Overdue Report: Stainless Show and Shine in Canada

[Mike Substelny <msubstel@xxxx>]

A big thank you to Marv Stein for hosting the Stainless Show and Shine in London, Ontario the weekend before last. It was a terrific time!

Four DeLoreans from the DeLorean Club of Ohio made the trip, all without incident despite 60 minutes plus of idling at customs. Even that long wait was amusing, as the reason for the delay was a dramatic scene when some guy got hauled away in handcuffs. Perhaps he was smuggling Canadians?

Marv must have pulled some serious strings in arranging the picture perfect weather. While there was a bit of rain, it only fell while we were indoors. Every time we stepped outside the clouds parted, as if by magic. I do not understand Marv's mysterious power over the weather, but from now on he will be invited to every function the DCO ever has!

Highlights:

The hotel was amazing. The Lamplighter Inn was somewhere between a Holidome and the Opryland Hotel (DOA Expo 96). It has an indoor tropical wonderland, with watersides, a "beach", a "harbor", several waterfalls, and a river around its unique pool. Yet prices were very reasonable thanks to a favorable exchange rate.

Saturday morning we got a quick sightseeing tour of London, including a photo op. Then we displayed our DeLoreans on the banks of the Thames River in Springbank Park. The park had tour boat rides, miniature train rides, a fairy tale theme children's garden, and some carnival rides. It was great! Our cars attracted nonstop attention, and one of us was interviewed by the local newspaper.

Dinner both nights was great, but I must say that I had a particularly good time at a little restaurant called Caribou Crossing.

I hope the Show and Shine was not Marv's attempt to bring a boost to London's economy. Saturday night we went to the casino, where DCO members Cheryl Best-Wilke and Patti Substelny both won a lot more than their husbands lost.

After the casino, some of us partied pretty late Saturday night in that excellent hotel.

Marv gave us all special comemorative Show and Shine glasses, including a nice picture of a DeLorean. Patti and I use ours every day.

To those who missed The Stainless Show and Shine: your loss. It was everything you could hope for in a weekend of DeLorean fun.

Thanks again, Marv!

- Mike Substelny