Famous Ladybird Boat headed to Road Kings Queen City Cruise
By The Nelson Daily Sports
There’s going to be a different kind of classic workmanship on display this weekend during the Nelson Road Kings Queen’s City Cruise.
Thursday afternoon, the famous Ladybird was lifted out of the old museum building on Anderson Street next to Hume School after being completely restored.
Walton Boat Works of Nelson built the Ladybird for Lewis Gilbert. The boat is is powered by a WW I Liberty Airplane Engine, with a Garwood conversion.
Built in the early 1930s, Ladybird raced for 25 years and set a speed record of 68 MPH on Kootenay Lake in 1933 while winning many Championships of Kootenay Lake during her long career.
C.W. Walton was the owner/operator of Walton Boat Works.
The Ladybird was still on the lake as late as 1957. Walton built very fine wooden boats that are today very desirable collectors items.
After years of work at the old Nelson museum building at the corner of Anderson Street and Nelson Avenue, the boat is now ready to be put on display and will be in Friday’s Queen City Cruise parade.
The 14th annual Nelson Road Kings Queen’s City Cruise begins Friday (September 9th) at the Nelson Chamber of Commerce in the Railtown district.
The always-popular parade, beginning at 6 p.m., follows registration Friday, with the Show and Shine on Baker Street and poker run set for Saturday.
Saturday night is the Bar Hop.
For complete information check out the Road Kings website.
