To see Ian Newby’s Car Collection in Aldergrove and on for a Picnic Lunch in Campbell Valley Regional Park – Wednesday, 10 April

We were lucky with the weather – after a wet spell, the weather forecast was for a sunny day starting around 5˚˚  and up to 16˚  and that was what we got – though those in Hope advised a start of only a 2˚ , so up with the roof… By 10:30am we had six vehicles lined up in Chilliwack and ready to go along with one who dropped by to say “Hi” but not coming on the Run. By now the chill was out of the air and it was pleasant run over to Yarrow and Majuba Hill and Campbell Road to Hougan Park to meet up with four more vehicles. The cavalcade of 10 set off at 11.15am. Cole Road was closed so we had to go west on Wells Line and then down past Birchwood Dairy to Whatcom and south to join Vye. Then it was west and over the new overpass (a most welcome item!) and, after a pull-over to re-group, to continue on Huntingdon and No. 8 Road to H/way 13 and north to Aldergrove. We arrived at just on Noon as planned at Ian’s place at 3474 -262 Street and found parking.

Ian and his wife Doreen bade us all welcome. We went into Ian’s working area and saw the progress on his latest project – a MG-TF recently brought in from Hawaii and which has required some quite extensive work on both body and engine; he is determined all will be done in time for the Fort Langley St. George’s Day show on April 21^st. Then it was on to the hangers where the majority of his 40 various vehicles comprising Jaguars, MG’s and a number of one-off’s are under cover – see photos and attached list for more details. With so much to see, the allotted hour was not enough to do justice to the collection and Ian said we’d be welcome to come back sometime for a longer browse around…..

Three vehicles elected not to continue on for lunch and the remaining seven set of at 1:15pm, reaching the Park around 1:40pm via 256 Street and 0 Avenue. The access to the planned Old Orchard parking area was shut for some reason, so we went round to another parking and had to walk back for a few minutes. The Old Orchard area had a nice large covered area with barbeque tables and benches which we had to ourselves and the pit toilet was in good condition. Once the picnic lunch was over people started to leave around 2:30pm to find their own ways home.

The round trip for the Chilliwack contingent was around 180km. There were no vehicle breakdowns or missed turns and it was really pleasant to feel some heat in the sun and to see the way the Spring greenery was coming in. All-in-all a good first Run of the year.

Michael Hamilton-Clark

Runs Coordinator