Welcome to the Spirit Blog. Feel free to add a comment.

5/9/2009

Welcome to the "Spirit Blog" Here you can make comments and ask questions. It looks like we will be displaying the Spirit in Sparks (near Reno), at the Victorian Square, near the food court at the Hot August Nights event in the during the first week in August. Just click on the "comments" hypertext above and let us know what you think.

45 Comments

Jim

5/9/2009 03:37:59 pm

Interesting car. Is it going to be on display in Victoria again?

Tim Lindsay

5/18/2009 02:21:56 pm

Sorry Jim it has taken me a while to get back to you. We had the car out for a little spin this past Sunday. Our next venue for displaying the car will be in Reno/Sparks during Hot August Nights during the first week in August. We will probably take a rest for a bit after that. We stopped at a gas station to pick up some coolant and we drew a crowd right away.

eric

6/25/2009 10:27:00 am

very cool!

Tim Lindsay

6/25/2009 03:15:05 pm

Thanks Eric. Would you like to go for a ride in the "teardrop" some Sunday?

Greta Harvey

6/5/2010 12:44:06 am

Hi Tim,

My Gramdma, Muriel Lohr, lived down the street on Lohr Road. She told me that her dad, Harold Lohr helped to build the "Teardrop" and that she was the first "person" to take a ride in it. My Great Uncle George Lohr still lives on Lohr Road, although not at the old homestead. It's funny, the picture of the man leaning against the Teardrop, whom you didn't know, looks a lot like my Great Grandfather Harold Lohr, because of his stance and the clothes, and especially the hat. Probably not but who knows right?
Looking forward to hearing from you!

Greta Harvey

Craig Alberhasky

12/11/2010 11:37:04 pm

Nice website. I love reading about things like this "Spirit of Tomorrow". Innovation doesn't always have to come from large corporations but can come from a backyard tinkerer living next door. Have a great day!

Estelle

5/20/2011 01:44:29 pm

I knew Barney as a girl he was a fascinating man!!!
I am wondering where the photos of his home are? He designed and built a home that was solar powered and rotated on a tract. It was during that time I met him.

He was a very interesting man who left an impression on me still to this day 40 years later!

Kind regards,

Estelle

Phil Norton

7/5/2011 10:51:03 am

Tim, I can remember watching the Victoria Day Parade back in the late 50's and 60's with my wife and kids and the Teardrop was there year after year. I often wondered what ever happened to it. So I got on the internet and found your website. Thanks for all the info on it, its really interesting. I will continue watching your website for updates, Ps, I'm not related to John Norton, but I did have a brother with the same name. Thanks again Tim for giving us the memories. Phil Norton

Greg Hauck

12/17/2011 01:52:02 pm

Hello. I found your web-site by accident. I saw pic of the Teardrop on a Hemmings page. Right away I remembered that I took a picture of your car when my wife & I visited Victoria in July/2000. I still also remember as I drove past and almost snapping my neck clean off, saying "I need to go back and check that out!!" I spent 10 minutes, looking, thinking how it was made & imagining the history & upgrades. May the Teardrop live forever. Thanks!

Tim Lindsay

12/17/2011 02:43:36 pm

Greg

It always wonderful to hear from people that have been struck with the genius of this car's design.

The next time you are in Victoria....let me know in advance and we will take it out for a spin.

We are in the process of installing a tri core rad to assist with the cooling.

It should be ready by the time you get here.

All the best and thanks for stopping by. If you send me an attachment of that picture...I will post it...t.lindsay@shaw.ca.

Bless you and have a great Christmas.

Greg Hauck

1/15/2012 12:45:00 pm

Hi. Would love to go for spin. Call me at 403-581-8579 and maybe we could set it up this year. Thanks.

John J Norton

3/14/2012 08:07:38 pm

Im the Grandson of John Norton. i came across this page and was just thrilled! thank you so much. wonderful pictures.

Tim Lindsay

3/15/2012 10:49:18 am

Thank you for the kind words John. Uncle Basil and your grandfather were very close. Let me know when you are in the neighborhood and I will get you inside the car.

Joanne Licsko

10/26/2019 01:25:40 pm

I lived next door to your grandparents and was best friends with your dad. I remember your grandfather working on his beautiful Jaguar. That was so long ago when they lived on Towner Park.

