Pierre LaChance

2009-01-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

Articles on Canadian Craftsman Pierre LaChance
Born, and raised in Ottawa Ontario
Pierre has the Formula for Success.
Book Publications,Videos,Websites available online.

===============NEWS PAPER ARTICLES============

Wood sculptor gives gifts to kids
By Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News - December 23, 2007

Wooden bike… He pieces together the wooden replica of Evel Knievel’s XR 750 motorbike. He has had a photo of the wooden bike turned into posters, which will be distributed as gifts to patients at Sunny Hills Health Center for Children in Vancouver—a division of B.C. Children’s Hospital.
Jason Luciw/Capital News
Pierre LaChance stands proudly next to the wooden replica of Evel Knievel’s XR 750, which he’s created as part of his ongoing therapy.
The motorcycle is carefully assembled in LaChance’s Westside workshop ready for its latest photo shoot.
Each piece of the bike is made from scraps of donated wood—mostly maple, walnut and oak.
“See, it even has shocks,” he says with enthusiasm.
The shocks are the only metal on the whole replica.
The spokes, handle bars, exhaust and motor are all wood.
The Evel Knievel bike isn’t the only replica he’s done. His blog site shows the race car he carved for Vancouver’s Molson Indy. Visit www.pierrelachance.blogspot.com.
Like the race car, photos of the bike are now on posters that will be sent to patients at Sunny Hills Health Center for Children—part of B.C. Children’s Hospital that specifically serves kids with disabilities. “I’ve been donating to Sunny Hills since 1994,” says LaChance. “I was a patient there when I was young because of a car accident—I was on my bike and I crossed the road and was run over by a car. I am in therapy still because of the accident.”
The wood work has been part of his therapy for many years, he says. The posters of the wooden bike need to be sent to the kids, says LaChance.
It’s too late for Christmas, but the gifts can be used for birthdays and events throughout the year, says Sunny Hills spokeswoman Sheila Kennedy. If a donor is able to pay to ship the materials, contact LaChance through his blog site.
Agassiz Observer
Agassiz carver's work has Horsepower
James Baxter/Observer Pierre LaChance at his Agassiz workshop.By James Baxter Observer Mar 09 2005 Agassiz wood carver Pierre LaChance is putting the final touches on an oak motorcycle he is building for legendary daredevil Evel Knievel.The bike, a faithful replica of Knievel's gravity-defying Harley Davidson XR750, has been meticulously fashioned, piece-by-piece, over 100 hours, according to Lachance, who has also carved himself a reputation as a leader in wooden automotive crafts. He began work on the Knievel bike last year as a trade for the stuntman's endorsement of LaChance's website, which is dedicated to the auto thrill show business. The carver's father was a friend and employee of Knievel's."Also, I am doing it for the honor I have for Evel Knievel and the past [when] my dad worked for him," he said. "I feel I am carrying the torch in the auto thrill show business. The old man was a racing car driver and stunt driver, and - I was the model maker and the trophy maker for the drivers."LaChance says he is also set to display a few of his nearly 14,000 pieces at the local library. The featured item will be a Molson Indy car he carved in 1995 in connection with the Vancouver race. It will be joined, he says, by "what I can fit in the case."LaChance works from a small shop in Agassiz, where several of his replica cars, trucks and motorcycles rest bumper to wheel on counter space around his worktable. He says he has been carving for nearly 35 years, a hobby he developed when he was sidelined by an injury at age 10."[I] learned a lot from my grandpa as far as woodworking," he explains. "He was a furniture maker and also did small renovations. By the age of - 13 or 14 I had a whole bunch of models, all wood, [and] then I got into more technical stuff - precision autos like Porsches, Bentleys, Jaguars and 4x4s."Then I would get into building custom bikes like Harley s and BSAs, and tow trucks, monster trucks, logging trucks and fire trucks."LaChance says he enjoys the challenge of turning pieces of wood, some thrown on the scrap heap, into recognizable, detailed vehicles. He also recognizes that his is a unique craft."When I started getting into making wooden objects, I was very unique because not too many people have the patience to do it and there are not very many people who can do it," he said. I have become a category of my own."He says he most enjoys the challenge of fashioned a three-dimensional object from images in photographs, or from his own memory. Many of his pieces have been given away or donated to children at Christmas."It's not like I have a model beside me which I am copying, he said. "I am working from photographs. I transfer the raw material into what you see."LaChance's on-line gallery can be viewed at: http://www.pierrelachance.blogspot.com/ © Copyright 2005 Agassiz Observer / Pierre LaChance Productions

