On May 26th 2009, an announcement was made about the new ownership of Performance World Custom Car & Truck Show.
Excerpt of press release: Canada’s largest in door Custom Car show has been presenting the best in custom cars and trucks since 1964, at the Toronto International Centre. The previous owners have passed the torch onto a group of car enthusiasts committed to the industry and hobby, who will be managing the day to day business for The Justus Group Inc. This new life blood will ensure incredible visibility this year and in the years to come with its “Take it to the Streets” promotion campaign, as well as a grass roots enthusiast approach to the business. “We want to build a business to support the hobby and its enthusiasts. Today we are looking at all aspects of the economy, the industry and the ability to deliver the best cars, vendors, and entertainment value for our partners”.
With PW now in the hands of car enthusiasts, look for a bright future for this long-running show. We’re happy to have them on board as a 2009 Canadian Hot Rod Tour sponsor. Complete release HERE.
It was only a day or so ago that I wondered if bad news would come “in threes”. Specifically, we had heard that Ontario car builder Bill Snow had passed and then, suddenly, Jason Challlice – son of Gary Challice. I hoped not but, alas, it has. Yesterday, on Good Friday (you’re in good company bud), we lost our good friend Dave Roy aka “Davey Joe”. I don’t plan on eulogizing Dave here (you can read what his friends are saying HERE). I simply want to share a few thoughts.
About His Sense of Humour
I don’t have to tell you that Dave had a terrific sense of humour. You have to know that someone who used as his avatar a photo of Tommy Chong in character had an interesting sense of humour. I chuckled every time I saw that avatar. Being a prolific poster on the Canadian Rodder forum, his humour was everywhere and always spot-on.
About His Generosity
I’ve been told directly, and read about, many examples of DJ’s generosity. When we hear the word generosity, we tend to think about it in terms of giving tangible physical things or perhaps time and support. As I said, I’m aware that, in these ways, he was very generous. But he also had a generous spirit. I quote from my fourth Canadian Hot Rod Tour article:
“Upon arrival in Kamloops, we made our way directly to The Fortune Plaza. Wow, there were a ton of cars there and they were waiting for us. We were escorted through the crowd to the front of the restaurant where we were greeted warmly by our group and bunch of guys from the Canadian Rodder Forum. Neat stuff and I got another hug – from Davey Joe this time. Memorable moment of the day #3.” I was moved by this simple act of generosity and, of course, “comrodderie” as we call it around here. I had never met Dave or even talked on the phone yet he must have known I needed that hug.
The philosopher and writer Jean Jacques Rousseau said “When a man dies he clutches in his hands only that which he has given away during his lifetime.” There’s no way that Dave would have been able to clutch in his hands all that he gave to us.
We’ll miss you bud.
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I recently (finally) got around to having a piece of art custom framed. I can’t believe it took me so long but… It’s now hanging above and to the right of my desk so I get to check it out – a lot.
About this piece:
I was working late one night – actually very late – and checked email. An email came in asking if I had a brother. My knee-jerk thought was that it was one of those last name deals where someone who might have the same name could be assumed to be part of your family. I then, almost immediately after that, dismissed that thought as others with the last name Colgoni are limited to my Dad and Son. And, Colgoni is not actually our name (another story there). In any case, I answered “no”.
A second email come through asking if it would be OK if my “name” was used in an art piece. I should probably tell you at this point that the asker was Matthew Labutte of Brightwork Auto Art fame. I didn’t quite understand what name usage might entail but trusting Matthew I said “sure”. Time passed and I didn’t give it much more thought to be candid. Now, fast forward ahead to a Performance World show.
I’m hanging out at our Canadian Hot Rod Tour booth and Matthew comes by to ask me to come down to his booth when I get a chance. So, a while later, I get that chance and Judy and I set off for the Brightwork booth. Upon arriving there, Matthew is talking to someone so we start checking out all of his cool artwork. We do one wall and turn to do another and I am faced with this absolutley beautiful salt flat piece depicting a ‘32 roadster at speed. After that initial overall first impression, I begin taking in the details and…what’s this…”Colgoni Bros.” on the hood! To say I was surprised, elated, stunned, etc. would be an understatement (I hope the big public hug I laid on Matthew was cool).
Does it matter that I don’t have a brother? Hardly. “Colgoni Bros.” sounds cool and, after all, I do have a brother-in-law who’s like a brother. I gave him his own framed version. He digs it very much too.
So, click on the thumbnail above (if you haven’t already) to check out “The Time Machine”. Thanks Matthew. www.brightworkautoart.com
“Deuce Guy” Larry Zilinsky contacted me a while back to tell me about a project he was working on. Larry said:
I thought I’d send some pics of the ‘40 Ford pickup I’m doing now. The story is that in the 50’s when I was growing up, my Dad (in the pic) had a business called Parkcrest Heating. So when I decided to build a ‘40 Ford pickup rat rod, I thought I’d do it as a reincarnation / barn find /shop truck, complete with Tremclad rust flat black paint polished through – patina’d with SBC, 4 speed, whites, etc. Just a great driver & fun truck! My Dad was in tears when he saw what I was doing! Makes a guy feel good!”
Larry, thanks for sharing. More photos HERE >>
Every once in a while, I have posted articles entitled “Not About Cars” (with varying subject matter). On the eighth birthday of Canadian Rodder, I think it’s fitting to post 2008’s edition of Not About Cars.
As I have noted on numerous occasion, the reason I selected Canadian Rodder as the name of the site (and not Canadian Rods, etc.) was to place emphasis on the rodder. That is, the people that make up this hobby – and industry. Sure, the cars are cool. After all, they bring us together and are our common interest. But, we’re people first and I’m constantly reminded of that.
In 2003, the Canadian Rodder forum was launched and the larger “community” was born. Local and regional groups have come together and we have met and made friends – I dare say from all over the world. There have been events, both large and small, that have galvanized our sense of community – from the chop of David Brown’s Lincoln to the 2007 Canadian Hot Rod Tour.
More recently there have been several occasions where individuals from all over our domain have received an outpouring of concern and encouragement relative to life’s curveballs. If you frequent the Canadian Rodder Forum, you’ll be familiar with these outpourings.
So, with another year behind us, I’m gratified that we are rodders first – Canadian and otherwise.
