The plug has been pulled on most every car show in the Lower Mainland for 2020 due to COVID-19.

The long-standing May Day paradesa国际传媒� that always draws thousands to Fort Langley on Victoria Day, Monday, May 18 sa国际传媒揾ad to be cancelled.

And with sunny skies promised on the statutory holiday, classic car enthusiasts were sa国际传媒渋tchingsa国际传媒� to get out for a drive.

The solution, car enthusiasts and May Day committee members Russ Townsend and Steve Williams pulled out their Rolodex sa国际传媒� speaking to their age sa国际传媒� and began calling their friend. They dialed a few dozen members of Lower Mainland car clubs and asked if they wanted to be part of an impromptu drive through the village of Fort Langley today.

The answer was a resounding sa国际传媒測es,sa国际传媒� Williams said, noting some 75-plus custom and classic cars lined the back streets of Fort Langley Monday morning. And at exactly 11 a.m. sa国际传媒� the start time of the annual parade sa国际传媒� they started their engines and rumbled and rolled through the centre of the village.

sa国际传媒淲ith whatsa国际传媒檚 going on with our current situation [the coronavirus], we cannot have a parade. So, what we are doing is a spontaneous appreciation drive through Fort Langley to show appreciation to the community and to show that we sa国际传媒� the May Day committee and the parade supporters sa国际传媒� are still here,sa国际传媒� he said.

They called it a non-May Day Parade, a tribute drive for the 98th annual May Day.

It was all low key and last-minute happening, the emphasis being on social distancing and nothing official or formal, Townsend said.

Itsa国际传媒檚 just an impromptu drive with no warning to the public until all the cars started arriving, Williams added. He noted that the non-parade was lead by Emergency Health Services and the Township of Langley Firefighterssa国际传媒� Charitable Society (TLFCS), with Fort Langley resident and Township Mayor Jack Froese social distancing inside the fire truck, waving to those along the route. A fistful of police cruisers were in the village and expecting to participate as well, but were called off just moments before the drive began.

sa国际传媒淎ll in all, it was very well received,sa国际传媒� said Williams, who noted how a few area residents set up chair in their front yards to watch as the vehicles drove down the back streets.

sa国际传媒淧eople were running out of their homes, and yelling sa国际传媒榯hank you.sa国际传媒� It was wonderful,sa国际传媒� Williams added. Townsend, whosa国际传媒檚 been parade marshall for May Day for years, was equally thrilled to see the turnout and the reaction.

Likewise, people strolling through the village stopped along the sidewalk and watched as the entourage drove down Glover Road.

sa国际传媒淭here was a little bit of noise, a lot of chrome, and a lot of flashy cars. It was fun,sa国际传媒� Williams said of the event, noting he could have likely tripled the turn out if hesa国际传媒檇 spent more than one day spreading the word to collectors.

sa国际传媒淗appy May Day 2020,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淎nd wesa国际传媒檒l see you back here, May Day 2021.sa国际传媒�

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