Despite less-than-ideal weather that brought occasional spatters of rain, the 34th annual D.W. Poppy Secondary School car show at 23752 52nd Ave. managed to attract around 500 vehicles and 2,000 car fans to the school backfield on Sunday, May 7.

Sponsored by a variety of community businesses, initial estimates show the event raised about $30,000, funds that will go to Poppy鈥檚 ADST (applied design, skills, and technologies) department (automotive, woodwork, metal work, foods classes), as well as the basketball team, environmental club and the dry grad committee.

Brian Jackson, who teaches metalwork at the school, explained much of the funds will go 鈥渢owards buying new shop equipment, because things are getting older.鈥�

鈥淎nd we鈥檝e got some volunteers helping with the library so we can buy some more books and some technology for that,鈥� Jackson added, 鈥渟o there鈥檚 lots of lots of wealth being spread around here at Poppy.鈥�

Fort 91原创 Lions served up a pancake breakfast, and there was a 50/50 draw and raffle.

Among the cars on display, Tall Timbers resident Tom Hoeltgen was showing his black 1973 for the first time.

Hoeltgen, and fellow Pantera owner Wes Stinson, from Burnaby, could clearly see their reflections in the car鈥檚 mirror-like black paint finish as they chatted.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just finished,鈥� Hoeltgen explained.

He has been been working on it for about a year.

鈥淚 rebuilt the motor, and a whole bunch of myriad other things, to make it very reliable.鈥�

Driving the car with its massive 608-horsepower engine requires a light touch, Hoeltgen observed.

鈥淵ou have to respect it,鈥� but it handles well, he told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淚t has power-assisted brakes and it has air conditioning and power windows and that鈥檚 all stock from the factory,鈥� he added.

鈥淚n a car like this, the air conditioning is a necessity, and because of its immense power, when you turn the air on it basically doesn鈥檛 even affect the motor.鈥�

READ ALSO: VIDEO: First post-pandemic car show at D.W. Poppy Secondary set records

More than 150 volunteers volunteers, students, parents, community supporters and staff made the show happen.

It will return in 2024 on the first Sunday in May.

More photos from the day can be viewed online at the page.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Aldergrove鈥檚 Country Car Show considers a move to nearby field

READ ALSO: Aldergrove students raising funds for grad celebration