In photos: Hundreds of classics vie for copper kettles in small Ontario brewery town
Every year the Creemore Springs brewery hosts its Copper Kettle festival in Creemore, Ont. The one-day event, which took place Aug. 22, drew tourists from across Ontario to visit the small town and micro-brewery that prides itself for being "100 years behind the times."
Taking the cue on historic appreciation, local businessman Corey Finkelstein has tagged on the day by organizing his Copper Kettle Classics show, which is free to enter and awards real copper kettles as prizes to the best in show. This year was the show's largest turnout yet, with more than 500 cars lining the main drag - Mill Street - and several sideroads as well.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Bill Findley of Collingwood, Ont. found the shell of a 1931 Plymouth four-door rusting in a farmer's field and bought it for $500. Since then he's customized it into this gleaming red pickup.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Brian Sargeson is a summer car show regular and has racked up a wall of trophies for his 1955 Chevy B210, including an award for his custom interior work.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
The exterior of Brian Sargeson’s 1955 Chevy B210Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
This blue 1954 Ford F100 was bought for $22,500 by David Divell, who enjoys driving it around and showing off the wooden-paneled flatbed. But he won't tow anything and risk scuffing its shiny appearance.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Randy Smith's 1975 Dodge "Shaggin' Wagon" van actually came with this living-room style interior.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
But Randy Smith painted the exterior of the shaggin’ wagon anew back in 1982.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Roy Helmer does enjoy driving his 1952 Plymouth police cruiser, but is sure to use his historic-labelled licence plates to avoid being mistaken for a real officer - and he never turns on the siren.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Marlies Sands drives this 1967 Morgan four-seater that her husband Alan bought direct from the factory in 1967. Alan fondly remembers his days racing the car and climbing hills, and now shows it off whenever he gets the chance.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Alan Sands drove his 1954 Allard J2X to Copper Kettle Classics, favouring this rare sports car that he's owned for 53 years. The car won the Margaret Dunning Spirit of Driving award at Cobble Beach's Concours d'Elegance.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
To customize his 1950 Mercury, Trevor Downing took his mother's lace and embedded it into the car roof and side panels. The car's name, "Restless," harkens back to his youth when he idolized James Dean and was "all over the place."Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Robert MacDonald bought this 1928 Chevy Depot Hack for $10,000. The unique vehicle was used to transport vacationers from the train stations to their hotels in the north cottage country.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
John Ens bought his 1964 Ford F100 rat rod already constructed for $12,000. But the tattoo artist who enjoys rockabilly music spent the last five years rebuilding the engine and suspension and customizing the interior.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
A look inside John Ens’ 1964 Ford F100 rat rodBrian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Jim Lawrence doesn't miss a chance to have fun with his 1972 Gremlin X, putting everyone's favorite movie gremlin, Gizmo, under the hood while this car is on display.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Ernie Poole knows that his 1925 Henderson motorcycle with sidecar is easily the most expensive at the show - easily worth $60,000 he estimates - but he doesn't let that stop him from driving it. He inherited it from the original owner, his father.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Oscar the Grouch was already the theme of this 1975 custom GMC pickup when Wayne Scott bought it just a couple of months ago. Wayne needed a replacement for his last custom car, which was wrecked when a fuel line caught fire. "I singed my eyebrows," he recalls.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
It doesn't get more custom than this wooden tank that Brad Bennett started construction on in 2011, modeling it after a 1944 Sherman tank. See Bennett's Youtube channel to watch him drive it around his yard and fire the potato cannon, which can launch a spud up to 200 yards.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
Ted Clark's 1936 Chevy Master Deluxe features a unique double-sided access to the engine compartment.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail
The oldest car at the show is Tom Collins' 1904 Horseless Carriage. He bought it for just $500 after coming across it sitting idle in a Wasaga, Ont. barn. He can drive it at a maximum speed of 15 km/h.Brian Jackson/The Globe and Mail