It’s been two years since Boyd Autobody & Glass’s last Father’s Day Charity Car Show, so even a steady downpour didn’t stop car enthusiasts from going to City Park on Sunday.
Umbrellas were outside and puddles were plentiful as people roamed around with vintage vehicles, hot rods and even some electric cars. They did not attract large crowds, but with gasoline prices well above $ 2.00 a liter, they have been attracting more attention than in previous years.
Among those who showed off their electric vehicles was a father-son duo.
“I worked at BCIT and started an electric car show there in 1995, in the parking lot,” explains Gary B.
He has taken his son Josh to car shows for years, including a trip to the first U.S. national electric drag race in Woodburn, Oregon, in the 1990s.
Gary was answering questions about his Hyundai Ioniq 2020, his second electric vehicle. The first electric hybrid he bought was a 2012 Chevy Volt, now owned by Josh.
“(It’s) pretty amazing. In my first year I only used 100 gallons of fuel,” Josh said. “This one has a gas generator, which is nice, so you don’t have to worry about running out of electricity and getting stuck somewhere.”
He points out that even lovers of classic cars can now go electric.
“You can get GMC and Ford and Bosch box engines and all sorts of other manufacturers. You just put them in place. They’re in the shape of an engine, they have all the components you need, you put a couple of batteries and you’re pretty ok.
“You can preserve the beauty of old cars and make them a little more reliable and cheaper to operate.”
For others, their passion for a particular vehicle dates back long before the evolution of electric vehicles.
Wayne Schellanberg bought his 1951 Mercury van in 1967.
“I had this truck before I met my wife and we’ve been married for 50 years. It’s different, it’s not one you see all the time and the sound of the engine is very sweet.”
The auto show started more than 20 years ago, but had to be canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite this, over the past two years, Boyd Autobody & Glass, with the support of its sponsors, volunteers and associates, has contributed more than $ 142,000 to the Child Advocacy Center in Kelowna.