When the Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association held its first car show in 2005, it filled the parking lot at the Shaughnessy Street Safeway.
What a difference a decade makes.
The 10th edition of the annual event, taking place Sunday, is expected to jam PoCo's downtown with close to 500 vehicles, attracting automotive enthusiasts from across the region.
"It has come a long way since the first one," said Bruce Richardson, a director with the BIA Car Show. "A few years ago, they were able to convince city council to close the streets down and it has really grown from there."
While the show's main focus is on the cars, it has evolved beyond its original automotive theme into a large family event. There is a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf, a bouncy castle and a face painting station, and there will be live musical performances throughout the day.
But for most of the attendees, the real draw is the vintage vehicles, Richardson said.
Hundreds of cars and trucks will be lined up down Shaughnessy Street, along with about 100 Mustangs, which will be parked on Donald Street as part of Mustang Alley.
"People love seeing the old cars," Richardson said. "They have way more style. Now, that is all gone. They are more cookie cutter now."
Rick Leginus, the owner of PoCo's R&L Automotive, won last year's car show with his 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500.
A lot of his clients want the old-style vehicles with the reliability of a modern automobile, upgrades that he can make in his shop. Leginus spends a lot of his time fixing all kinds cars but he said he can't get enough of the vintage vehicles.
Some of the cars he has been working on recently will likely be making an appearance at this weekend's car show.
"The PoCo show is my favourite," he said. "Everybody comes out."
The 10th annual Downtown Port Coquitlam Car Show will take place Sunday Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to register a vehicle, go to www.pocobia.com/events/car-show.
2-WHEELED TRANSPORTATION
Old cars are not the only form of vintage transportation that will be on display in downtown Port Coquitlam this weekend.
The second annual WestCoast BMX Show and Swap will be held at Leigh Square in conjunction with the car show, featuring mostly 1980s BMXs and cruiser bikes.
There will also be prizes and giveaways, including a 1982 Diamondback Pacer 500 BMX, along with thousands of dollars in BMX parts and builds. BMX owners still have time to register for the show.
For more information, go to www.westcoastbmxshow.com.
