Don’s Celebration of Life Ceremony is to be held at the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens – Royal Oak Location 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, B.C. March 3, 2019 at 1 PM.
Club President Don Earnshaw, has passed away (February 14, 2019). Our thoughts and prayers go out to wife Bev and all the Earnshaw, family.
At a special meeting of the Canadian Classic Chevelles and Beaumonts on Jan. 27, 2019 a quorum of club members voted to dissolve the formal club which is registered under the BC Societies Act.
President Don Earnshaw was facing a severe health issue and Secretary Treasurer Bev Earnshaw was occupied full time in supporting him and managing family matters. No one was nominated at the special club meeting to fill their positions.
Our thoughts go out to the Earnshaw family. Our thanks go to Don and Bev for their tireless support of the CCCB club and members since 1995.
The Jan-Feb 2019 magazine marks the final issue of the CCCB newsletter. The web site at https://cdnclassicchevellesbeaumonts.wordpress.com/ will continue as an archive. This year’s “Ernie’s Calendar” has been completed by Don and daughter Heather and is available on the Calendars web page. Members who have paid their fees for membership and magazines for the next year have been contacted by e-mail and reimbursed. Don and Bev advised, “We appreciate everyone’s patience while we are issuing refunds.”
Don E. was also one of the original administrators of the CCCB Facebook group. We will depend on co-administrators Mark Stubbington, Doug Mayorchak and Dave Weir to carry on with their support encouraging communication within our community. Click here to go to the CCCB Facebook group.
Thanks go out to graphics editor Rick Pawlas for assembling this history.
History and Evolution of the Canadian Classic Chevelles and Beaumonts Club
The “Canadian Classic Chevelles and Beaumonts Club” (CCCBC, a non profit organization) had a humble beginning in 1992 with Don Earnshaw, Tony Weaver, Dave Weir, and Rick Outingdyke (Late) being the founding members.
Then, the club was the Vancouver Island chapter of the Vancouver, B.C. based “B.C. Chevelle Club“. As a chapter the club membership, in 1994, peaked at about 90.
After much consideration, in 1995 a majority of members voted to break away from the B.C. Chevelle Club to form a not for profit association Canadian Classic Chevelles & Beaumonts Club with Dave Weir as president, and Rick Outingdyke as vice president.
The membership at that time felt that “going national” would not only benefit the club by being able to confer with others interested in hobby but would also be of benefit to potential new members throughout Canada and the U.S.A. by being able to share club knowledge with them.
Already there was a news letter in place to inform new members of club technical knowledge, progress and activities. The first official club newsletter “The Canadian Chevelle Beaumont News” was published October 1995. Initial 1995 membership in the CCCB was around 80 members residing mainly on Vancouver Island.
Don Earnshaw, was elected Vice President March 1996 and President in March 1997. Bev Earnshaw, was elected Secretary / Treasurer in April 1998.
January 1999 saw the publication of the first colour cover, booklet form, stapled CCCB news magazine.
With the club advertising in Old Car Trader, etc. and with much of the membership being very knowledgeable and willing to help new members with their restoration and related questions regarding Chevelles, Beaumonts and EI Caminos the membership grew to around 200 by 2002.
Many of these 200 members were now residing in Canada and the U.S. Due to illness Rick Outingdyke, passed on his Vice Presidency to Tony Weaver, in May 2002. Tony Weaver, then passed on his Vice Presidency to David Smethurst, May 2005. By 2007 the membership had expanded to about 550 peaking in 2008 at over 700 active members. In March 2010, David Smethurst, passed on the Vice Presidency to Bruce McInnis. In March 2014 Bruce McInnis passed his Vice Presidency to current Vice President Bob Patterson.
With the present state of the economy, the advent of “free membership” web forums, social web sites such as Facebook and diminishing interest today’s (2018 / 2019) membership is at 283.
Because the club is international the news magazine plays a huge part in club cohesiveness and member participation and is the binding force in the club as it promotes member partnership and with the help of club members is an “edited, researched and credible source” of information for club members. (Unlike many of the unedited, off the cuff web sites and web forums promoting the hobby).
Originally published and edited by then President Dave Weir, the original news letter evolved into a news magazine in 1999 with Dave, being the editor until 2002, George Tyre, 2002 to 2008 and then again Dave, to present.
In 1999 with a format change initiated and implemented by then assistant editor Rick Pawlas the “newsletter” became a “news magazine” and evolved from a black and white “corner stapled” letter to a folded, stapled booklet with a colour cover This more professional looking format was adopted by the club and appreciated by all members. The news magazine promoted the club and its membership as an even more reliable, credible source of information for aspiring restorers.
Rick, a member since 1997, took over the reins as assistant editor in 1999 and has been responsible for the layout, content and publishing of the magazine 1999 to present. Rick, resigned as assistant editor in December 2018.
Vancouver Island members of the CCCB have at times teamed up with the Vancouver Island Mustang Association and the Salvation Army to help sponsor and participate in a pre-Christmas toy and charity fund raiser (“Toy Run”); with all toys and funds being donated to the local chapter of the Salvation Army.
The club has offered its members swag, at cost, in the form of T-shirts, hats, jackets and a club decal since 1997. More devoted members have purchased many of these items and are proudly displaying them at car shows and various other club gatherings.
The club existed to promote camaraderie among its members and to further the auto restoration hobby in its many forms by being there for members. The club was dissolved at a members’ meeting January 27, 2019. – R. Pawlas
More than 60 vehicles participated in a drive by of the Earnshaw home in Saanich on Feb. 3, 2019. A special thanks goes to daughter Heather Earnshaw Tillapaugh for organizing this surprise event. Also, a special thanks goes to Frontline Image for creating the Youtube video. Click here to view.
There was a drive by in Saanich today, to honour Don and Bev Earnshaw’s dedication and contributions to the Canadian Classic Chevelles & Beaumonts. More than 60 vehicles participated in spite of weather warnings of snow, which prevented some mid Island members from attending as they were already in it. Cruisers stopped by the Earnshaw’s place in Saanich to offer their best wishes. All in all, a terrific display of thanks. Thanks also to Rick P. for providing the following photographs:
This club based out of Tacoma and including membership and interest throughout the US’s Pacific Northwest has included mention of the CCCB in their February newsletter. Click here to view..
Check out our new Club Nostalgia Pics page, capturing images that have formerly appeared in the club magazines.
Several things. We have been searching out the former web sites and found information to add to this one. In particular, you will see new menu pages on the top bar for Beaumonts, Chevelles & Malibus and Caminos & Sprints that will take you to info about production numbers and model numbers. Formatting is rough but that will improve. Also, we found some former monthly feature articles that have been transferred to the new page Member Rides. Don’t forget, if you want to get together at the next club meeting, it is Sept. 30 at the Haida Restaurant for brunch in Chemainus on Vancouver Island. Just let Don know you are coming.
Changes in events occur throughout the season. Click here to go to the Calendar Page where you can view or download the most recent version of Ernie’s Vancouver Island (and Pacific Northwest) Calendar to catch some changes in August and September including the Canamera car show in Victoria BC Aug. 26. Keep on shining!
Now Ernie says this will be this year’s last update. Hah – he always says that.
Click here to go to the Calendar page to download his Vancouver Island and Pacific Northwest calendar, version 4 as of a couple of days ago. Changes are show in red print. By the way, the Honeymoon Bay show is back on July 14!
