Friendship, Camaraderie & Antique Cars

When Bill’s daughter, Lisa Noski reached out to us and told us about this touching story, we knew we had to share it with the community. Who knew that sharing a common interest could develop into lifelong friendships and thoughtful gestures that could make such an impact?

Bill Sopkin has been part of a British Car Club that has met in Golden Cove for many years. The men get together for friendship and an excuse to drive their antique cars. Over the past year, Bill has been ill and not able to attend most of the get-togethers.

“This group of men has been very devoted to my father and they regularly visit him at his house”, Lisa said. “They volunteer to drive him around in his 1948 MG TC (it’s a right-hand drive, straight from Great Britain). Usually 9-20 cars show up at my father’s house and they do a car rally/parade with their beautiful prized antique cars around Lunada Bay. I constantly tell them that they are a bright spot in his life and the one thing he looks forward to at his age…their response is always that he is like a father to them, and that they get more joy out of this than they give. Then there are usually a few tears of joy and gratitude by all of us.”

On the day of the parade, Lisa made sure the timing was perfect. Just in time, she brought her father outside to see his favorite buddies honor him for his birthday and give him a classic car ride around PV. Jaguar, Alvis, MG, Austin Healy, the classic line-up kept coming. Bill’s vintage car club was coming to him, members from miles around wanting to give some birthday wishes. Bill got into his polished MG while Howie Margolies , car club organizer, took the wheel. There was no time wasted between his friends arriving and them leaving with Bill and Howie leading the way. Waves and cheers from neighbors and residents were at every corner.

As the tour around PV drew to a close, Bill returned home to friends and family gathering around him to sing him Happy Birthday and celebrate a man clearly loved by many.