LAC LA BICHE - The third annual Ethos Show and Shine was like taking a walk down memory lane.
On Aug. 5, over 35 classic shining cars, trucks and vans from the 1950s right on up to the 1990s, and even one or two from the 1930s, were on display for all to see in the parking of Aurora Middle School for the Ethos Show and Shine, part of Lac La Biche Summer Days.
One of these stylish, timeless vehicles that drew a considerable amount of attention from the crowd who’d gathered for the event was the 1981 GT Chevy Shorty nicknamed ‘Blue Thunder’, owned by Allan and Donna Webster of Lac La Biche. The two – tone blue and silver van, which has 450 horsepower and a turbo speed of 400, has been a regular sight at similar vehicle shows around Alberta in recent years.
“We’ve been to a few shows already this year, including one down in Chipman,” Allan Webster stated. “It’s great to get out there as much as possible.”
While the 42-year-old Chev wasn’t exactly in mint condition when the Websters bought it a decade ago, Allan put his mechanical skills to work fixing it up.
“I give the van a brand - new paint job, installed a new motor, and even rustproofed it,” he continued.
With a refurbished interior complete with living and sleeping quarters in the back, Blue Thunder has served as a camping vehicle for the couple. Webster says car shows are a fantastic opportunity for people to show off what they’ve got and he is hopeful this trend continues to catch on in Lac La Biche.
“The more local events such as this, the better,” he said. “Seeing all these old cars makes one nostalgic, like you’re taking a walk down memory lane.”
While most entrants only had one vehicle on display, Dave Winger had four toys to show off, including some rare finds such as a 1955 Fleetwood six – foot travel trailer as well as a 1980/1981 Toyota Sunchaser Convertible, of which only 212 were made, and was ordered directly from California.
Winger, an avid car collector, is also quite proud of his 1937 coconut yellow Dodge Businessman’s Coupe and 1976 Austin Mini 1000, which sat prominently among the dozens of other classic vehicles during Saturday’s show.
“This is one of the last models of cars to have exterior headlights, which went out of style after the 1930s,” Winger said as he explained some of the features of the unique, very valuable Dodge before turning his attention to the more Mini 1000. “The Austin Mini 1000 was imported from the United Kingdom and made to look like a 1960s-style Mini.”
For Winger, who retired from Portage College a few years ago, the third annual Ethos Show and Shine was a family affair – he brought along his daughter and three grandsons, who assisted in showing off the quartet of amazingly maintained classic vehicles.
“As soon as the nice weather comes, there’s nothing quite like getting out to these shows,” Winger continued. “It’s a great way to meet other car enthusiasts and see what else is out there.”
The first Ethos Show and Shine was organized three years ago by Greg Ambanoudis, owner of Ethos Mechanical in Lac La Biche, who got the idea after attending the Pro Show and Shine in Leduc.
“I was very impressed by what I experienced at that show, and thought, heck, why not do the same in Lac La Biche?” he said. “While normally the show would be held later on in August, we decided to put it on during Lac La Biche Summer Days in order to be part of the community.”
While in the beginning, most of the entries to the vehicle show were semis, as interest grew, more owners of classic cars and vans entered the event
The Summer Days Show and Shine is also an opportunity for owners to drive away with some extra cash in their wallets.
“There are prizes for the top five entries,” Ambanoudis explained. “Compared to other events, Ethos Show and Shine doesn’t have a lot of strict criteria, but generally, we look at the overall appearance of vehicles when judging them.”
