Brian Borsoff, president and owner of Burnaby Autobody, is one of the most creative people in his business.
Borsoff has worked on everything from vintage cars to refrigerators to coffins, and frequently customizes all manner of vehicles for local film production companies.
Now, Borsoff is encouraging creativity in others with a drawing contest for kids.
Residents of Burnaby and New Westminster, ages six to 11, are invited to draw a picture of a bicycle on an 8-by-11 piece of paper.
And one lucky kid will have that drawing morph into a real bike.
"I've got this bike, which is virtually brand new," Borsoff says. "We did a little bit of touchup on it. It's like a $200 bike."
The bike was found in the bushes one day, and Borsoff was trying to decide whom to give it to when he had the idea for the contest.
The Venus Tech Team six-speed has been cleaned and fixed up, and is all ready to go.
"I'm just a real softie," Borsoff says, adding that he helps kids with soapbox derby projects, as well.
But these aren't the first projects he has worked on to benefit kids. In 2006, Borsoff turned an old fire truck into a playground for children at Emily Carr Elementary School in Vancouver.
He also restored the 1950s fire truck that delights children - and children at heart - in the Hats Off Day parade every year.
When Borsoff isn't repairing cars, restoring fire trucks, or creating playgrounds, he can often be found fixing up and customizing vehicles for the movies.
His first project was a convertible for Bird on a Wire, with Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn, he says.
Borsoff keeps photo albums of his many projects, including non-descript cars he fashioned for movies like The Sixth Day, with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
For those projects, Borsoff takes a vehicle and replaces key elements, such as the headlights, and completely changes to the shape of the back and front ends to make sure it doesn't resemble any current brand of car.
Borsoff isn't just good at what he does - he's fast at it, too.
"Sometimes they'll call me up and say, 'Brian, I've got a car coming in at noon, it's got to be back here at 4 p.m. Paint it,'" Borsoff says. "I say, 'no problem.'"
The fastest job he has done yet for the movie industry was a 15.5-minute paint job, with special, quick-drying additives in the paint.
"We get a lot of rushes," he says.
The wall behind the front counter at his shop is lined with signed photos from the actors who have starred with his custom-made vehicles in movies and television shows over the years.
Children, and their parents, can have a chance to see those photos when they visit Burnaby Autobody to drop off their contest entries.
Burnaby and New West kids ages six to 11 should include their names, ages and phone numbers on the 8-by-11 piece of paper with their drawing.
The contest runs from Aug. 7 until Sept. 8. at 11 a.m.
Drop entries off in person at #109-2544 Douglas Rd. in Burnaby. One entry per child.
On Sept. 10, Borsoff will do a random draw from the entries in the contest barrel and will call the lucky child that day.
