Buckle up

Brits in the Park and Classics on Kent gear up for another year

On Sunday July 21 take a stroll through downtown Lindsay to see all the sweet rides on display. Brits in the Park and Classics on Kent are back for their annual car shows.

Locals and visitors will be there to show off their prized vehicles, vendors will line the street with their offerings and families will enjoy the fun zone designed to entertain the kids.

“Brits in the Park and Classics on Kent provide an opportunity to renew old friendships and meet new people who have an interest in cars. The event also showcases Lindsay for those attending from out of town,” says Jim Hancock, a founding member of the Victoria British Car Club.

Geoff Patton, vice president of operations at Homestead Oxygen & Medical Equipment Inc and a sponsor for Classics on Kent agrees with Hancock, “I think it’s a great event for our community. It brings people in from out of town and helps our small businesses.”

Classics on Kent is hosted by the Lindsay Downtown BIA where a committee is put together to make all the major organizational decisions that come with the show. This year Wards Lawyers PC partnered with the BIA, with the intention of taking on a larger role in future years.

“Decisions are made on signage, street closures, and car placements on specific streets. Since the Lindsay Downtown BIA took charge of Classics in 2015, we have streamlined the process and resolved most issues year after year. Following Classics, we hold a meeting to review improvements, successes, challenges, and more while everything is still fresh in our minds to enhance future events,” says Mary Hackett marketing and events coordinator at Lindsay Downtown BIA.

Volunteers and local businesses are a big part of this day – it takes a village for something of this magnitude to run smoothly. Sponsors of Classics on Kent work together to help make the event happen. Some of those businesses to name a few are Linborough, A&L Investments, Exit Realty Sunset, Desjardins, Memory Lane Motors, and Race Toyota.

Brits in the Park is organized by the Victoria British Car Club. Founded in 1994 and celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, the club was formed by British car enthusiasts. Whether you have a classic British car or are just interested in them you would be welcomed into the club.

Bob DeShane, one of the original members along with Hancock, had the idea to host a car show in Victoria Park for owners of British automobiles. The first Brits in the Park was in 1995. They had 70 entrants that first year growing to as many as 200 entrants along the way.

“Participants have indicated that Victoria Park is their favourite car show venue. They enjoy being able to park in the shade and listen to the 60s British music or to walk downtown to experience Lindsay’s stores, restaurants — and of course the North American cars,” says Hancock.

Another founding member of the Victoria British Car Club, Russ Bolton, has a T26. Since the second Brits in the Park Bolton has been bringing that same car to every show.

“Classic cars are different from current cars. They all look different and have their own personality. You know you have something different when the kids are on the side of the road yell ‘nice car, Mister,’ or ‘I like your car Mister,’” says Bolton.

These events aren’t just about showing off your vehicle. Brits in the Park holds a contest with about 12 different categories to enter. Participants can vote on their favourite old-fashioned cars, then at the end of the show, after all the voting is complete, they announce winners and give out awards.

For many of these participants, owning a classic car was something they had dreamt about for a long time. It is an expensive hobby that often takes years of savings to become financially feasible.

“I have always enjoyed the history and design of that era of vintage vehicles. I always loved the appearance of them as a young man but could never afford one. When I finally could, it was my first non-North American vehicle purchase. No regrets,” says Jim Nesbitt a member of the Victoria British Car Club.

Each person who attends these events has their own unique car and story. For a lot of people, it’s a special hobby they will cherish forever, including the friends and community they’ve made along the way.