Piston Pushers 2020 Year in Review

 

January 2020 Started out as every other year; we had a good January meeting pre-empted with our terrific Christmas party enjoyed by all in attendance. Randy Goudeseum, gave us a great write up in the January Old Autos for our 65th Anniversary car show in 2019. Our Social Committee put together a terrific list of club events for the coming year, we were all set to have some fun in 2020. We started off the year with our well attended annual bowling night and diner at the Sherwood Restaurant on the 11th.  On the 18th a Shop Talk held at Paul Arva garage, followed by one on the 25th at Al Nutbrown’s, both talks were very well attended.

 

February Again started off with our regular meeting, we had a guest speaker that evening Paula Thomlinson from Crossing all Bridges one of the outside programs we donated some funds to. A few of our members went to the Woodstock Swap meet, followed by the Brant Street Rods Flea market. February we had another Shop Talk at JP Boone’s garage, again an excellent turn out. Also this month a few of the club members took a trip to London where they ended up at Plunkets for a tour. Gary Graham and his show committee announced that the Toronto car show for March arrangements were coming along nicely with 16 cars entered.

 

March Again saw us with our regular club meeting, attendance was very good as we had invited a speaker for the evening Brent Walker from John Stuart Power Brake the only surviving rebuilder of power brake chambers and power steering goods, excellent meeting.  The Toronto Car show was March 13th through to the 15 the Piston Pushers car club were the featured club at the show, Gary Graham and his members put a terrific display together for the show we took several trophy’s home with us, Bill Beavan, best original Truck, Jerry Yakamachuck, Best Modified Truck, John Harris best runner up Modified Truck, Charlie Haviland,1923 Ford Altered Car best runner up, Mike Mc Niece Best in Class Runner up, 1940 Plymouth Coupe, Gary Graham, Z28 Best in Class Camaro Runner up, Mike Naisbitt 1963 Studebaker, Ron Morley best in class runner up Cobra. However, the show ended very abruptly on the Saturday, with a panic message and phone call that the Government had just notified the show management that the show had to be shut down ASAP, due to several outbreaks of the Corvid Pandemic, now the panic was on to get the displays down and all 16 cars moved out for Sunday morning, we scrambled to contact every one involved, I couldn’t have been more proud of our Club Members with the way we all pitched in and came together, we were cleared out by noon, Thank you again members for the tremendous show of support.

 

April Marked our last Club meeting as required by the Government and the Polish Hall Closed it’s doors until further notice. Nothing notably occurred during this period, of course we cancelled events as we watched and waited to see what this Pandemic was doing and what the Government was asking us to do to say safe.

 

May Was the beginning of pretty much all closures that had to do with events involving our cars, the executive as well as many others have kept in touch as much as possible with our members, during that time we learned that Walt Westbrook was not doing well health wise as was Dave Richardson, we did have two long term members of the club pass away Larry Grug (Geo), and Harvey Drew Bettesworth, and in long term care we have Dennis Battigelli. Ron Morley finished a long term 10 year project his 1953 Chevy Pick up, Morris Brock worked on his project his Camaro, Marv Vansickle finished his Edsel, Rick McKim put the final touches on his Suburban with an engine transplant and fuel injection. Mean while Ron and Ronda have been doing their part with the Food Bank run. Do to the fact that we cancelled the Remember When show Jim Harris contacted all the sponsors and found that each and everyone is on board for the next event whenever that may be.

 

June  Saw many roll by’s that we had a arranged this was a real club and friends of the involvement for a number of individuals I will not go through all of them but as some were members of the club Tommy Drummond, and Walt Westbrook, Dave Drummond, we did a drive by for our Vice President Ken Nuttal who was at time the just released from the hospital  but Ken did not know we were doing this he was sitting out front of his home and heard the rumble of cars and engines and low and behold it was his club trying to lend some cheer to his return home, Ken was shocked at the turn out and support for him. The club members and friends of the club also did a drive by for my Granddaughters 18th birthday approximately 60 cars were involved, my Grandaughter was in tears do to the overwhelming response to her big day, as well again we drove by some retirement homes and drives bys for birthdays, it was amazing for  these gentlemen and my Granddaughter as well for the shut in’s the streets were lined with friends and neighbours, made us all feel good about putting a smile on many faces during most difficult and tough time for many. Unfortunately, we lost Walt Westbrook who passed away almost to the hour the next week, Walt’s wife said we put a huge smile on his face that makes it all worth it.

 

July Was much the same with several drive by’s at long term care home, Hardy Terrace, Brier Wood retirement home some notable birthdays and anniversaries and Retirement homes, also Telford Place Retirement home and the Braeside Camp, each and every drive by was well represented with cars and the local residents were very appreciative of the clubs gesture. One of the tours we had took us to Port Dover following that over to Norwich to enjoy Jim and Michelle’s Maddy Moo’s food truck was a great day we kept our distance and stayed safe. We had our first executive meeting at Jim Harris’s garage where we could space our selves safely, much was discussed as even though we could not have regular meetings there was still club business that needed to be taken care of.

 

August Events were much the same with some drive by’s mostly birthdays and anniversaries and a couple for some very young children with serious health issues, we also drove by Jack Deward home, Jack has not been well, he was out waiting for us as was many of his neighbours were. The Annual Soap Box Derby was cancelled for 2020, according to the management of the Derby they will continue next year, with one in May with another at it regular time.

 

September Again much the same with drive By’s with one more request from the Braeside Camp as the camp members got so much pleasure from this event, then by the Riverview retirement home. After that we drove by Ric Usher’s home as he was recovering from leg surgery Ric was much appreciative for the gesture.

 

October Still giving the cars some exercise and giving smiles to those that are shut in’s, the club did a drive by for me as well, I was recovering from hip surgery I must say what a feeling of friendship and comradely, I know how all those people we drove by felt. Ian Smith was going through some throat surgery, so the club made sure they did not miss him, again neighbours were out watching, Ian was as I was just overwhelmed, it was decided by John Harris and Doug Woodly that since we can not get together that if the members were OK with their request that we leave our present executive as is for another year, assuming that we would all agree to let this stand, on behalf of the executive a big thanks and a hope that we have maintained your wishes and kept you all active and informed as we could. Also it was decide by the executive that we would not charge the members the usual annual dues, should we be able to meet ?? in April the membership dues for the remaining portion of the year will be adjusted, assuming we have meetings going forward, if no meetings there will be no fee’s required since expenses will be low and we should be able to sustainable till next year.

 

November Nothing to give you in the way of information for November,

 

December We obviously were unable to have our annual Christmas Party but on behalf of the executive hope you had an enjoyable Christmas, hopefully we will able to stay safe and the good Lord willing, we will get through this and look forward to a better 2021. In closing I personally and on behalf of the club and executive thank Ron and Ronda for their continued giving of their time to collect for the food bank, as well a huge thanks to those club members that continually supported the food bank, I would be remiss if I did not thank those involved in the dive bys at times we had as many as 70 cars in the parade to all, (Please Stay Safe).

Best regards your President Brian Bowerman