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Cruiser Classic

Cruiser Classic

Photo by Michael Regan

Cruiser Classic

Ford Flathead

Photo by Michael Regan

Does your heart beat a little faster when you hear the name Iskadarian? Do you know the difference between a full and 3/4 race cam? Do you know what the Beach Boys meant when they sang - "she's ported and relieved and she's stroked and bored"? Do you know who Zora Arkus-Duntov and "Smokey" Yunick were?

If you do - have we got the event for you!

This year will mark the 23rd Annual Comox Valley Classic Cruisers Graffiti Bash. Held at the end of July it is the number one car event on Vancouver Island. On the last Sunday in July downtown Courtenay is turned into a parking lot. Cars ranging from a 1909 Stanely to, my favourite, an E-type Jaguar take over the downtown in a huge Show & Shine.

And, boy do they ever shine. Some are 'trailer only' but most are 'summer drivers' all polished, detailed and shown with pride.

I love the detailing of the motors. They bring back memories of working on some of my Dad's cars. His theory was the body was only there to stop the motor from getting wet. His tricked out '52 Chevy stove bolt (235 cubic inch 6 cylinder) would 'blow the doors' off most cars on the road. Later we moved up to a 1959 Chev, which contrary to popular belief, actually held the road better the faster it went. And, the 283 Chevy small block could make it go FAST.

And in case your memory doesn't go far enough back:

  • Ed Iskadarian: Designed some of the best street and racing cams ever.
  • full and 3/4 race: Cams designed to open the valves faster and hold them open longer. The 'full race' was strictly for racing it didn't idle well and needed to high rpms to generate power. The 3/4 race was mild enough to idle and could be used on the street.
  • Ported and relieved: On the Ford flathead V8 - removing a small amount of metal around the valves and smoothing the surface of the intake and exhaust ports. Both contributed to better airflow - although relieving did slightly lower the compression ratio.
  • stroked and bored: Increasing the stroke by welding material onto the crank shaft and regrinding and balancing the crankshaft. And, increasing the diameter of the bore.
  • Zora Arkus-Duntov: 'Father of the Corvette'.
  • Henry "Smokey" Yunick: Ran "Smokey's Best Damn Garage in Town" on Beach Street in Daytona Beach, Florida. Best known for his 'creative interpretation' of NASCAR rules
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