The annual show was a fundraiser for the Chilliwack General Hospital, organized by the Fraser Valley British Motor Club with active input from the Fraser Valley Health Foundation. It was held at the Chilliwack campus of the University of the Fraser Valley. Exhibitors paid a $20 entry fee, $30 on the day. Public entry was by donation. 

Bruce Webster as Director at Large, Car Show, and Michael Hamilton-Clark, Director at Large, Car Runs co-chaired the many meetings held from September 2023 to May 2024 and were most ably assisted by Mike McChesney, Laurie Rae and John Webster.

On the day of the Show, Doug Holbrow and Kathy together with Ivan and Susan Antak were of great help along with the three teams of volunteers for set-up (4), Sign installation and parking (12) and Clean-up (6) 

In September, the Car Show account had a balance of just $558.17, so the first order of business was to secure a Presenting Sponsor and in response to Bruce’s several requests to local businesses, Sarah Toop of Sarah Toop Real Estate Agency came forward with a generous confirmation for $5,000. Further sponsors came forward with donations at various levels and with sufficient funding secured, it was clear that the Show could be held.

Bruce Webster liaised with the University of the Fraser Valley and secured their agreement for the use once again rent-free of the previously-used area on the Chilliwack campus.

Laurie Rae donated a canary-yellow 1962 MGB on which he had done restoration work to bring it to a roadworthy state and the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation took out a license for an on-line raffle with an upset limit of $9,500. The winner was from Victoria with delivery effected to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal for his collection.

John Webster made a 28-in dia. pinewood table with inlayed black walnut rings and central diamond. This was to be displayed for a silent auction on Show Day.

Michael Hamilton-Clark once again made the eight Class prizes and the People’s Choice prize. They were 10-in x 3.5-in bowls in local Maple with pedestals to take the descriptive plaques.

Bruce Webster and Laurie Rae made a number of rounds of local businesses to gather prizes for two draws on the Day. Tickets were distributed for free, with one set handed out at the Public Entry and one set given to Show exhibitors. Multiple door prize draws were announced after a cow-bell call every 20-30 minutes.

P/A and disked music were provided by Juke Box Jim with four speakers deployed for good coverage.

Drone photography was done by Steph Tam, owner of “Send in the Drones” as a courtesy to FVCCS with stills by Ann Fessenden and others.

Bruce Webster’s son Dan, owner of Container Brewing, rescued the Show’s website fvccs.ca and then re-furbished it to cover Registration, Sponsorship and various other details. Further work will be done to include photography and other aspects of this year’s Show.

A variety of food provided by Ma Baker, The Coast Hotel, The Tin Cow and Magical Ring Mini-donuts.

There were a number of displays by the likes of Chilliwack Ford, University of the Fraser Valley, the Fairfield Island Scouts, Chartwell Retirement Home, The Zone garage, Best Boyz Car Wash, Chilliwack Search and Rescue.

The Sardis Senior Drumline provided a scenic and musical display of their talents with a four-pass march-by, proudly displaying their Provincial 1st. Prize rosette.

As to the Car Show, it was decided to have the parking on a herring-bone patten, the better to see the vehicles and allow room for opening doors without bumping adjacent cars. A trial was done and it was established that a 10’6” width and a 20ft depth would be sufficient. Bays were marked out with a paint spray line marker and the various rows were signposted for the eight classes being pre-40’s, 40’s 50’s and on to 90’s and Modified Classics. Cars arrived between 7:30am to 10:00am and it became clear that there were more than had actually registered, so additional areas had to be used. In all, there were 155 vehicles.

Registration opened on 27 February and was looked after by Mike McChesney. For almost three months registrations came in rather slowly making the Organizing Committee a little nervous. A week before the Show the weather forecast called for good weather and registrations grew to 109. On The Day, the sun shone and there were quite a few drop-ins with the total count on the field reaching 155 cars. This was more than the around 135 expected.

< 1940   1940’s    1950’s     1960’s     1970’s    1980’s    1990’s     Modifieds      Total

     11           8            22            43            43            11           14              3                   155

The 1960’s and 1970’s dominated the field. These numbers are probably overstated and the Modifieds understated due to some of the drop-in Modifieds being mixed in with the other classes.

Looking at the origins of the entries, the cars produced in North America outnumbered the British cars. It was interesting to see that before Show Day, the British cars outnumbered the American ones. Many of the American cars came as drop-ins.

       British N. American European Asian

          63           77       11                   4

The Class winners can be seen after the following photo albums.

Overall, the show was voted a success, with just on $19,000 being able to be made over to the Fraser Valley Health Foundation for use at the Chilliwack General Hospital.