2009-01-11T22:56:00.001-08:00

NEWS PAPER TALK
FEATURING:
King Of Wooden Automotive Crafts.
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King of wood automotive crafts
http://pierrelachance.blogspot.com/
" I've been designing and carving wood models for 35 years" states Pierre. "My handcraft wooden models range from miniature cars to full size motorcycles. "I preserve past and present elite stunt driver's legacy online at www.autothrillshows.com. I've been building models for them, including Jumper Evel Knievel's XR750 wooden Harley stunt bike. My dad, Bobby Chance, worked for Evel in the 70's. I've also built the only official Vancouver Molson Indy wooden Firestone Fire Hawk replica model. The model is presently on display at the Agassiz public library". "I always had a passion for automobile things, crafting my vehicles out of oak, alder and black walnut, etc". Whether it's a boxy jalopy, a sleek and aero dynamic sports car, or a Chevy with over sized fins, I approach each piece with equal enthusiasm". "Every year, I handcraft wooden toys and donate several of my pieces to children s hospitals". "I don't carve for money, but rather as a labour of love. This is also great therapy for me since my accident when I was hit by a car at the age of seven". "I have an entirely different and aesthetic vision; I transform the metal sculpted lines of vehicles into the warm radiance of wood'. 'Ive parlayed my love of constructing vehicles into an art form, and have been winning raves at past shows from automotive enthusiasts". "As for Evel Knievel's wood model, I'm almost done and proudly plan to display my hand-crafted wooden classics at Harrison Hot Spring Beach for the public to view for free".
Contents
1 Pierre LaChance
2 Indy Car Visits Cloverdale
3 Rocking Art...
4 Only wood used to build his bikes
5 Four wheeled exhibit
6 Wood carver eye for detail

[edit] Pierre LaChance
Woodworker Shows His Stuff in Harrison AGASSIZ HARRISON OBSERVER (date) Written by: James Baxter Photo by: James Baxter
"Whoa!" The little girl can barely believe her eyes. She is standing on her tiptoes with arm outstretched, her tiny hand reaching up toward one of the best toys she has ever seen.
Her mom tells her not to touch, but the girl is already edging closer to the replica sailing ship, running her finger along the wood hull. Her eyes are like saucers as she examines the detailed rigging and follows the row of cannon barrels that peek from tiny windows, ready to unleash an imaginary barrage upon an invisible adversary.
The tall three-master, a work-in-progress, is more than a meter long and getting it's share of attention from kids and grown-ups alike. Visitors to the Harrison festival of the Arts are getting an eyeful of the vessel, which is resting on a work-table beside the beachfront sidewalk.
Craftsman Pierre LaChance, 41, is encouraging them to gather round and watch as he brushes the boat with a piece of sandpaper. He leans into the project, scraping away small imperfections while a few more people approach.
For LaChance, this is what it is all about.
"I love it because I like capturing the audience and it brings me a lot of joy to make other people happy," explains LaChance, who lives in Agassiz."It encourages me when they come and study the work.
"And the kids love it"
He has been building scale cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and other items from wood since he was a young boy. He says he used to watch his grandfather build furniture and quickly discovered his own aptitude for wood working when he was 12. His passion for automobiles, and his father's profession as a stunt driver, served him as inspiration.
Working on and off over a 30-year period, LaChance has built about 14,000 vehicles from oak, alder, black walnut and other woods. A one-man assembly line, he has produced replica sports cars, vintage autos, Harleys, Indy racers, monster trucks...just about anything one can think of. He builds everything from scratch, gleaning his ideas from photographs, magazines or simply from his own imagination. "Limousines, Porsches...I build anything and everything you can think of," he says."No one does what I do at the scale and speed and with so much variety."
Depending upon the size and complexity of each project, LaChance says he can spend from one day to several months crafting a vehicle. He displays his finished work at car shows, bike shows, shopping malls and special events.
He says it was appropriate that the ship, which was not modeled on any specific vessel, should be on display in Harrison since he has been building it over several years here in the village.
"It's being christened at the beach."
His primary shop is in Cloverdale, but he also keeps a part-time shop in Agassiz.
LaChance says he has had no formal woodwork training, a fascinating point given the remarkable detail of his products. He does however teach his skills to others.
The father of four has also donated several of his items as Christmas toys, and he is currently planning a line of posters and calendars. He says he does not do it for the money because it can't motivate him the way the public does.
"I am showing people what I do, sharing my knowledge and experience of what I do best and passing it on. That is my main focus."

