LANGLEY — Ian Newby could charge an admission to those who visit his Aldergrove property.
The workshops and buildings that stand next to each other are chock-full with fascinating memorabilia, to go with a cornucopia of cars from a variety of eras.
Newby operates International Movie Services, which provides military and public service uniforms and vehicles for the motion picture and television industry. He owns four taxis, a double-decker bus that was transported from England to Canada to promote the 1967 film To Sir With Love, and he says, "several hundred" cars, including Jaguars, MGs, Jensens and "lots of military stuff."
Newby's 4,000-square-foot shop houses 28 of his cars.
All the beauties he now owns are in stark contrast with Newby's first car, a 1951 Pontiac two-door sport coupe that his dad gave to him in 1961, when Newby was just 16 years old.
"It was so bad, they wouldn't take it as a trade-in," Newby said.
"It was a 10-year-old car and he had driven it until it dropped, and then he gave it to me."
Today, Newby's passion for accumulating cars is all about preservation.
"I've always been a historian," he said. In 1969, he founded what is now known as the Canadian XK Jaguar Register and Canadian Classic MG Car Club.
The club began with a classified ad in the Vancouver Sun newspaper in June, 1969 which read: "Drive an MG or a Jaguar? Need sympathy?" This coming weekend, from Friday to Sunday (Aug. 15 to 17), the club is hosting its annual show, which this year has special meaning because it marks the first time the event has ever been held in Langley.
Heritage 45 celebrates the 45th anniversary of the MG/Jaguar club's Heritage Classic show, a Concours d'Elegance for Jaguars and field event for MG and all other British cars.
It moves this year from North Vancouver to Douglas Park.
Newby, who organized the first Heritage Classic show in 1970, is bringing about 16 Jaguars and MGs to the show on Saturday, Aug. 16.
"As the founder of the club, I am so delighted that it has perpetuated itself for 45 years," Newby said.
British car club members from the Lower Mainland, Alberta and the Pacific Northwest are invited to take part in the festivities.
At the field event on Aug. 16, there are judged classes for MG and Jaguar, and People's Choice and Mayor's Choice awards for "All Other British," noted Carole Borgens, the co-chair of the Heritage 45 Classic.
Borgens said the Langley Arts Alive festival, which will run in downtown Langley, simultaneously with the car show, "will provide additional excitement," as will the on-field silent auction, new Jaguar display and "bocce versus croque showdown."
New Jaguars will be on display to contrast with the classics.
On Friday, Aug. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m., a Cars and Stars Boot Party kicks off the weekend event with a no-host bar, catered appetizers, live music and a display of cars under the marquis on the Coast Hotel parkade roof.
On Saturday, Aug. 16, gates open for the car show at 8:30 a.m. at Douglas Park, 20399 Douglas Cres., Langley. Judging commences from noon to 3 p.m., with silent auction on the field at 4 p.m. Later, starting at 6:30 p.m., a no-host cocktail party will be held at the Canadian Museum of Flight hangar, with historical airplanes and displays on view, and a private biplane aerobatics display for guests, followed by buffet dinner and awards.
On Sunday, Aug. 17, 9 a.m., a JCNAsanctioned slalom starts at Scott Road park 'n' ride parking lot, Surrey, for a "country drive" in the area.
Additional information is to be found online at Jaguarmg.com.