More than 7,000 car buffs reveled in an automotive paradise, checking out the 400 superb cars on display at the 2018 Motor Gathering held on Sunday.
It was a spectacular showcase of American classics, Japanese sports cars and European ingenuity. And when the ooing and ahhing was over and the judging complete, the big winners were the charities that benefitted again this year from the annual event sponsored by the GAIN Group.
A grand total of $186,218 was donated to two charities, the David Foster Foundation ($100,000), the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation ($56,218) and local families in need who are not supported by an organization who have children in need ($30,000).
“The Cowichan District Hospital Foundation and the David Foster Foundation members were thrilled and we were so happy to be able to give back to our community,” said Cindy Mui, of GAIN.
Held for the last three years at the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, this was the seventh Motor Gathering. Over that time, almost three-quarters of a million dollars has been raised for charity.
Numerous community organizations and businesses also step up to provide in-kind donations to make the event possible. This year, that support was valued at $220,000. Dozens of volunteers donated their time to make the Gathering run smoothly.
Mui says the Motor Gathering manages to raise more money every year — $153,000 in 2016 and $174,000 last year — but some modifications are on the drawing board for 2019.
“There will be lots of exciting new changes and updates to the show for next year so I encourage everyone to monitor our website and social channels to learn more,” Mui said.
“Being seven years with a similar format, we are going to really change it up to bring something different to the Island.”
Check out the Citizen’s Facebook page for more photos from the 2018 Motor Gathering.