The Blethering Place may be gone, but itB次元官网网址檚 certainly not forgotten, and its former owner intends to keep it that way by carrying on with an Oak Bay summertime tradition.
The Blethering Place Collector Car Festival will take over a stretch Oak Bay Avenue between Mitchell Street and Monterey Avenue for its 11th year on Sunday. Close to 300 cars will be on display at what organizer Ken Agate calls B次元官网网址渁 wonderful five-block party for our local people.B次元官网网址�
Though his tea room, for which the festival is named, closed earlier this year (it has since re-opened under new ownership as the Oak Bay Bistro), Agate plans to keep the car show going well into the future.
B次元官网网址淥ak Bay Tourism is going to oversee it, which is good, because they will keep it going in perpetuity,B次元官网网址� he said.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 music to the ears of car nuts like Lee Gould, who has been bringing his fully restored 1949 Cadillac Club Coupe to the show since 2003.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an entirely different show from most other car shows,B次元官网网址� Gould said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very eclectic show. All the stores (in Oak Bay Village) are open, thereB次元官网网址檚 a great turnout of spectators, and weB次元官网网址檝e been blessed every year with great weather.B次元官网网址�
Gould acquired the Cadillac from his father in 1969 for just $1, only a few short days before his father died in an auto accident. He spent about four and a half years restoring it with the help of a friend.
He also owns a second, identical -- albeit unrestored -- car, but Cadillacs arenB次元官网网址檛 GouldB次元官网网址檚 only vehicular passion.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e worked with cars since I was a teenager working at Cadboro Bay Texaco,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 appreciate all types of cars that have been restored.B次元官网网址�
In other words, Gould said, the Blethering Place classic car show is a perfect fit.
Unlike other car shows such as Windsor ParkB次元官网网址檚 Jaguars on the Island, the event does not have a specific theme. All types of classic vehicles are welcome, a fact which Agate said gives the show a broad appeal, attracting hardcore collectors and B次元官网网址渓ooky-loosB次元官网网址� alike.
B次元官网网址淎 looky-loo is a wonderful person, because they are actually a person with memories,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t (the show) brings back memories of a trip across Canada, or their mom and their dad, or when they got married.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of cars are very interesting just because theyB次元官网网址檙e a car where you can see their life of families, picnics, and whatever they did. Personally I like those cars because they tell a story just by looking at it.B次元官网网址�
GouldB次元官网网址檚 1949 Cadillac is just one of many stories waiting to be told at the Blethering Place show. In fact, those stories are a big reason Gould returns year after year.
B次元官网网址淚 usually end up parking my car and you donB次元官网网址檛 see me for the rest of the day,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 too busy meeting new people, seeing what theyB次元官网网址檙e doing, and sometimes seeing folks I havenB次元官网网址檛 seen for 30 or 40 years.B次元官网网址�
The Blethering Place Collector Car Festival runs Sunday, Aug. 14. In addition to the wide variety of cars on display, spectators can enjoy a prime rib barbecue and entertainment courtesy Johnny Vallis, Nathalie Karine and Virtual Elvis.
A new feature this year is the car corral, which will feature vehicles for sale by their owners.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. and costs $15 for car owners. General admission to the event is free. The festival winds up at 3:30 p.m.
editor@oakbaynews.com
