Skip to content

More than 225 cars bring Britain to Ladysmith beach

The Brits show features Britain’s many popular U.K. models and visitors are likely to spot rare and exotic vehicles

Strolling along Transfer Beach Park last Sunday one would think they were meandering through a park in jolly old England. 

It was a fantastic sunny day and a great venue to show off the more than 225 unique vehicles that showed up for the annual Brits on the Beach.

“This is the group’s 22nd year, but we did miss the three COVID years. Transfer Beach has always been the spot for the show,” said event organizer Julie McKay, of the Vancouver Island chapter of the Old English Car Club. “We try and keep track of the number of spectators each year, but that’s impossible. We don’t have a gate or charge admission, so it’s pretty well impossible to know, but we do know that we are putting on a great family event. We’ve been told that the show attracts 3,000 or more spectators."

The Brits show features Britain’s many popular U.K. models and visitors are likely to spot rare and exotic vehicles along the lines of Rolls Royce and Bentley. The show offered a variety of motorcycles from Triumph, Royal Enfield, BSA and other models.

McKay said “Enthusiasts from across Vancouver Island are regular participants in the show and we have registrations from Chilliwack, Vancouver and other mainland locations,” McKay said. 

Roger Taylor is a car owner and volunteer.

"We’ve had entries from as far away as Portland,” he said. 

This year's show conflicted with another event in Washington State and the organizers said they lost some cars to that event.

McKay owns four MGBs.

“It’s hard to decide on which one to bring, but usually it all depends on which one is running at any particular time,” she said. 

The Ladysmith show, which is the only ‘car show’ the group does each year, is free to all car owners as well as spectators.

“We ask folks who are bringing a vehicle to the show to bring a donation, either non-perishable food items or money, for the Ladysmith Food Bank,” Taylor said. "We hope that the spectators will also bring in items for the food bank.”

McKay said this year they collected more than $2,000 for the food bank.

"And that’s not the donated food items,” she said. “The support from the town has been really great and from the Ladysmith Credit Union is always there and of course the volunteers from the food bank who do a marvellous job, so it’s an accepted show for us.” 

They are hoping the show will inspire future generations.

“It’s harder for us to get people as many of our members, like everyone, is getting older so we need to entice the younger folks, we need them,” Taylor said.

McKay said this year they started a kid's passport program.

“The youngsters have to go and spot certain vehicles and learn about them and then bring their forms back to be entered for some great prizes, so we’re hoping that sparks interest and we can get some of them and parents,” she said.

“Transfer Beach is such a beautiful location and it’s ideal for our type of show," McKay said. "It lends itself to country style cars, the ones you see in movies zipping through the English rural areas. Our members and guests love it and judging by the crowds, every year, they love it too.”





Secondary Title