[edit] Indy Car Visits Cloverdale
Indy Car Visits Cloverdale SURREY NOW (19-JUL-2003) Written by: Tom Zytaruk Photo by: Brian Howell
Celebrated Harrison woodworker Pierre LaChance is showing some of his handiwork at his old hometown library in Cloverdale from now into August.
Library visitors can see LaChance's Indy car, which was commissioned by Molson Vancouver Indy and displayed at BC Place during the race in 1996.
The car is made of oak and yellow cedar.
"The car itself took me three months to make," LaChance said. "It was made off photographs only, and it was requested by Market Molson at that time."
LaChance also makes motorcycles, cars, ships and assorted toys out of wood.

[edit] Rocking Art...Rocking Art...
SURREY NOW (date) Written by: Leah S. Briggs Photo by: ???
Cloverdale artist Pierre LaChance works on a "Rocking-Harley" which will be raffled off to raise money for charity. Tickets will be sold during LaChance's art show from November 23 to 25 at Cloverdale Mall. The raffle will be held December 15, raising money for Sunny Hill Hospital and the children wards at Surrey and Langley memorial hospitals.

[edit] Only wood used to build his bikes Only wood used to build his bikes By Mike Choutnard
For Pierre LaChance, making cars and other replica vehicles from wood is a true labour of love. The Agassiz wood sculptor has been doing it for about 35 years, not so much as a way of earning his keep but more as an honor to competitors on the stunt driver circuit. It's in his roots, after all, as his father worked in the circuit. The creations often end up as gifts, with some going to places like the Sunny Hill Heatlh Centre for Children in Vancouver. Recently, he had a display set up inside the Agassiz Library to show off a few of his pieces: two stretch limousines and a replica Molson Indy car. "For 35 years I've been doing this," he says. His big project right now is a version of the legendary Evel Knievel's Harley Davidson XR 70. "It all comes apart like a big, huge model, like a real bike," he says. "The whole thing can be picked up in one piece....Everything locks into place." The Knievel project is a real labour of love, as LaChance's dad did some work for the famed daredevil back in the 1970s. He is able to zero in on the details because of his intricate knowledge of his subjects, plus the odd pictures as a guide. The Knievel bike is based on the rider's model from 1972 to 1977. "I'm building this thing strictly off photographs," he says. Virtually all the pieces are made of wood, even the shocks and sprockets, and the replica gas tank that slides into place is solid oak. LaChance is approaching the end of the job, but he still needs to put in some finishing touches. "I've got approximately 125 hours into it," he says.
For more information see LaChance's website at: http://canadiannews1.com/archive/StuntDriver1/stuntdriver1.com/delachance.htm

[edit] Four wheeled exhibit
Four wheeled exhibit
Agassiz woodcarver Pierre LaChance has parked a few of his automotive creations at the public library until the end of the month. The exhibit of hand carved vehicles includes the artist’s ‘96 Indy-Car and a stretch limousine he made when he was just a teenager. LaChance says he is also putting the finishing touches on a highly detailed Harley Davidson motorcycle, which he is making for daredevil legend Evel Knievel.

