NORTH Vancouver hot rodder Lorne Kerr will be inducted into the Greater Vancouver Motorsports Pioneers Society in a ceremony this Sunday at the Vancouver's Croatian Cultural Centre.
Kerr bought a 1930 Ford Roadster off of his neighbour in 1963 and has had a tumultuous affair with the car ever since, rebuilding it, selling it and then buying it again before rebuilding it once more.
Growing up in East Vancouver, Kerr hung around many of the city's original gearheads and learned how to build a hot rod. When he bought his '30 Ford he built it up with a blower-equipped 270 cubic inch Dodge red Ram engine. Two years later he took the car apart and rebuilt it for a run on the Pacific Northwest car show circuit before selling it in 1974.
Nearly 30 years later Kerr, retired as principal of Eric Hamber secondary, learned his old car was on the market again. He bought it for a second time and again rebuilt it into a car that has been voted one of British Columbia's most historic hot rods.
Kerr will be honoured alongside 14 other car enthusiasts who made major contributions in the early days of motorsports in the Vancouver area. Keynote speakers for the event will be pioneering rock and roll DJ Red Robinson and Red's uncle Chuck Robinson, the first president of the B.C. Custom Car Club.
The afternoon of history and camaraderie runs from noon to 4 p.m. at 3250 Commercial Drive in Vancouver. A $10 donation is requested, lunch is included. For more information visit www.gvmps.org.
