Gee, every year I seem to say the same thing about hotel group blocks. Specifically, that they are problematic and holding things up. This year is no different but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Within a few days, it is likely that the hotels will be arranged for the Points West 2 Alberta / British Columbia tour (Lethbridge, Calgary, Kamloops, Langley and Victoria). This event is scheduled to arrive in Victoria to coincide with Northwest Deuce Days. Guess what else it coincides with (as fate would have it)? How about the Calgary Stampede… So, our Monday, July 12 date is deep in the heart of the Stampede schedule. I’ll leave it up to you to speculate on how that effects availability and cost – even at this early date. Persistence pays off though. Victoria can also be a problem given Northwest Deuce Days but we have secured the same hotel as in 2007. We’ll also be at the same Kamloops hotel.

What this means is that registration will open up very shortly and that hotels will be available for booking.

As for the Gone Roddin’ Ontario extended long weekend event (GTA to Windsor to the Niagara Region), things aren’t that far behind but it’s likely that registration will follow by at least a few weeks.

In the meantime (not to “sound like a broken record”), if you want to be kept updated directly about these events, send along an email HERE.

Unbelievable but true. The car shown below was stolen in Breslau, Ontario, Canada in broad daylight recently. Certainly not a car that will dissolve into the background (sight or sound). The owner is sad and pissed to say the least. It’s described as: 1948 Ford Business Coupe, Pro Streeted, Frenched Headlights, shaved and smoothed, bright red/tan interior, custom painted dash and garnish mouldings.

Have a look at this car by clicking on the thumbnails below and call Waterloo Regional Police @519-653-7700 if you see it:

Want to leave a comment? Click HERE or on “Comments” just below this post.

On May 26th 2009, an announcement was made about the new ownership of Performance World Custom Car & Truck Show.

Excerpt of press release: Canada’s largest in door Custom Car show has been presenting the best in custom cars and trucks since 1964, at the Toronto International Centre. The previous owners have passed the torch onto a group of car enthusiasts committed to the industry and hobby, who will be managing the day to day business for The Justus Group Inc. This new life blood will ensure incredible visibility this year and in the years to come with its “Take it to the Streets” promotion campaign, as well as a grass roots enthusiast approach to the business. “We want to build a business to support the hobby and its enthusiasts. Today we are looking at all aspects of the economy, the industry and the ability to deliver the best cars, vendors, and entertainment value for our partners”.

With PW now in the hands of car enthusiasts, look for a bright future for this long-running show. We’re happy to have them on board as a 2009 Canadian Hot Rod Tour sponsor. Complete release HERE.

With the 2009 Canadian Hot Rod Tour “Points East” fast approaching, what better time to look back at our last endeavour.  Specifically, “Gone Roddin’ ” – summer 2008’s Canadian Hot Rod Tour Event.  Gone Roddin’ was a four-day, Ontario, extended long-weekend event that started in Vaughan, Ontario (launching at NASCAR Speedpark as in 2007) with overnight stops in Sarnia, Bracebridge and Napanee and a wrap-up in Oshawa.  If you check these locations out on a map and plot the distance, you’ll see that we covered some fairly serious ground over four days. Hey, when you’re in good company…

On day 1, we made our way west from NASCAR Speedpark to Georgetown for our first pit stop at the Georgetown A&W. The weather was cooperating. In fact, it would all this day. From Georgetown, we continued west and south through Guelph into Hespeler for lunch and tour at Hilton Motorsports / Lowdown Hot Rod. Thanks to Bob Hilton for doing BBQ chores. The parking lot was packed as we had over sixty cars with us at this point. After lunch, we continued our journey west and our afternoon pit stop at the A&W Stratford. From there it was about a two hour run into Sarnia. At about the half way point, members of the Sarnia Street Machines met us and escorted us in.  After settling in at the hotel, we cruised over to the Pathways Health Centre for Children where the Sarnia Street Machines were holding a special evening charity event in honour of our visit to Sarnia. Very cool and for a very worthy cause. Thanks guys and gals!

On Saturday morning, day two, we discovered that we had had overnight rain (this would be a “theme” of this trip). In fact, as we left Sarnia and headed north, we had some light rain up through Grand Bend but by the time we reached Goderich the sun was shining. At our pit stop at the Goderich A&W there was a nice collection of local cars there to greet us. We carried on northeast stopping for lunch in Hanover. By the time we reached our afternoon pit stop at the Orillia A&W it had clouded over. Shortly after, light rain started. It wouldn’t stay light however. While en route north to Bracebridge, all you-know-what broke loose as an incredibly intense thunderstorm passed through. Exciting to say the least. I’m being sarcastic. As we approached Bracebridge, we found dry roads again. Fortunately, there were no incidents. That evening, the Mondays in Muskoka Cruise Night group put on a very well attended event at the Bracebridge Independent Grocers. Our thanks to them for the hospitality.

