Vermilion Celebrates Mike Hall Day

Bryan and Betty Thomas with Mike Hall

The streets of Vermilion were alive with energy and excitement as residents and fans of the TV series Rust Valley Restorers gathered to celebrate Mike Hall Day, a heartfelt community event dedicated to the rugged, car-loving star. Organized by local resident Betty Thomas and a team of passionate volunteers, the celebration brought together music, family-friendly activities, and an impressive car show, drawing crowds from near and far.

The idea for the event was born after Betty’s son Bryan arranged a surprise visit from Mike Hall last year for his brother Shane, a fan of the show. The emotional moment left a lasting impression on the Thomas family.

Betty was so moved by the experience that she began a town-wide petition, collecting signatures and sharing a heartfelt story to Mike about what his return would mean to the community. Her efforts struck a chord with Hall, who agreed to come back as the guest of honour for an entire day.

“He made such an impact when he surprised Shane,” said Betty. “We just knew we had to bring him back and show him how much this town appreciates what he stands for, not just his work with cars, but his genuine heart.”

Hall couldn’t help but laugh as he described how it all came to be.

“Well, it was very cool. Bryan was the guy that bought my wrecking yard. He asked me to stop by if we had a chance. I met his brother, met his mother, and met a bunch of Shane’s friends. It was a cool experience. Then unfortunately, Betty took a liking to me, and the rest is history. Blame Betty, it was all her fault,” he said with a chuckle.

Initially, Hall had been invited back for the local fair. But as plans evolved, the visit transformed into something much bigger.

“I was totally overwhelmed by the community response. I mean, she invited me back to come to the fair, and the next thing I know, it’s turned into Mike Hall Day, which was not what I signed up for,” Hall admitted. “But like I said, Betty is a force in the community. She does a lot of good, and it’s amazing how much energy that woman has. Everyone keeps telling me, just blame Betty, it’s all her fault.”

Hall shared that Betty moved him with her actions, to get him to come.

“She wrote this amazing story. She knows I’m a big marshmallow inside and moved me to tears. And how can I say no when I’m sitting there with the tears rolling down my chubby cheeks and they’re filming it? So, I was kind of screwed,” he added.

The day’s festivities spanned Main Street and beyond, featuring live music by Shane Thomas, Betty’s son. Children enjoyed face painting and games hosted by VIBE and the Vermilion Public Library, while FOCUS served up a perogy plate at Martin’s Plumbing.

But the true highlight of the day was the extensive car show that spanned three blocks on both sides of the road that was arranged by car enthusiast Jim Storch, a fitting tribute to Hall’s automotive passion. Attendees were thrilled to meet the man himself, take photos, and swap stories about restoration projects and favourite moments from Rust Valley Restorers.

This visit marked Hall’s second time in Vermilion, but the first where he had time to truly explore the town.

“I’m looking forward to enjoying the town, seeing what it’s got to offer. I heard the fair and the parade is an amazing thing, and it’s a big deal here. I was looking forward to meeting the people and hopefully getting some home-cooked meals,” he said.

Reflecting on his previous visit, he added, “The first time I was here in Vermilion I didn’t really get a chance to actually drive around and see much. It was like, just a quick stop driving through on a 20,000-kilometre journey. This time we had a lot better time. I mean, more time to see the town, admire it. It’s a very beautiful town, very clean, very friendly, and they put on one hell of a parade and fair.”

The event served as a powerful example of how one act of kindness can spark a ripple effect. What began as a simple surprise visit evolved into a community-wide celebration rooted in appreciation and connection.

“Like I keep saying, I thought I was coming for the fair and then it turned into this whole day,” said Hall. “I still say blame it on Betty. But I like to relate to people, and it’s really cool when people come up and they treat you like an old friend, or, you know, say ‘you remind me of my brother, my dad, my uncle.’ Or they say, ‘My dad used to make me watch the show,’ and it just makes you feel all fuzzy and warm inside.”

As the day drew to a close, Hall offered his thanks to the community of Vermilion for their kindness and hospitality.

“I would like to thank everyone, a heartfelt thanks, for all the hospitality we’ve been shown and the amazing show,” he said. “And see, there we go, all jerky. I just want to say thank you very much for how kind people are here and how generous, giving, and caring. It’s been an amazing experience for me. I didn’t get to see a whole lot of the town while I was here the last couple of days, but we did get an amazing tour of Main Street, as I visited every business. We had a really good tour of the fairgrounds and all the events going on, which was amazing, and that’s about all I managed to see in my short time here.”

Before heading out, Hall shared a few words of wisdom for those looking to restore old vehicles.

“My first advice would be, don’t tear it apart. If it’s something that’s running, keep it running, fix the brakes, do the upholstery. Do not tear it apart. The cost has become prohibitive since COVID, everything’s double,” he said. “But if it means a lot to you, try and do as little as possible so you can enjoy driving it, because that’s the point. It doesn’t have to make a car show. It doesn’t have to be a 100-point car. But it should run, and it should stop, that’s kind of important.”

He also encouraged novice restorers to seek out support.

“Do not tear it apart and figure you’re going to do a frame restoration, because most of the time it ends in disappointment. Or find a car club. There’s a lot of guys out there with a lot of knowledge that want to help people that are building cars. But if you don’t have the background and you don’t know what you’re doing, the best advice is do not tear it apart. Get some help.”

Among his most memorable restoration projects is the first car he ever brought back to life, a Sunbeam Alpine.

“I mean, it was very cool. It’s not a very practical car. And the work we’ve done on my ’68 big block SS, that’s special too, because I’ve owned the car over 40 years, and it’s cool to fire it up and lay some rubber. Not that I’d ever do that, but once in a while, I’m overcome.”

And as for his final words on Vermilion?

“Again, I want to thank the people of Vermilion, especially Betty Thomas, for forcing me to come here. It was basically blackmail. Blame Betty. I’m not the only one that says that. Hey, what can I do.”