Travis Butler

4/11/2012 07:05:49 am

Great website, would you like a few photos of the logging truck you mention?

Tim Lindsay

4/11/2012 08:06:32 am

That would be fantastic Travis. I saw the one you posted to Vibrant Victoria. There is a heritage group at Prospect Lake that has been asking for some pics so your help would be greatly appreciated.

Roy Davies

12/3/2012 06:37:43 am

Great site. A bit off topic but...My Dad kept his plane at Butlers for many years and I have very fond memories of lazy summer Sundays going for a quick fly ... and... blackberries. BTW, the Oldfield Shop is still at Sparton and W. Saanich Rd. They need to know what great work was done there!

Tim Lindsay

12/17/2012 02:11:29 am

Thanks for the comment Roy. I have flown out of Butler's Field, it can be a bit tricky.

The shop that you refer to still belongs to Rob Oldfield. He rents it out.

Nice to hear from you.

Rick Harcombe

1/18/2013 06:47:45 am

I was raised on Sparton Road, and knew Rob Oldfield and his family while growing up there. The Teardrop made numerous drives along Sparton and was always a great sight to see. The round house was also an interesting sight to see being constructed. All done without the benefit of computers and design programs, simply with common sense engineering and practical knowhow. Great to see that Basil's heritage lives on! Good job!

Tim Lindsay

1/21/2013 10:52:16 am

Thanks for posting Rick, and thanks for the kind words. Rob still works at the gas station.

The whole idea of this web page is to preserve the work and the legend of what Basil was able to accomplish.

I am glad it is appreciated.

bob dalziel link

4/18/2013 06:01:46 am

Great Website , My 4 year old Grandson is a real CAR GUY and is always looking up Cars on the computer. We saw one similar to this and I remembered it from Sunday drives in the '50's when I was a kid and also saw it again at expo 86 , so I punched it in and VOLA . Great site . Is there any chance I could show it to My Grandson sometime ? Thanks its just such a CLASSIC !!!

Tim

4/19/2013 08:10:11 am

Bob that was a wonderful post. Tell your grandson that we will pick him and his friends up and take them for a ride this summer.

Imagine the stories that he will be able to tell when he says that Gramps was at the wheel.

Charley Simms

11/2/2013 06:32:38 am

Fantastic story and pics. Thanx a lot for posting.

Gary Thorsen

11/3/2013 01:27:40 pm

Hi Tim
What a great site. Sure brings back memories. We had lots of rides in the old teardrop and could it ever fly with Basil at the wheel.
Thanks Again
Gary

P.K. (Keith) Jackman

11/4/2013 01:36:21 am

Great article - we have many memories of the Butlers and Oldfield's when we lived in Victoria for more 40 yrs. A special hello to Arlene - I was a jr. clerk with the MVB when Arlene work in the accounts office - Keith Jackman

Calvin McCarthy

11/20/2013 09:29:36 am

I remembered seeing this car traveling up and down Oldfield Road in the 1950s and early 1960s and wondered what happened to it. I am pleased to find this website and see that the car is enjoying continued exposure and publicity.

Rob Hanna link

5/28/2014 09:37:23 am

Hi I love the pics & info :)
My dad Bill Hanna was good friends with Barney & the Butlers. He worked with them on many projects (the monster) Logging truck was the one I most remember we visited the shop & Barney's home often over the years that the trucks were being built. My dad sold & serviced Detroit Diesel engines which were used in most of the big equipment the Butler's had in use back then.
I remember seeing "Barney's Bomb" the car had a small hand painted logo near the back with & still remember him taking me for a ride in it... Wow that has stuck with me all these years.

Ron Stovel

10/25/2014 05:03:35 pm

I worked building road for these monster trucks back in the mid 1970's , out of Sooke , sure is nice to see these shots . Sad to see the hulks rusting away , surely there are enough deep pockets left in the logging industry to restore a few of these gems before they turn to rust ? Todays logging trucks look like toys along side these giants . I remember the fellows trying to build a "perfect" load of giant logs for some "photo op" and it was a beauty . As everyone watched the front tire went flat , we all had a good laugh , then the mechanics showed up for a minor flat repair . I hadn't heard of the "Spirit" before , thanks for the education .

