“Inductee” trivia tidbit

Almost since it’s birth in 1949, the Vancouver Island Track Racing Association (VITRA) had participated in the annual “Victoria Day” parade on the long May weekend with decorated Stockcars carried on car transporters and also towed behind decorated cars and trucks. For their entry in 1963, the club’s parade committee decided that a full floral float was in order and as the date quickly approached, they began preparations. Commitee members and club volunteers picked literally hundreds of flowers from fields in Central Saanich (ones which are now the site of the “Saanich Fairgrounds”) and it was subsequently a very surprised Saanich policeman who spotted a 5 passenger 1947 Plymouth coupe trundling slowly down the road with what appeared to be an entirely flower-filled interior! Wondering if the car even had a driver, the constable pulled the Plymouth over and through the many blooms caught sight of the driver’s eyes which were in fact those of 2019 Inductee Barrie Goodwin! Explaining the situation got Barrie a surprisingly positive response which included a police escort to Vantreight Farms where the cut flowers were to be stored prior to being added to the float on the Sunday before the parade. It took every last hour of that Sunday evening to complete the bloom installation job and following it’s participation in the parade, the float made it’s way to Western for the enjoyment of the crowd gathered for the Monday evening holiday race meet.