I'll be the first to admit I'm not a major car buff.
Ask me to engage in a conversation about baseball, the Red Sox and the Yankees, the NFL or the Vancouver Canucks Ñ and I'm your man.
Ask me about how cool an engine looks, and I'm pretty lost.
But after spending last weekend with members of the Coasters Car Club and the Sunshine Coast Drag Racing Association, I now have a greater appreciation for their love of cars and their chosen hobby.
On Friday night I headed to Hackett Park for the annual Sleepy Hollow Show 'n' Shine.
The moment I walked into the park, all I could see was shiny paint and gleaming chrome sparkling in the setting sun.
It was pretty impressive seeing 400 or so cars lined up row after row on the grass. Then shortly after 7 p.m., the parade of cars began. One by one, these vintage cars roared to life and headed out of the park.
By all accounts, this year's rod run was the best yet. But there were a few problems.
Several Sechelt residents contacted me this week, expressing their concern over several of the participants doing burn-outs on the road.
One man called to say a burn-out was done right in front of his family as they sat on lawn chairs out front of their house.
Club president Steve Holland and several other members of the club have gone on record (see page C2) that they do not condone burn-outs.
Holland said the club is taking the complaints seriously and next year assures residents that more police presence will be on the street.
It's too bad a few bad apples spoil what was otherwise a great night for the Coasters.
Saturday's Show 'n' Shine was next on my agenda. More than 8,000 people jammed into downtown Sechelt to view more than 400 cars. It was truly a sight to see.
On Sunday, it was up to the Sechelt airport for the Tremors on the Tarmac drag racing event.
Media liaison Jac Cawsey and club president Wayne Taylor have been itching to get me into a car since the May drags.
On Sunday I got my chance.
Dale Ingram was kind enough to let me ride shotgun in his Dodge.
After strapping myself in, Dale hit the gas and my head hit the back of the seat. (Good thing I was wearing a helmet.)We shot down the track like lightning in around eight seconds. It was one of the best eight seconds of my life. What a ride!
If you haven't been out to the drag races to watch or compete, you're missing a great show. Both clubs, their members and volunteers put on a super weekend.
Cawsey's been telling me for months that this is the biggest motorsports weekend in B.C. I didn't believe it until I experienced it myself. I can't wait for next year!