Tim Lindsay

10/25/2014 05:07:21 pm

Thanks for the story Ron.

Matt

1/26/2015 02:53:47 am

Thanks for putting this site together and sharing the stories . Saw the car last year in Mikes shop. Interesting to learn about Barny's involvement in the Butler logging trucks.

Tricia Salter

12/30/2015 05:53:47 pm

I was just looking at our old photos of Expo 86. I have a photo of myself leaning on that car.

Tim

12/30/2015 07:57:16 pm

Hi Tricia
Any chance you could scan that picture and send it to me? t dot lindsay at shaw dot ca

Vince 1930's streamline house-car and travel trailer preservation link

11/28/2017 10:39:08 pm

I would love to buy your Oldfield sprit of tomorrow if it's ever for sale to display in a 1930's art deco streamline house-car, travel trailer, national museum ,please call 530 305 6979

Tim

12/10/2017 11:04:16 am

Thank you for your offer Vince, but I am sure that it will stay in the family for decades to come. Do you have a web page for your museum? I am sure some of our readers would like to see what you have.

Greg Simpson

12/10/2017 08:55:03 am

I used to see the teardrop when it was officially displayed, as in the parades mentioned above, but my first sighting was when driving into Victoria with my family and it joined the Pat Bay Highway where the East Saanich Road merges...I expressed my surprise while my parents just mumbled something about not seeing it on the road for a long time. Tim, I think, if you're the same person, that we went to Claremont together...and an older brother of yours, again, if you're the same person, named Jack.

Tim

12/10/2017 11:05:18 am

Yes Greg that's me alright. Nice to hear from you.

Greg Simpson

12/10/2017 11:23:22 am

good to find you here Tim...no idea you were connected with the Oldfields...I once lived on a road named after the family...

Tim

12/11/2017 05:15:12 am

Greg, I married Arlene Oldfield.....she is Rob Oldfield's sister and he still operates the Prospect Lake Gas Station. Our eldest daughter lives two doors to the south of the garage in Basil's house that he lived in before he built the round house. Our youngest daughter Cristi used to pump gas for Rob while she was going to University. I guess we are "lifers" here in Prospect Lake. It's a great place to live and raise a family.

Tim

12/11/2017 05:23:25 am

I forgot to mention our oldest daughter's name ...Marina. She is married to Gabe, a chef in a restaurant in town. They can be seen all over the neighbourhood when their dog takes them for a walk.

Vince link

12/10/2017 01:05:03 pm

Hi Tim Thanks for the up date, I just emailed you back some photos but they will not send ? can you send me a email that you can receive photos and I send you some again also I would love first shot ! if the family ever does go to sell it. Thanks again Vince 530 305 6979

Tim

12/11/2017 05:20:13 am

That would be great Vince. How about you send the pictures to t(dot)lindsay(at)shaw(dot)ca

I would love to see what you are working on....and I will make a note of your phone number for future reference. You might need to outlive our daughters though. They fell in love with the car when they were part of the crew when we took the car to Hot August Nights in Reno a few years back.

Miranda Marcy

10/20/2020 02:52:05 pm

I was so delighted to find your site when I was looking for information on a photo of a car named "Spirit of Tomorrow" I found among my grandfather's things! I'd like to send you a copy of the photo and the information my grandpa wrote on the back (parts used and technical things like that) if you'd be interested in it. I had no idea what the history of the car was, so it was really great to find your site and be able to read about it!

Tim

10/20/2020 03:24:03 pm

Hi Miranda. Nice to hear your story.
Please email me at

t(dot)lindsay(at) shaw (dot) ca

I would love to see your material.
Cheers Tim Lindsay.

Melanie link

1/10/2021 08:22:56 pm

Hi nice reading your blog

Chris Wright

2/18/2021 04:52:06 pm

I spent many hours in Basil's shop as a young boy I have gone for many rides in the tear drop. I chipped welds and helped Basil in his shop when he built the first logging truck( I was ten at the time.) I also helped on the second logging truck I peddled my bike out to the airport from Prospect lake to do that . Basil also took me flying out of Butler air fied. Had many enjoyable hours lerning from Basil. Rob and I also payed together when we were kids.

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