[edit] Wood carver eye for detail
Wood carver eye for detail By James Baxter, Metro valley News. March 15, 2005
Local wood carver Pierre LaChance is putting the final touches on an oak motorcycle he is building for legendary stunt driver Evel Knievel. The bike, a faithful replica of Mr. Knievel's gravity-defying Harley Davidson XR750, has been meticulously fashioned, piece-by-piece, over 100 hours, according to Mr. LaChance, who has also carved himself a reputation as a leader in wooden automotive crafts. He began work on the Knievel bike last year as a trade for the stunt man's endorsement of Mr. LaChance's website, which is dedicated to the auto thrill show business. The carver's father was a friend and employee of Mr. Knievel's. "Also, I am doing it for the honor I have for Evel Knievel and the past [when] my dad worked for him," he said. "I feel I am carrying the torch in the auto thrill show business. The old man was a racing car driver and stunt driver, and - I was the model maker and the trophy maker for the drivers." Mr. LaChance says he is also set to display a few of his nearly 14,000 pieces at the local library. The featured item will be a Molson Indy car he carved in 1995 in connection with the Vancouver race. It will be joined, he says, by "what I can fit in the case." Mr. LaChance works from a small shop in Agassiz, where several of his replica cars, trucks and motorcycles rest bumper to wheel on counter space around his work table. He says he has been carving for nearly 35 years, a hobby he developed when he was sidelined by an injury at age 10. "I learned a lot from my grandpa as far as woodworking," he explains. "he was a furniture maker and also did small renovations. By the age of- 13 or 14 I had a whole bunch of models, all wood, and then I got into more technical stuff- precision autos like Porsches, Bentleys, Jaguars and 4x4s.
Website: http://pierrelachance.blogspot.com/
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2008-11-22T12:44:00.000-08:00

Governor General's Foot Guards (GGFG)

2007-12-03T14:50:00.001-08:00

Wood Sculptor preparing to reveal his 'Evel' side

AGASSIZ HARRISON OBSERVER (date) Written by: James Baxter

2007-12-03T14:46:00.000-08:00

Woodworker Shows His Stuff in Harrison

AGASSIZ HARRISON OBSERVER (date) Written by: James Baxter Photo by: James Baxter
"Whoa!" The little girl can barely believe her eyes. She is standing on her tiptoes with arm outstretched, her tiny hand reaching up toward one of the best toys she has ever seen.
Her mom tells her not to touch, but the girl is already edging closer to the replica sailing ship, running her finger along the wood hull. Her eyes are like saucers as she examines the detailed rigging and follows the row of cannon barrels that peek from tiny windows, ready to unleash an imaginary barrage upon an invisible adversary.
The tall three-master, a work-in-progress, is more than a meter long and getting it's share of attention from kids and grown-ups alike. Visitors to the Harrison festival of the Arts are getting an eyeful of the vessel, which is resting on a work-table beside the beachfront sidewalk.
Craftsman Pierre J. Lachance, 41, is encouraging them to gather round and watch as he brushes the boat with a piece of sandpaper. He leans into the project, scraping away small imperfections while a few more people approach.
For Lachance, this is what it is all about.
"I love it because I like capturing the audience and it brings me a lot of joy to make other people happy," explains Lachance, who lives in Agassiz."It encourages me when they come and study the work.
"And the kids love it"
He has been building scale cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and other items from wood since he was a young boy. He says he used to watch his grandfather build furniture and quickly discovered his own aptitude for wood working when he was 12. His passion for automobiles, and his father's profession as a stunt driver, served him as inspiration.
Working on and off over a 30-year period, Lachance has built about 14,000 vehicles from oak, alder, black walnut and other woods. A one-man assembly line, he has produced replica sports cars, vintage autos, Harley s, Indy racers, monster trucks...just about anything one can think of. He builds everything from scratch, gleaning his ideas from photographs, magazines or simply from his own imagination. "Limousines, Porsche's...I build anything and everything you can think of," he says."No one does what I do at the scale and speed and with so much variety."
Depending upon the size and complexity of each project, Lachance says he can spend from one day to several months crafting a vehicle. He displays his finished work at car shows, bike shows, shopping malls and special events.
He says it was appropriate that the ship, which was not modeled on any specific vessel, should be on display in Harrison since he has been building it over several years here in the village.
"It's being christened at the beach."
His primary shop is in Cloverdale, but he also keeps a part-time shop in Agassiz.
Lachance says he has had no formal woodwork training, a fascinating point given the remarkable detail of his products. He does however teach his skills to others.
The father of four has also donated several of his items as Christmas toys, and he is currently planning a line of posters and calendars. He says he does not do it for the money because it can't motivate him the way the public does.

