The plug has been pulled on most every car show in the Lower Mainland for 2020 due to COVID-19.

The long-standing May Day parade害羞草研究所� that always draws thousands to Fort Langley on Victoria Day, Monday, May 18 害羞草研究所揾ad to be cancelled.

And with sunny skies promised on the statutory holiday, classic car enthusiasts were 害羞草研究所渋tching害羞草研究所� to get out for a drive.

The solution, car enthusiasts and May Day committee members Russ Townsend and Steve Williams pulled out their Rolodex 害羞草研究所� speaking to their age 害羞草研究所� and began calling their friend. They dialed a few dozen members of Lower Mainland car clubs and asked if they wanted to be part of an impromptu drive through the village of Fort Langley today.

The answer was a resounding 害羞草研究所測es,害羞草研究所� Williams said, noting some 75-plus custom and classic cars lined the back streets of Fort Langley Monday morning. And at exactly 11 a.m. 害羞草研究所� the start time of the annual parade 害羞草研究所� they started their engines and rumbled and rolled through the centre of the village.

害羞草研究所淲ith what害羞草研究所檚 going on with our current situation [the coronavirus], we cannot have a parade. So, what we are doing is a spontaneous appreciation drive through Fort Langley to show appreciation to the community and to show that we 害羞草研究所� the May Day committee and the parade supporters 害羞草研究所� are still here,害羞草研究所� he said.

They called it a non-May Day Parade, a tribute drive for the 98th annual May Day.

It was all low key and last-minute happening, the emphasis being on social distancing and nothing official or formal, Townsend said.

It害羞草研究所檚 just an impromptu drive with no warning to the public until all the cars started arriving, Williams added. He noted that the non-parade was lead by Emergency Health Services and the Township of Langley Firefighters害羞草研究所� Charitable Society (TLFCS), with Fort Langley resident and Township Mayor Jack Froese social distancing inside the fire truck, waving to those along the route. A fistful of police cruisers were in the village and expecting to participate as well, but were called off just moments before the drive began.

害羞草研究所淎ll in all, it was very well received,害羞草研究所� said Williams, who noted how a few area residents set up chair in their front yards to watch as the vehicles drove down the back streets.

害羞草研究所淧eople were running out of their homes, and yelling 害羞草研究所榯hank you.害羞草研究所� It was wonderful,害羞草研究所� Williams added. Townsend, who害羞草研究所檚 been parade marshall for May Day for years, was equally thrilled to see the turnout and the reaction.

Likewise, people strolling through the village stopped along the sidewalk and watched as the entourage drove down Glover Road.

害羞草研究所淭here was a little bit of noise, a lot of chrome, and a lot of flashy cars. It was fun,害羞草研究所� Williams said of the event, noting he could have likely tripled the turn out if he害羞草研究所檇 spent more than one day spreading the word to collectors.

害羞草研究所淗appy May Day 2020,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd we害羞草研究所檒l see you back here, May Day 2021.害羞草研究所�

.

_________________________________

Is there more to this story?

Email: news@langleyadvancetimes.com

Like us on or follow us on

_________________________________