Once again, it rained overnight but was clearing when we hit the parking lot the next morning and was sunny by the time we left. It was a beautiful Sunday drive up through Dorset and then Algonquin Park. The Bancroft Cruisers Car Club had secured Bancroft’s Millenium Park for our use at lunch and there was a really nice turn out of local cars there to greet us. Thanks to them. After Bancroft, we headed east to Denbigh and then south for the drive down to Napanee. That evening, the brand new A&W held their inaugural Cuisin’ event in conjunction with the Napanee Valley Cruisers. Once again, a terrific turnout for this inaugural event. Thanks. We were honoured to be part of it.

Following the pattern of the previous two nights, it rained overnight and was raining lightly as we packed up our cars for departure and our last day. It stopped, however, just in time for a group photo (see below). With a mid-day destination of Oshawa, we travelled through Belleville, Trenton, Brighton, Colborne, Grafton , Cobourg and into Port Hope for a pit stop. After Port Hope, we stopped once more for a photo op at the nostalgic B/A station in Newtonville and then carried on into Oshawa for our wrap-up. We were greeted at Lakeview Park by the Motor City Car Club and the Autofest Trailer. Our thanks to them for organizing the park for our use.

With very dark clouds looming in the west (Yes, more rain for the drive home / even a rainbow. Thanks for the pic Donna), we wrapped up and said our goodbyes. What rain we had over the four days didn’t dampen the spirits of a great bunch of people.

A footnote: After the fact, we were sorry to hear that Gary & Katherine had had a minor accident with some damage (could have been worse apparently) with their Model A sedan delivery after they left the group. Gary, Katherine and their canine travelling companion were shaken up by the experience but were fine thankfully.

Thanks go to:

• Our presenting sponsor Cruisin’ The Dub / A&W
• Sponsors: Classic Car Insurance, Hilton Motorsports/Lowdown Hot Rods
• Prize sponsors: Performance Garages, Brightwork Auto Art, Horton Hot Rod Parts & Canadian Hot Rods Magazine
• Brightwork Auto Art for the fabulous T-Shirt and sticker art (as usual)
• The Trailer Shop for the use of the support trailer
• Jamie Burns for piloting the support vehicle/trailer
• Everyone who submitted photos
• And, of course, all the participants

Want to have a look at the  group? Check them out below just before departing from Napanee on day four:

So, are you ready for some photos? There’s photo galleries for all four days HERE.

Want to leave a comment? Click HERE or on “Comments” just below this post.

It was only a day or so ago that I wondered if bad news would come “in threes”. Specifically, we had heard that Ontario car builder Bill Snow had passed and then, suddenly, Jason Challlice – son of Gary Challice. I hoped not but, alas, it has.  Yesterday, on Good Friday (you’re in good company bud), we lost our good friend Dave Roy aka “Davey Joe”. I don’t plan on eulogizing Dave here (you can read what his friends are saying HERE). I simply want to share a few thoughts.

About His Sense of Humour
I don’t have to tell you that Dave had a terrific sense of humour. You have to know that someone who used as his avatar a photo of Tommy Chong in character had an interesting sense of humour. I chuckled every time I saw that avatar. Being a prolific poster on  the Canadian Rodder forum, his humour was everywhere and always spot-on.

About His Generosity
I’ve been told directly, and read about, many examples of DJ’s generosity. When we hear the word generosity, we tend to think about it in terms of giving tangible physical things or perhaps time and support. As I said, I’m aware that, in these ways, he was very generous.  But he also had a generous spirit. I quote from my fourth Canadian Hot Rod Tour article:
“Upon arrival in Kamloops, we made our way directly to The Fortune Plaza. Wow, there were a ton of cars there and they were waiting for us. We were escorted through the crowd to the front of the restaurant where we were greeted warmly by our group and bunch of guys from the Canadian Rodder Forum. Neat stuff and I got another hug – from Davey Joe this time. Memorable moment of the day #3.” I was moved by this simple act of generosity and, of course, “comrodderie” as we call it around here. I had never met Dave or even talked on the phone yet he must have known I needed that hug.

The philosopher and writer Jean Jacques Rousseau said “When a man dies he clutches in his hands only that which he has given away during his lifetime.” There’s no way that Dave would have been able to clutch in his hands all that he gave to us.

We’ll miss you bud.

Want to leave a comment? Click HERE or on “Comments” just below this post.