Pefferlaw Lions Vintage Car Show raises funds for local charities

By Mike Anderson

Despite inclement weather, the Pefferlaw Lions Vintage Car Show, held on August 7, featured nearly 80 cars.

Vehicles from 2002 and older were parked in the community centre’s front lot, while newer cars were in the back lot.

“It’s been going on for over 40 years; it’s hometown grown. Pefferlaw has a substantial population of vintage vehicles, and many Lions club members own them,” said Trevor Rodgers, the Lions membership director.

“It’s been a great fundraiser. We do it in partnership with the P.A.R. picnic, which was, unfortunately, cancelled this year.”

Ivan Petrushevsky, who lives in Pefferlaw, was excited to be part of the car show, his first ever.

He registered his lovingly restored white 1968 SKE15 Jaguar, which he says has been appraised at $174K.

“It’s been a frame-off restoration, so everything came off this car. It’s been about five years to rebuild, repaint, and put it back together,’ said Petrushevsky, who admits to spending about $50K for the car and parts.

He also says more than a thousand hours of labour went into the restoration.

“All the labour came from friends in Pefferlaw. Basically, we worked for beer,” he said.

Don Philp, the Lions’ 1st Vice and the car show’s organizer, had hoped for more cars, but the weather kept many owners away.

“If we got good weather, we’d be over 300 cars,” Philp said.

“If it weren’t for the rain, you wouldn’t even be able to stand here.”

The low numbers also impacted the amount of money raised for local charities.

The Lions charged $10 per vehicle, so less than $800 was collected. However, they hoped food sales, which included burgers, hot dogs and pea-meal bacon sandwiches, would also contribute funds.

“We’re fully non-profit,” said Rodgers, who emphasized all the money raised would go to local charities, which include student bursaries, health organizations, hospitals and the Georgina Food Pantry.

“Every dime we get here goes back into the community. We don’t spend the money on administration; every dime of that goes back,” he said.

Philp also wants to acknowledge local businesses who contributed $3,000 in prizes for the top cars.

“The community stepped up. They all donated nice prizes,” he said.

While the cancellation of the P.A.R. picnic impacted this year’s car show, the Lions have high hopes for next year.

Philp says the Town has allowed more parking, and the Lions plan to add a hot rod category. He expects to attract between 400 to 500 cars, which will nearly double the size of the show.

Despite this year’s setback, the Lions are proud of their contributions to the Pefferlaw community over a 70-year period.

“Any service club is a lifeline to the community. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Lions, the Rotary Club, the Shriners or the Masons, they all do good work,” said Ron Denbraasem, the Lions’ President.

“Without them, there would be a lot of shortfall within the municipalities.”

“There is an endless list of local charities that we support. And I would say that since the Lions’ inception, we’ve probably pumped about $3 million into the community.”

Denbraasem also hopes to attract more members to the Lions.

“It gives people a chance to give back to their community. And that’s why we get involved. You have to give something back,” he said.

“We don’t like to toot our own horn, but we’ve doubled our size in the community. But we still need more people to come and help us with all the events,” added Brian Busby, the Lions’ 2nd Vice, who will be taking over the car show next year.

Busby is also looking for people to sign up for the club’s upcoming motorcycle and car cruise on August 19, which will raise funds to restore the club’s vintage 1932 Chevy sedan, which it has owned since the 1960s.

If you want to learn more about the cruise or how to become a member, visit the Pefferlaw Lions’ Facebook site or go to www.pefferlawlions.wixsite.com.