12th Annual Fords ‘n Friends Picnic
Vancouver Island Chapter, July 12, 1992
What do Early Ford V-8s and a Forestry Museum have in common, you might ask. The answer is “quite a lot” if the Museum has some flat head V-8 powered equipment and locomotives.
The Vancouver Island Chapter has hosted a Fords ‘n Friends picnic annually for the past twelve years, each time gaining in size and overall quality of concept. This is our third season at the B.C. Forestry Museum, which is a 50-acre park-like setting on the edge of a lake near Duncan, B.C. Traveling around the outer fringes is a narrow-gauge steam-powered train, utilizing mainly a cute little two-truck Shay geared logging locomotive, once used by a local lumber company.
This year, just about every aspect of the event outdid itself, especially the fun part. Through mass promotion and marketing, our organizing committee of three: Ted Baker, Ken Showers and Rick Streeton, plus several loyal and trusted worker bees, attracted over 400 pre-1970 collector and special interest cars, and around 4,000 people. These lucky picnickers were treated to a full day of train rides, oodles of shiny cars, Pin Striping demonstrations, a professional MC and Karaoke master, big dollar raffle prizes and 50/50 draws along with songs from the V-8 Glee club. There were the usual prize categories—long distance, people’s choice, and the like, plus a new Feature Prize. This was for the wildest or most exciting Flathead V-8 with speed equipment.
Since this year is the 60th anniversary of introduction of Fords V-8 motor itself, we thought it very appropriate to give recognition not only to the motor, but also to the role it has played in racing, street rodding and early drag racing in North America. Because the speed equipment played a large part in putting the Ford V-8 to the forefront of these events, more recognition must be given to that fact. Where better to begin than at an early Ford picnic.
Most activities wound up around 3 PM allowing one and all to attend an A&W drive in Cruise that evening in Victoria. From all accounting feedback and departing comments, this picnic exceeded expectations providing the local club sufficient funds to pay for our Christmas banquet an assistance for our local Christmas charities