnic Displays’ were shared by Brian and Maureen McKay of Victoria, who have Picnicked with us before in their ‘rust’ coloured 1930 Nash sedan, by Ken and Ethel Cowie of Nanaimo, who again joined us in their English-spec 1980 Daimler Sovereign, and by Nita and Christ Grant of Ladysmith, also regular Picnickers in their 1975 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.” 

“We were pleased to see an increased interest in the Picnic by local car clubs on Sunday, ” continues Bieling, “including major turnouts by the Vancouver Island Datsun Enthusiasts, by the new Island Jaguar owner’s club, and by the MG and BMW groups.  Among the great classic names, Packard and Rolls-Royce were also particularly well represented this year, as were major manufacturers like Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Mazda and Chevrolet, a wide range of street rods, low riders and custom cars, pick-ups and work trucks, and several classic motorcycles, including the vehicle that came the furthest – Ken Foster’s 1976 BMW R75/6 bike from Taunton, England.  Other cars you won’t see every day that attended the Picnic included a 1986 Skoda 120 GLS belonging to Lynn Tucker of Victoria, Jell Well’s 1976 Lamborghini Uracco from Shawnigan Lake, and a 1968 Citroen 2CV Charleston owned by Frank and Heather Bos of Victoria. 

Though we often get one or two new cars at the Picnic, the newest registrant on Sunday was Bill Paitson’s 1997 Volvo 960 from Nanaimo.”  According to Bieling, other selected prizewinners included:

People’s Choice Award, 3^rd Place:   1958 Pontiac Parisienne

Bill and Ann Jamieson, Victoria, B.C.

(also ‘Root Beer Float’ Award winner)                       

Traveling Kitchen Sink Award:            1946 ‘Art Deco Series’ Chevrolet 1½ Ton Pickup Truck with 1952 Scudabout Teardrop Travel Trailer

                                                            Bruce Grey, Saltspring Island, B.C.

Dale Earnhart Award:                         1980 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Stock Car

                                                            Cayer Bros. Racing, Duncan, B.C.

Finally Out of Production Award: 1973 Volkswagen ‘Beetle’ Convertible

                                                            John Bullen, Shawnigan Lake, B.C.       

One of a Kind Award:                                     Behrens Roadster (VW kit)

Ken Sergeant, Victoria, B.C.

Red Formula One Award:                  1964 Pontiac Grand Prix

                                                            Ken Posey, Duncan, B.C.

Kegmobile Award:                         1975 Lucky Lager Beer Keg (motorized)

                                                            Ron Lindsay, Cowichan Bay, B.C.

Sir William Lyons Award:               1950 Jaguar XK120 Open Touring Sports

                                                            Dan and Sue Doucette, Chemainus, B.C.

Most Reluctant Participant Award: 1971 Datsun 510

                                                            Chris McWillis, Nanaimo, B.C.

Red Water Award:                         1970 Plymouth Barracuda

                                                            Al Moore, Duncan, B.C.

The Cowichan Valley Car Picnic organizers congratulate the winners and thank all of the participants and spectators for making the 18th Annual Picnic a success!  Thanks also to the media in Victoria, Duncan and Nanaimo for publicizing the Picnic, to Moe Vesey of the Cowichan Valley Museum for providing coffee and cookies to those who participated in the convoy from downtown Duncan to Brentwood College, and especially to Jim Sakawsky of Shawnigan-Mill Bay Auto Parts, always our most generous supporter.  Other local merchants who donated prizes included The Old Farm Market, Joe’s Tire Hospital, the Blue Rose Garden Centre, Valley Vines to Wines, Ken Slade and Drillwell Enterprises, Needs ‘n’ Desires Clothing, Metro Toyota, and the BCAA. 

For more information about the annual Cowichan Valley Car Picnic, visit our website at www.cvcp.ca, E-mail us at wetcoastnewfs@shaw. ca, or call Mike Bieling at (250) 748-5031.