2014 Island Show N Shine

2014 Island Show N Shine

by Bob Cuthill
Vancouver Island Director
July 13, 2014

When I started making up the posters for this year’s Show-N-Shine I could hardly believe this was number 12! That was back in May and now the summer is half over. Sure wish I could slow down the clock a bit. But the weather and the people who showed up more than compensated. I hate to say it was a typical Island day, but blue skies, sunshine and temperatures in the high twenties Celsius made for an absolutely perfect day for shiny cars and suntans.

First to arrive were Al and Audrey Larmon in a cream 83 245. I just about didn’t recognize them as Al is usually driving his concourse ready grey 164. But this year he had sold it to new members Neil and Ruth McAllister who were not far behind. From just down the road, Chris and Jenny Wignall brought a bright orange 142 and a white 850T wagon. Lucy Cuthill’s cherry red car represented the 850 sedans. Peter Sparnese had the newest vehicle – a bright red 2005 S40T. Bill and Jerry-Lyn were down from Nanaimo in the pristine dark blue S90 and Olof Malmberg caught the early ferry from the mainland to join us in his 544. Michael and Brenda Kelly made the scene in their all original 70 144 while Mark Pacey and dad Ron brought a 2005 S60R with a dark paint scheme that seemed to change from purple to blue to black depending on the angle of view. Gordon Murray and Colin MacLock got to compare notes on their matching dark green 123GTs. The 1800 group were represented by Peter and Pavla Landsman’s yellow ES, yours truly’s 61 P1800 and Steve Sakyama’s white 1800 work in progress. And not to be forgotten, the oldest vehicle on display was a 1959 blue and white Duett driven by Lars Junker and Jennifer.

Following some impromptu tech sessions under raised hoods we settled down to our picnic lunches and making the rounds to fill out ballots for the people’s choice award. I think almost every car got a door prize of one kind or another. Thanks to this year’s donors, Michael Kelly, Olof Malmberg, Peter Landsman and of course, VCBC. A special award went to our hosts Bjorn Olsson and Kjellaug Eike. A framed and matted set of photos of our hosts with their Volvos was presented in appreciation of their support for the club over the past ten years and for letting us use the front lawn of what we now affectionately call “The OIsson Estate” for our concourse. Following a short break while ballots were counted the People’s Choice award, by a wide margin this year, went to the Duett and Lars Junker.

It was hard to start packing things up and getting ready to head home with all that sunshine still left. But all good things surely must come to an end. I think we came very close to having too much fun.