July 2008 Spring Updates from the OECC Executive Be Found on the Website
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July 2008 Spring Updates from the OECC Executive be found on the Website. A committee was Wanted: information leading to contact At a recent Executive meeting the 2008 formed to revise the document and improve with other British vehicle owners. Awards were voted on. consistency. Phone Ian 497… MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU AWARD This Have you visited our Website? One new A list of contacts grew and soon became a award was won by Ken Finnigan of the feature is “Historic Gatherings of BC British project of listing all known British vehicles. Thompson River Branch. An article showing Cars”. If you have any comments or ques- The area of interest was the southern interior his qualifications is elsewhere in this edition. tions regarding the Society, don‟t hesitate to of B.C. I was addicted to the excitement of There were four nominees in total. The other contact me. discovering so many forgotten cars and three had great credentials and were very Wayne Peddie, President trucks. The bonus of meeting people with close together in the voting. great stories to tell was a genuine thrill. My OXO CUP The OXO cup will be presented The Little Van That Did: sons got into the act by setting up a data- to Nigel Muggeridge posthumously. Nigel Twenty years of the Old English Car Club base on their computer and we were unstop- was a very active member of the Central and Registry in British Columbia pable! I remember that selecting a name for Island Branch who passed away suddenly in the list was challenging, especially around February. The nomination of Nigel by Ian Club shirts and medieval costumes. Little the choice of the terms “English” or “British”. Cox reads as follows.“Nigel stands out in my cars on strings and shoestring restorations. Then I discovered there was an Olde British mind as one who epitomizes what we're all The buying and selling of cars and trucks. Car Society in Vancouver, under the guid- about. More than that, he was exceptional. Making new friends and testing old relation- ance of Steve Diggins, so the choice was Generous, hard working. friendly, reliable, a ships. Discovering new techniques and made clear. constant supporter and advocate for the tasting vintage wines. Highland games, trips As this Old English Car Registry grew, com- club. A real nice guy too. It was an inspira- to England, and building businesses. A 1904 munication between car owners increased tion to see his dedication to the club and to Wolseley and a fleet of Austin pedal cars. and I realized there was a great potential for whatever he undertook. Nigel really was part Meetings, drives, rallies, prizes. Country the formation of a British car club. In 1988 I of the identity of the OECC”. fairs for English cars. Trips around the park, modified the registry to form The Old English How true these words are. Nigel was one of the province, and international rallies. ICBC Car Club & Registry. The ads became: the founders of the CIB “Brits on the Beach” calendars, Roundabouts, Dynamos, Beanos, Old English Car Club and Registry. Free and was a driving force to make it so suc- Leaky Gaskets, and line dancing! What‟s it registration. Free memberships. Parts, ser- cessful. He will be missed greatly. all about, where did all this come from and vice, and advice. Help. Meets. Help to buy, THE LINK TROPHY The Link award pre- how did we get here from there? sell, swap, etc. Call soon 497… sented to a member of the branch hosting This abridged tale of the history of the Old In June of 1990 I borrowed a neighbour‟s the AGM was awarded to Irene Thompson. English Car Club & Registry must begin in swimming pool cover to form a tarpaulin tent Irene is the wife of Chairman Al Thompson March 1969 with an advertisement in a Van- in a park on the lakeshore in Penticton. I and works tirelessly in the background. She couver paper: made a huge banner sign using yellow observes all the escapades of the branch 1963 Triumph van for sale. house paint on some black polyvinyl and throughout the year and entertains us at the Good condition. $450. Ph 643… strung it between two trees. We were having banquet with her musical rendition. This young husband and expectant father of the first British car field meet in the interior. Also at the meeting Steve Hutchens pre- twins wanted a small, simple, and affordable Gail was there holding down the tent in the sented a document that will be given to all van to replace his ailing Austin A55 car as an wind while her mother served doughnuts and new members. This informative booklet an- everyday vehicle, and this was to be the hot chocolate to one and all. Gail‟s on-going swers questions such as: What is the answer. It happens that in those days a support was to be crucial to our future suc- OECC? And Benefits of OECC membership. favourite drink was hot beef bouillon with a cess. A business meeting was the only An outline of the Six branches is provided. little milk added. The resultant colour of break in the car talk. In quick order Len Also included is a summary of annual which was referred to describe the colour of Drake of Kelowna and Ken Finnigan of Kam- events, a brief history of the OECC and its our new van to Gail, as she lay in the hospi- loops declared that they would form structure. Ian Cox updated the executive on tal. So “Oxo” was adopted just a few days branches of the OECC & R in their areas. his work as Regalia Chairman. This was before my two sons were born. Officers were elected, I was chosen to be divided into four parts: Fast forward to 1982. After 13 years of faith- president, and we had taken another great Clothing - many examples of clothing that ful everyday service, which included trans- step forward. There were 111 cars in the can be offered was displayed. A regalia cata- porting the family to Winnipeg for a 5-year Registry up to this point. We were delighted logue was also presented. stint, Oxo was back in British Columbia and to have 25 there that day. The addition of Awards - the Restoration Plaque was dis- had only recently lost his status as the family cars from Kelowna and Kamloops brought us cussed. vehicle in favour of an Oldsmobile station up to 160 registrants overnight. Logo - the new improved logo was shown. It wagon. Now his new responsibilities were to No one could have guessed how significant was agreed that we must ensure that all haul the Osoyoos scout troop to camp, the a casual interview which was taking place branches conform to the Society design. canoe to the lake, and assorted other lei- that afternoon would be. The Western Ad- Membership Cards - Various formats were surely activities. With this orientation to fun vertiser, Penticton's local free paper, had discussed. we began to respond to the delighted com- responded to our invitation to send a re- A committee was formed to establish a rega- ments of Okanagan holidaymakers who gave porter. How I wish I could recall her name so lia policy for the Society. us a new perspective on the joys of owning a that she could be acknowledged for the great How many of you know what “The Wheel” unique vehicle. Owning Oxo became so job she did. Thelma and Cliff Hultgren had is? It is the OECC‟s organizational book, much fun that in 1985 I began to search out come along with their daily driver, a 1956 describing Club operations and history. It can others to share the delights with: Morris Isis. The charming elderly couple and at car shows. We actually ran a cash derful! were local pioneers and original owners of surplus in that way. People who bought the Suffice it to say that the development of the this fine very worn old car, which, like them, lists we encouraged to help keep them up-to- club has never been dull. We've had our was unrestored, proudly vintage and still date and to join the club if they bought a car. portions of pain, frustration, resentments, going strong. A copy of the reporter‟s tale Hundreds of lists were sold. Expanding the and even some anger. We're still here, and featuring the Hultgren‟s is filed in the Registry as the basis of a growing club was a still on the same road that we started down OECC&R archives. Suffice it to say that over major part of what I did in those years. Con- 20 years ago, and still with the same objec- the next several weeks unsolicited newspa- tacting owners who advertised their cars for tives and philosophy. We are a healthy, per clippings were received from all across sale in newspapers and on notice boards, growing, innovative, and unique club. The Canada, showing how this delightful story then offering to help sell them was one effec- satisfaction expressed by members far and about the forming of a club for British-car tive method. On many occasions the owners wide makes past efforts all worthwhile. enthusiasts had appealed to news editors far decided to keep their cars when they learned Branches, newsletters and some members and wide. The Canadian Broadcasting Cor- that there was a club of like-minded souls to have come, gone, and come back again. The poration was intrigued too, and a live broad- support them.