ROCKING HARLEY

2007-12-03T14:30:00.001-08:00

Rocking Art...
SURREY NOW (date)

Written by: Leah S. Briggs Photo by:
Cloverdale artist Pierre J. Lachance

works on a "Rocking-Harley"

which will be raffled off to raise money for charity. Tickets will be sold during Lachances art show from November 23 to 25 at Cloverdale Mall.

The raffle will be held December 15,

raising money for Sunny Hill Hospital and

the children's wards at Surrey and Langley Memorial Hospitals.

Hand Crafted

2007-12-03T14:27:00.000-08:00

Hand Crafted

ADVANCE NEWS LANGLEY (date)

Written by: Photo by: Tony Landreville
Showing off his own unique brand of bike,

Designer Craftsman Pierre Lachance held

shop at a motorcycle show at Willowbrook

Mall on the weekend.

Molson Vancouver Indy

2007-12-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

Vancover Molson Indy Car Visits Cloverdale

SURREY NOW (19-JUL-2003)
Written by: Tom Zytaruk Photo by: Brian Howell
Celebrated Harrison woodworker Pierre J. Lachance
is showing some of his handiwork at his old hometown
library in Cloverdale from now into August.
Library visitors can see Lachance's Indy car,
which was requested by Molson Vancouver Indy and displayed at BC Place during the race in 1996.
The car is made of oak and yellow cedar.
The car itself took me three months to make,
" Lachance said. " It was made off photographs only, and it was requested by Market Molson at that time."
Lachance also makes motorcycles, cars, ships and assorted toys out of wood.
Pierre Lachance and his wooden Indy car in front of the Cloverdale Library.
The car is on display at the library branch during the Indy race in Vancouver.
http://canadiannews1.com/archive/StuntDriver1/stuntdriver1.com/delachance.htm

King of Wooden Automotive Crafts

2007-12-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

He's the King of Wooden Automotive Crafts
LANGLEY TIMES (date) Written by: Janis Foster Photo by: John Gordon
HENRY FORD had a vision of functional, basic, transportation for every family in America.

Pierre Lachance has an entirely different and aesthetic vision: he transforms the metal sculpted lines of vehicles into the warm radiance of wood.
Lachance, 32, has parlayed his love of conveyances and construction vehicles into an art form that is winning raves–and plenty of sales orders–from automotive enthusiasts. His handcrafted wooden classics were proudly on display at Willowbrook Shopping Center's "Just for '95" car show two weeks ago.
Lachance started his wood carvings while still an adolescent. The Cloverdale resident explains, "I always had a passion for automotive things and I dream of owning a Porsche. I just started creating my own. I thought, if I want it, I'll build whatever I want. I'll fill my hearts desires."
Twenty years later, the father of four continues to work from books and magazines, enhancing his designs into "instant specs" with computer graphics before crafting his vehicles with oak, alder and black walnut.
"I'm using a primitive format and integrating it into a very high tech format. I go with the past and the future and integrate them together for the now," he says.
Whether it's a boxy jalopy, a sleek and aerodynamic sports car. a chrome laden Chevy with out sized fins, Lachance approaches each reproduction with equal enthusiasm.
"I build everything–everything you can think of. You name it, I've got it. No one does what I do at the scale and the speed and with so much variety. I go from a Harley Davidson to a tractor trailer to a Jaguar."
"I spend two to three days on one item and start on another...It's unlimited. It doesn't stop. I like creating, creating, creating and creating with new concepts."
Lachance also hand crafts wooden toys and this Christmas donated 160 of his pieces to the children at Langley Memorial and Sunny hill Hospitals. He took the remaining packages and gave them away door to door to children in lower-income housing complexes.
Sizes for Lachance's pieces range from miniature cars and trucks to expansive ships to full size motorcycles. Most of the pieces are custom built to order.
His joy comes in experimenting with the sculptural appearance of a vehicle and the challenge of perfecting each piece. His lifelong ambition is to become "The King of Wooden Automotive Crafts" and he believes that goal is well on the way to being realized.

