Classic cars will be main attraction of auto show
If you’ve had a love affair with the automobile every since you were a kid, or just want to show your own kids the latest wheels, then take a ride to Old Belize this Sunday. Antique and specialty cars from all over the country will be on display to help raise funds for the Rotary Club’s “Gift of Life Program.” News Five spoke with organiser Francis Woods who was happy to show us his own cherished classic car, which, he assures us, still runs like a dream.
Francis Wood Rotarian Fund Raising Chairman
?This car here was sold to me by a good friend, a fellow Rotarian, Hene Lupp. It originally belonged to Johnny Searle and now it?s the property of Old Belize, which it?s certainly happy to be here.?
?It?s a 1948 Rover. It was bought in England and brought over here after Hurricane Hattie and was restored by Mr. Lupp, himself. It?s a very elegant old car, not much luxury features, but in 1948 this was a luxury.?
?We were just looking for a unique way to raise fund and we didn?t have to look very far. On the internet we looked it up and they have antique and specialty car shows in the States as fundraisers for good programmes.?
Karla Heusner
?How were you able to locate the vehicles that are going to be participating??
Francis Woods
?Just started asking a lot of questions. The first people I asked were the taxi men and they certainly knew. In fact some of them have old cars that they have really kept up in good shape; old meaning from 1969 that would be classified as an antique as well.?
?Across is a vehicle that belongs to Mr. Luis Leslie. And he plans to restore it. We want to show the people who come on Sunday what it looks like now and R and R will do the body works on it and he?ll restore the inside and then we will have it here for next year?s fundraising event.?
Karla Heusner
?Do you think there are people out there who might have older cars that they don?t know the value of??
Francis Woods
?It?s amazing what is in Belize; a lot of stuff have been put up in garages. Some guys don?t know the value of their vehicles, but there are a lot of cars running around, still working that are valued at a lot because they are older and still in good shape.?
Woods says anyone who has an antique car or hot rod they would like to display in the show is welcome. An evaluator from Guatemala will be on hand to look over any cars at the owner’s request. Among the cars already signed up for the show are a 1942 Willys, 1952 Ford Pickup, 1956 Cadillac, and 1969 Chevy Malibu. New cars include a Corvette, Jaguar, and Mini Cooper. Auto dealers Bravo Motors, Belize Estate and Belize Diesel are among the show sponsors and will have new cars, trucks and SUVs for sale. An added attraction is the daredevil motorcyclists from Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek. Entrance to the event is two dollars for adults. Children enter free. The Antique Specialty and New Car show will be on from ten a.m. to five p.m. this Sunday at Old Belize on the Western Highway.
