Friday, February 27, 2015
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial 5
Taking a ride down memory lane 1928 Chandler classic: Cowichan senior reunited with the car she learned to drive in more than 60 years ago
250 746-8123 Cell: 250-709-4987 working4u@shaw.ca
Dunca
nBC RealEst ate.ca
A n I m p r o b a bl e Fa r c e
Ladysmith Little Theatre
K
ate Scoble and Richard Porter rode back in time last year — driven by the guy who retooled the time machine. Retired Cowichan mechanic Derek Horsfall spent seven years — 2005 to 2012 — lovingly restoring the grey-green 1928 Chandler touring car to its original state remembered by siblings Scoble and Porter, whose family owned it until 1953. “The ride meant a lot to them,” Horsfall said of the summer spin around the Menzies Road area. “It was a reconnection for Kate, who learned to drive on that car, and here she was a millennium later standing again on the running board. She was really chuffed.” The August jaunt marked the first time Scoble had seen the convertible since about 1950. “She was eight years old when they bought it; there’s a picture of her standing on the (black) running board at age 12. “I took Kate for a two- to threemile ride, and she was grinning the whole time.” The spin was part of a reunion plan hatched by Porter and Horsfall. “I’m happy it came together, and the people responsible for keeping the car came back for a look,” Horsfall said. Qualicum Beach resident Porter, 74, said his dad, Phil, bought the three-speed, six-cylinder, sidevalve car new in 1928 in Victoria, before Porter was born. Porter fondly remembered it parked outside the Duncan Garage, and elsewhere in town. “My mother, Julie Porter, worked as a writer and photographer at both the Cowichan Leader and the Pictorial for many years,” he noted. “She drove the car from Maple Bay to her work in Duncan many, many times.” Given his family’s past with the Chandler — including those driving lessons for half-sister Scoble, and other siblings — the ride was a smooth cruise down memory lane. “I was never old enough to drive it,” said Porter. “Derek’s done a great job of restoring it.” Renovations fixed a ding Duncan-raised Porter caused as
Dan Johnson Your Local Real Estate Agent
proudly presents
March 5 - 22
Box Office 250-924-0658 Directed by MORT PAUL
www. ladysmiththeatre. com 4985 Christie Road Ladysmith
THECOWI CHANS PI RI TUALI S T CHURCHOFHEALI NGAND LI GHTPRES ENTS :
ANEVENI NGOFMESSAGESFROM SPI RI T
Andrew Leong
Kate Scoble went 65 years between rides in this 1928 Chandler originally owned by her dad.
a lad. “There was one dent in the rear corner and I knew how it got there: when I was four, my mother parked it at the Mt. Tolmie grocery store. “It was on a steep hill, and I released the safety brake, and it rolled down the hill and landed in a ditch.” At one point, the Chandler’s motor was to be pulled for use in a sawmill operation “but then (Bill) Harrison bought it,” Horsfall said of the schoolmate from whom he later bought the car. Such stories are part of the Chandler’s charm. “Richard and I went through Cowichan high school together, and were quite often in the same classes,” he said. “I didn’t know it was the Porter car when I bought it in 1958 from Bill Harrison in Grade 12 for $80 — I paid him $50, and Harrison financed $30, which I paid him back later.” When driving the Chandler home “it was in sad shape, but it was all there.” “I’ve always had a passion for
cars, particularly old cars,” he said. “I started to restore it, but at age 18 I didn’t have many skills.” Horsfall even sold the Chandler at one point “but (buyer) hadn’t paid me, so it stayed in my shed until 2005.” “I planned to restore it at age 65, so at 65 I pulled it out of the shed and into the shop, and restored it piece by piece.” The secret, he said, “is restoring each part as it comes off the car.” “That way, when you put it back together, you’re just assembling complete pieces, and you haven’t lost any parts.” Horsfall, 75, actually made many parts for his Americanmade vintage vehicle. “There are no parts courses for those cars; I picked up the odd part from collectors. There are only about 200 of the Chandler make left in the world,” said the member of the Chandler-Cleveland Club. “There are lots of die-cast zinc parts that were fragmented because of poor -quality metal, and they had to be duplicated in little
March 7th & 8th
Sat 10am-6pm & Sun 11am-5pm
PEARKES REC. CENTRE Behind Tillicum Centre DOZENS OF DOOR PRIZES! Early Bird Gift Bags for the first 100 visitors!
