The plug has been pulled on most every car show in the Lower Mainland for 2020 due to COVID-19.
The long-standing May Day paradeB次元官网网址� that always draws thousands to Fort Langley on Victoria Day, Monday, May 18 B次元官网网址揾ad to be cancelled.
And with sunny skies promised on the statutory holiday, classic car enthusiasts were B次元官网网址渋tchingB次元官网网址� to get out for a drive.
The solution, car enthusiasts and May Day committee members Russ Townsend and Steve Williams pulled out their Rolodex B次元官网网址� speaking to their age B次元官网网址� and began calling their friend. They dialed a few dozen members of Lower Mainland car clubs and asked if they wanted to be part of an impromptu drive through the village of Fort Langley today.
The answer was a resounding B次元官网网址測es,B次元官网网址� Williams said, noting some 75-plus custom and classic cars lined the back streets of Fort Langley Monday morning. And at exactly 11 a.m. B次元官网网址� the start time of the annual parade B次元官网网址� they started their engines and rumbled and rolled through the centre of the village.
B次元官网网址淲ith whatB次元官网网址檚 going on with our current situation [the coronavirus], we cannot have a parade. So, what we are doing is a spontaneous appreciation drive through Fort Langley to show appreciation to the community and to show that we B次元官网网址� the May Day committee and the parade supporters B次元官网网址� are still here,B次元官网网址� he said.
They called it a non-May Day Parade, a tribute drive for the 98th annual May Day.
It was all low key and last-minute happening, the emphasis being on social distancing and nothing official or formal, Townsend said.
ItB次元官网网址檚 just an impromptu drive with no warning to the public until all the cars started arriving, Williams added. He noted that the non-parade was lead by Emergency Health Services and the Township of Langley FirefightersB次元官网网址� Charitable Society (TLFCS), with Fort Langley resident and Township Mayor Jack Froese social distancing inside the fire truck, waving to those along the route. A fistful of police cruisers were in the village and expecting to participate as well, but were called off just moments before the drive began.
B次元官网网址淎ll in all, it was very well received,B次元官网网址� said Williams, who noted how a few area residents set up chair in their front yards to watch as the vehicles drove down the back streets.
B次元官网网址淧eople were running out of their homes, and yelling B次元官网网址榯hank you.B次元官网网址� It was wonderful,B次元官网网址� Williams added. Townsend, whoB次元官网网址檚 been parade marshall for May Day for years, was equally thrilled to see the turnout and the reaction.
Likewise, people strolling through the village stopped along the sidewalk and watched as the entourage drove down Glover Road.
B次元官网网址淭here was a little bit of noise, a lot of chrome, and a lot of flashy cars. It was fun,B次元官网网址� Williams said of the event, noting he could have likely tripled the turn out if heB次元官网网址檇 spent more than one day spreading the word to collectors.
B次元官网网址淗appy May Day 2020,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd weB次元官网网址檒l see you back here, May Day 2021.B次元官网网址�
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