The road taken to get a 1957 Austin Healey 100-6 to the Vancouver Island Motor Gathering on Sunday speaks of love, loss, joy and family.
There will be just under 400 vehicles 鈥� classics, unique and custom cars, as well as some motorcycles 鈥� at the event, sponsored by the GAIN Group and hosted at its Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit.
One of those cars on display will be Louise Solomons鈥� Austin Healey.
The car, which is in the final stages of a Concours d鈥橢legance restoration, once belonged to her father, who bought it from his brother in the late 1960s.
鈥淗e just loved that car,鈥� said Solomons. 鈥淎lthough he owned other classic cars in his time, that one was his favourite.鈥�
Over the years, her father entered the car in numerous car shows and drove it until about 2006, but parked it because it needed work 鈥� and he didn鈥檛 trust anybody else to work on it.
When he died in 2016, he left the car聽to Solomons, who travelled back to England to settle the estate and take possession of the car.
Bringing the car back to sa国际传媒 was a story in itself, starting with having to fend off people offering to buy the car from her.
鈥淚t was in really terrible shape,鈥� she聽said. 鈥淚t was definitely not how I聽remembered it.鈥�
She took the car to Mike Grams at Coachwerks Automotive Restoration, because of their reputation in restoring Austin Healeys 鈥� having done more than 40 restorations on the British classics.
鈥淟ouise鈥檚 car is going to be one of the highlights of the show,鈥� said Grams, who founded the automotive restoration business in 1998. 鈥淭he car has been taken down to the last nut and bolt and rebuilt.鈥�
He expects the car will garner attention, given the Vancouver Island Motor Gathering has become known for its ability to attract high-end collector cars in the local and Lower Mainland car-show circuit.
His company only takes on between 15 and 20 restorations a year, with cars聽and clients from across North America.
Although Solomons鈥� father would take her along to some of the shows, he never let her drive it.
鈥淓ven my mum only drove it once or twice,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was his baby.鈥�
When the restoration is complete 鈥� expected to be before the end of the year 鈥� it will be her first time behind the wheel.
Although the car will be restored to high show standards, it will not just be a trailer queen. She expects to drive it, weather permitting, as her fun car.
She has four children, but only one, who is 11 years old, has expressed a passion for cars. Solomons isn鈥檛 in a hurry to let him drive, but plans to keep the car in the family.
鈥淚t was my father鈥檚 pride and joy,鈥� she said.
Soon it will be hers, as well.
The Vancouver Island Motor Gathering is not just a car show, it is also a fundraiser for local charities. In 2017, the event raised more than $174,000 in cash and $180,000 in in-kind donations for the Children鈥檚 Health Foundation. This year, all monies collected will benefit the David Foster Foundation and Cowichan District Hospital Foundation.
There is a suggested donation of $5 minimum for spectators. Non-judged vehicles are $25, judged vehicles $50. The event runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, 4063 Cowichan Valley Hwy., Cowichan (spectator parking and entrance off Drinkwater Road).
For more information, go to motorgathering.com.
