Summer Drive Whatcom
Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 19, 2017 | Ferndale Record
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TV show ‘Carspotting’ features Lynden site
From left, Pedro Becerra, Niko "the car savant" and Carlos Becerra hunt for classic cars on the new Discovery Channel show "Carspotting." (Courtesy photo/Discovery Channel)
Coming to the Discovery Channel, car restoration is in former Pioneer Ford building on Guide By Ashley Hiruko ashley@lyndentribune.com
LYNDEN — Beginning in August, Whatcom County residents may recognize a few of the sights in scenes of “Carspot-
ting,” a new Discovery Channel show. Carlos Becerra, 26, who hails from the area, stars in the show that focuses on his searching for abandoned vintage cars in the county. Every episode features owner Becerra and his team finding a car in an interesting way and in an interesting place. “We were just having fun with finding cars in crazy places,” Becerra said. “We end up in really cool spots that most people wouldn’t see.” After relocating the relics back to the shop in the former Pioneer Ford building at 8038 Guide Meridian Rd., the work be-
gins and the magic happens. Old cars are brought back to life through a restoration process and then sold to buyers. “(The show) tells the story of us dragging (cars) out with a chain from the forest or field, getting it back to the shop and building it into a badass car,” Becerra said. “Some cars would have otherwise been left for dead.” Becerra’s infatuation with cars began at a young age. “I’ve been obsessed with cars since I was a little kid,” he said. The first car he bought was an Impala, and some of his first classic cars were a 1951
DeSoto and a 1953 Rover P4. “I think there’s something about oldschool cars that my heart’s kind of in,” Becerra said. “Nowadays they make cars out of plastic. I feel like none of the cars that are made now are ever going to really be classics. I think that classic cars are an iconic piece of automotive history.” After graduating from Blaine High School in 2009 and not being able to afford college, Becerra spent time at the library educating himself about the fundamentals of running a business. With the inner workSee 'Carspotting' on C4