Growing from a small Rod Run for a half-dozen enthusiasts to a 390-vehicle parade of classic cars, the
Sunshine Coast Festival of the Rolling Arts (held annually in Sechelt in conjunction with the massive Hackett Park Craft
Fair) has become one of Western Canada’s largest gatherings of vintage vehicle collectors. This year’s festival will be
held August 5 – 7.
Cars begin arriving at the rally point on August 5, and participants enjoy a variety of activities
“geared” to enthusiasts of the classic car.
The community rallies to Cowrie Street on August 6. Closed to through traffic, the street is a
kaleidoscope of colour, with painstakingly restored cars and trucks lining its full lenth - hoods up to display impossibly
clean and gleaming V-8 engines. These are proud products of a time when gas was sold at 10 cents per gallon (and the
attendant pumped it, cleaned the windshield, checked the oil and tire air pressure as part of the bargain).
Organizers Wayne Taylor and Lloyd Bingley are particularly pleased with the family-friendly nature of
the event. The cars carry a fascination for all ages, and “working on the car” also works to close the generation gap.
The family-oriented nature of this “car culture” event meshes perfectly with the Sunshine Coast Arts
Council’s Summer Craft Fair at nearby Hackett Park. This massive fair features over 100 participants. As one of BC’s
largest and most selective fairs (entrants are “juried” for quality), Hackett Park draws thousands to stroll among the
tents under the trees, enjoy top quality entertainment and children’s activities, and purchase one-of-a-kind gifts,
souvenirs and treasures.
“A lot of Festival participants like the variety of events,” said Lloyd Bingley. “Families like to walk
over to the Craft Fair and shop.”
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The 120-member Coasters Car Club hosts the Festival, plus a smaller Show ‘n’ Shine (with partner IGA
Marketplace) at Gibsons Plaza as part of the Gibsons Sea Cavalcade.
A smaller show ‘n’ shine on Sunday, August 7 at the Garden Bay Hotel is organized and sponsored by Roger
Grypiuk of Advance Forklift – another classic car enthusiast. This alternative to the traditional Sunday drag races at the
Sechelt airport also features musical entertainment by Jerry Yuzon and bluesman Billy Dixon.
Each of these events raises funds that are channeled back into the communities: annual bursaries for
students entering the automotive trades, purchase of equipment for the Coast’s volunteer fire departments, support for
the food banks and the Pender Harbour Medical Centre.
In a 120-minute tribute to The Festival of the Rolling Arts, Cruisin’ TV’s debut DVD “Return to Sleepy
Hollow” provides a light overview of the vintage and collectible car culture.
Featuring archival film footage from the earliest days of the Sleepy Hollow Rod Run as well as extensive
coverage of last year’s Rod Run, Show ‘n’ Shine, and Drag Races the feature-length documentary covers every aspect of the
Festival, in detail to delight any car lover. The trailer for the production can be viewed (and purchased) at the website:
www.carshowpictures.com The DVD is also available at many Sunshine Coast locations.
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