Visit Pierre's Website @: http://canadiannews1.com/archive/StuntDriver1/stuntdriver1.com/delachance.htm

Monday, December 3, 2007

Molson Vancouver Indy
Vancover Molson Indy Car Visits Cloverdale SURREY NOW (19-JUL-2003)Written by: Tom Zytaruk Photo by: Brian Howell Celebrated Harrison woodworker Pierre J. Lachance is showing some of his handiwork at his old hometown library in Cloverdale from now into August.Library visitors can see Lachance's Indy car,which was commissioned by Molson Vancouver Indy and displayed at BC Place during the race in 1996.The car is made of oak and yellow cedar.The car itself took me three months to make," Lachance said. " It was made off photographs only, and it was requested by Market Molson at that time."Lachance also makes motorcycles, cars, ships and assorted toys out of wood.Pierre Lachance and his wooden Indy car in front of the Cloverdale Library.The car is on display at the library branch during the Indy race in Vancouver.http://canadiannews1.com/archive/StuntDriver1/stuntdriver1.com/delachance.htm
Posted by Pierre LaChance

King of Wooden Automotive Crafts

He's the King of Wooden Automotive Crafts LANGLEY TIMES (date) Written by: Janis Foster Photo by: John Gordon HENRY FORD had a vision of functional, basic, transportation for every family in America.
Pierre Lachance has an entirely different and aesthetic vision: he transforms the metal sculpted lines of vehicles into the warm radiance of wood.Lachance, 32, has parlayed his love of conveyances and construction vehicles into an art form that is winning raves–and plenty of sales orders–from automotive enthusiasts. His handcrafted wooden classics were proudly on display at Willowbrook Shopping Center's "Just for '95" car show two weeks ago.Lachance started his wood carvings while still an adolescent. The Cloverdale resident explains, "I always had a passion for automotive things and I dream of owning a Porsche. I just started creating my own. I thought, if I want it, I'll build whatever I want. I'll fill my hearts desires."Twenty years later, the father of four continues to work from books and magazines, enhancing his designs into "instant specs" with computer graphics before crafting his vehicles with oak, alder and black walnut."I'm using a primitive format and integrating it into a very high tech format. I go with the past and the future and integrate them together for the now," he says.Whether it's a boxy jalopy, a sleek and aerodynamic sports car. a chrome laden Chevy with out sized fins, Lachance approaches each reproduction with equal enthusiasm."I build everything–everything you can think of. You name it, I've got it. No one does what I do at the scale and the speed and with so much variety. I go from a Harley Davidson to a tractor trailer to a Jaguar.""I spend two to three days on one item and start on another...It's unlimited. It doesn't stop. I like creating, creating, creating and creating with new concepts."Lachance also hand crafts wooden toys and this Christmas donated 160 of his pieces to the children at Langley Memorial and Sunny hill Hospitals. He took the remaining packages and gave them away door to door to children in lower-income housing complexes.Sizes for Lachance's pieces range from miniature cars and trucks to expansive ships to full size motorcycles. Most of the pieces are custom built to order.His joy comes in experimenting with the sculptural appearance of a vehicle and the challenge of perfecting each piece. His lifelong ambition is to become "The King of Wooden Automotive Crafts" and he believes that goal is well on the way to being realized.
Visit Pierre's Website @:http://canadiannews1.com/archive/StuntDriver1/stuntdriver1.com/delachance.htm

Evel Knievel

2007-12-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

Evel Knievel World's # 1 Motorcycle Daredevil

Pete Chance

12-1-2007 02:30:40 pm CST

CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF ROBERT CRAIG

"EVEL KNIEVEL"

AMERICA'S #1 LEGEND MOTORCYCLE DAREDEVIL

1938-2007

Evel Knievel's XR-750 Wooden Stunt Model Bike Replica.

Originally Custom Built in honor of Evel's Knievel Daredevil Motorcycle Stunt Career.

BIKE NOT FOR SALE