pieces, then welded back together. “I made the pieces out of brass.” Metal parts were all that needed work when he bought the car. “It was a complete car — all the upholstery, hub caps, all the parts and controls were in working condition, but the top was stitched together with various pieces of material holding it together.” Enter son Geoff, an automotive upholsterer. “He did the interior, and leather seats, upholstery, and the top.” Their labour of love fuels Horsfall’s pride when riding in the rare Chandler, boasting a top speed of 60 miles per hour. “I think there’s only one other Chandler in B.C., and it’s in pieces. It was a part-time job, but I worked on it constantly.” The market value of his restored roaster is unknown, but it’s worth its weight in golden memories for Horsfall and his friends. “I contacted Richard when I started the restoration, and sent him pictures of the restoration, and he sent me pictures of his parents with the car.” The running-board photo has Scoble’s mother, Mildred, driving. And a 1934 shot shows Porter’s brother Robin, and Mildred, with the car in Barkerville. With all that history packed into the Chandler, Horsfall aims to keep the car in his family. “It’ll end up in my estate; I don’t plan on selling it,” he said. —Black Press
With Our Own Church Mediums
The Mercury Theatre 331 Brae Rd, Duncan, BC Saturday, March 7, 2015 7:30 p.m. sharp (doors open at 7:00 p.m.) Tickets: $15 Tickets available at the door or at Wishes, 125 Station St, Duncan or contact: Rev. Patricia Gunn, patriciais@shaw.ca or 250-748-0723 Partial proceeds to the Cowichan Valley Hospice Society, Cowichan Food Basket Society and the Cowichan & District SPCA
www.cowichanspiritualistchurch.com
In partnership with
SAVE ANYWHERE. In partnership with In partnership with
SAVE SAVE ANYWHERE. ANYWHERE. ANYWHERE. In partnership with
Introducing the New Save.ca Mobile Cash-Back Feature. With exclusive offers for the brands you love & $5 cash-out minimums through PayPal, you’ll never go shopping without your smart phone again!
Introducing the New Save.ca Mobile Cash-Back Feature. Introducing the New Mobile Feature. With exclusive offers for theSave.ca brands you loveCash-Back & $5 cash-out minimums With exclusive offersnever for thegobrands youwithout love & $5 cash-out minimums through PayPal, you’ll shopping your smart phone again! Introducing the New Save.ca Mobile Cash-Back Feature. through PayPal, you’ll neverBack go shopping without yourSteps smart phone again! Get Cash in 3 Easy With exclusive offers for the brands you love & $5 cash-out minimums through PayPal, you’ll never go shopping without your smart phone again!
Cash Back inReceipt 3 Easy Steps 1. Browse &Get Shop 2. Upload 3. Get Cash Back!
Get Cash Back in 3 Easy Steps
Browse the mobile app Take a photo of your Once you reach just $5, 1. Browse & Shop 2. Upload Receipt Get Cashyou Back! for your favourite brand’s andin submit it 3.the money save will Get Cash receipt Back 3 Easy Steps mobile app 2.Take a photo ofapp your Once youCash reach just $5,your 1.Browse Browse & Shop Upload Receipt 3. Get Back! offers, andthe purchase through the be transferred into for your favourite brand’s receipt and submit it the money you save them at any store PayPal wallet Browse the mobile app Take a photo of your Once you reach justwill $5, offers, and through the app 1. Browse &purchase Shop Upload Receipt for your favourite brand’s 2. receipt and submit it
them at any store offers, purchase Browse theand mobile app at anybrand’s store for yourthem favourite offers, and purchase them at any store
through the of app Take a photo your receipt and submit it through the app
be into your 3.transferred Get Cash the money you saveBack! will PayPal wallet beOnce transferred into your you reach just $5, the PayPal moneywallet you save will be transferred into your PayPal wallet
Visit save.ca/cashback to Learn More Visit save.ca/cashback to Learn More Visit save.ca/cashback to Learn More
Visit save.ca/cashback to Learn More
SPECIAL GUESTS Jody Claman, Vancouver Housewives Jordan Alicandro, Biggest Loser Winner Brad King, Dirty Diets Gabrielle Giet, Psychic Clairvoyant TICKETS Adult Admission $8 Senior/Student $6 Cash Admission at Door
Follow us @VictoriaWomensShow and LIKE US on Facebook @Victoria Womens Show for chances to WIN FREE entry to our show and prizes!