Busy year for the Prince Edward Auto Club
Prince Edward Auto Club celebrated it’s 42nd year of “Having a Blast Reliving the Past” August 6th and 7th in Ameliasburg with their annual Street Meet.
This year as in the past three years, the PEAC invited everybody to a special cruise night on Thursday August 4th. Debbie and Brian Lindensmith, organizers of Picton’s Thursday Night Cruize at the Picton Canadian Tire (5 pm.-8:00 pm.) came out to host the event. This is the second year for the Lindensmith’s to organize the event.
“We gladly took this on,” said Brian. “Debbie and I have been coming out to Street Meet since 1999 and it just made sense to us, since we are here anyway, to run the cruise night.”
The PEAC has always been involved in the community, whether for charitable groups or private individuals the club has offered both cash and help with events. The cruise night raised $145 through the 50/50 sales and the club topped it up and wrote a cheque to the Loyalist Humane Society for $500.
It has been a busy time for the auto club, not only planning for their annual event, but also hosting the 60th anniversary celebrations for Belleville’s Road Angels car club. The PEAC has also hosted the Quinte Rally for the The Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group each year before their own Street Meet. This year the rally took place July 22nd-24th.
Road Angels Eye Candy
The Road Angels began life in a chicken coop in Cannifton Ont. In January 1956 by Jim Uens, Elwood Dulmage, and Claude Lucas. Hillcrest Auto Wreckers, Belleville Ontario would become their first sponsor. Similarly in 1972 the Prince Edward Auto club was formed by a few friends with the common interest in cars. In no way could anyone have imagined that either club would still be going strong now.
The 60th anniversary celebrations were a combined effort of both clubs.
“We were approached by the Road Angels to host their celebrations,” said Fred Morton, PEAC president. “It was a no-brainer, both clubs have supported each others efforts for years.”
Adapting to the changing times has always been a challenge for any group. Members lose interest, others marry and start families, and society itself inevitably changes.
“We have had to change with the times,” commented Fred Morton, PEAC president. “What started as a Car Show and weekend party has become much more family oriented.”
Rod Balance, Street Meet 2016
Attracting the children now to the car scene is essential for the future of the car scene. Many of the PEAC’s events are still popular. The rod balance, potato pick-up, corn roast, drive-shaft toss, and a full meal on Saturday nights. For the children there is a bouncy castle, face painting and colouring and the ever popular valve cover racing complete with their own set of trophies.
The longevity of the event can be attributed to many factors. Sean Benvie, 38 years-old has been attending Street Meet every year with his parents, Lauren and Jim Benvie, Demorsetville Ont. Jim Benvie was the clubs first president and he and his family have attend almost every Street Meet since it’s inception at the Hayloft on Salmon Point Road in 1975.
“For our family it is a holiday ever year,” said Sean Benvie. “It is both a local and car community ritual with many of the same people coming ever year.”
The PEAC club would like to encourage everybody to support the local cruise nights. Picton Thursday Night Cruize supports Canadian Tires’ Jump Start program.
Eye Candy from Street Meet ’16
Soon to be Eye Candy
