Blethering Place Car Show Brings History Alive

August 4, 2005: On August 14 Oak Bay Avenue will be closed to regular vehicle traffic to make way for between 250 and 300 collectable cars representing a range of eras from some of the earliest cars to modern hot rods. Many of them bring more than the car to the show – they bring a sense of the time they were created and the people who drove them. This is most notable in a depression-era car, a 1930’s era Nash 450, which will be part of the Blethering Place Collector Car Festival for the first time this year.

“We’re very excited to have this car join us for the show,” says Ken Agate, Blethering Place Collector Car Festival organizer. “It’s a fundamental piece of an important era in Canada’s history.”

Owned by Brian McKay of Victoria, the 1930 Nash 450 Single Six Sedan is an automobile that played a huge role during the Great Depression of 1929 – 1939. Families who lost everything, including their land and homes, clung to their cars as a possible opportunity for a new life. All possessions that would fit were packed into the car and families of farmers headed west. The rural Saskatchewan roads were rough at that time and the front left fender of the car was repaired on nine separate occasions through welding, riveting and bolting – any way possible to keep the car going and escape the poverty that was spreading across the prairies.

McKay’s car travelled from Saskatchewan to Balzac, just outside of Calgary, during the Depression. Later the car was purchased to be part of a demolition derby car as it was running at the time. But when the car was unloaded at the derby it refused to start and was trucked back to Balzac to rest in a grainery until 1985 when Brian found it. “I heard this car was out there and Balzac isn’t very big so I knocked on doors until I found it,” says McKay. He took the engine apart and completely rebuilt it. McKay also decided to leave the car’s exterior intact so it looks like it did in 1937.

McKay worked to restore the engine until 1997 when he entered the car in it’s first car show. The Nash won the People’s Choice award at that show, the Fords & Friends, and it has been a popular entry at many shows since. It’s also done a great deal of travelling. McKay had the car shipped to Chicago in 2004 and he drove Route 66 all the way to Santa Monica. The Blethering Place Collector Car Festival is the last show the Nash will be in for a while as McKay will be focusing on other projects over the next while.

The Blethering Place Collector Car Festival stands apart from other car shows in that not-yet-finished cars are welcomed and eagerly sought out for participation. Cars begin arriving on the Avenue at 8 a.m. with an official start time 10am. To accommodate growing participation, cars will extend farther down Oak Bay Avenue than in previous years.

Entertainment takes place throughout the day as the Avenue comes alive with festivities. Festival favorites Johnny Vallis and Virtual Elvis will serenade the crowd at intervals throughout the day. New to the show this year the West Shore School of Dance will be performing at street level through the day.

Prizes are awarded for crowd-pleasing cars including ladies choice (also known as a ‘chick magnet’). At the show about a third of the participants are women,” says Agate. “Women go the extra mile with their cars. They really emphasize details that bring the era of the car alive such as accessories or detailing. It brings the history of the car alive.” Other prizes incude the People’s Choice (most popular car), Furthest Travelled for the car with the longest commute to the show and Best Survivor, for an unrestored car in close to original condition.

A question and answer tent will be set up for those interested in learning more about specific aspects of vintage car restoration and detailing. The annual prime rib barbecue will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As always there will be a strong showing of English cars as well as colourful hot rods and cars from all eras. The majority of the cars come from local enthusiasts but some come from upisland, mainland BC and the United States. The show favorite from the Fords & Friends show in July will be at the show.

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For more information, please contact Ken Agate at 598-1413. Photos are available upon request and interviews with car owners may be arranged.