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.

I had another look at the 2007 Northwest Deuce Day 75th. Anniversary event video recently and it sure brought back a ton of great memories. I must say though that we’re mourning the losses of both Malcolm King who was a great supporter/volunteer at the event and the gracious Minister of Tourism for BC., the Hon Stan Hagan.

It was an incredible sight seeing all the 2007 Canadian Hot Rod Tour cars coming off the ferry, reliving the “pageantry” at Bear Mountain and, of course, the fabulous Sunday event day on the harbour. In the event that you weren’t there, haven’t heard about it, were on an extended stay on the international space station (or beyond), let me reminisce further.

Being the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Deuce, a special edition of Northwest Deuce day was held that July. And, the first ever Canadian Hot Rod Tour was held that year which brought us from Ontario to British Columbia. After the conclusion of the Tour, a large contingent carried on to Victoria for the celebration.

The Friday of the Deuce Day weekend was all about participants arriving in town. The Saturday featured a spectacular on-lawn participant car show at the Bear Mountain Resort followed on Sunday by the actual event – a great and memorable time.

Looking ahead, plans for the next Northwest Deuce Day are underway with the dates being: July 16-18, 2010.

Canadian Rodder is pleased to announce that it is sponsoring a new web site dedicated to Northwest Deuce Day. It is currently under construction but is available now HERE so visit it and add it to your favourites.

Finally, to whet your appetite, in the event that it needs whetting, please visit the brand new Canadian Rodder Album area for photos from the 2007 Northwest Deuce Day. An album for Bear Mountain and two for the main event are there. Enjoy! Thanks to everyone who contributed photos.

Albums are HERE >>

I recently (finally) got around to having a piece of art custom framed. I can’t believe it took me so long but… It’s now hanging above and to the right of my desk so I get to check it out – a lot.

About this piece:
I was working late one night – actually very late – and checked email. An email came in asking if I had a brother. My knee-jerk thought was that it was one of those last name deals where someone who might have the same name could be assumed to be part of your family. I then, almost  immediately after that, dismissed that thought as others with the last name Colgoni are limited to my Dad and Son. And, Colgoni is not actually our name (another story there). In any case, I answered “no”.

A second email come through asking if it would be OK if my “name” was used in an art piece. I should probably tell you at this point that the asker was Matthew Labutte of Brightwork Auto Art fame. I didn’t quite understand what name usage might entail but trusting Matthew I said “sure”. Time passed and I didn’t give it much more thought to be candid. Now, fast forward ahead to a Performance World show.

I’m hanging out at our Canadian Hot Rod Tour booth and Matthew comes by to ask me to come down to his booth when I get a chance. So, a while later, I get that chance and Judy and I set off for the Brightwork booth. Upon arriving there, Matthew is talking to someone so we start checking out all of his cool artwork. We do one wall and turn to do another and I am faced with this absolutley beautiful salt flat piece depicting a ‘32 roadster at speed. After that initial overall first impression, I begin taking in the details and…what’s this…”Colgoni Bros.” on the hood! To say I was surprised, elated, stunned, etc. would be an understatement (I hope the big public hug I laid on Matthew was cool).

Does it matter that I don’t have a brother? Hardly. “Colgoni Bros.” sounds cool and, after all, I do have a brother-in-law who’s like a brother. I gave him his own framed version. He digs it very much too.

So, click on the thumbnail above (if you haven’t already) to check out “The Time Machine”. Thanks Matthew. www.brightworkautoart.com

“Deuce Guy” Larry Zilinsky contacted me a while back to tell me about a project he was working on. Larry said:
I thought I’d send some pics of the ‘40 Ford pickup I’m doing now. The story is that in the 50’s when I was growing up, my Dad (in the pic) had a business called Parkcrest Heating. So when I decided to build a ‘40 Ford pickup rat rod, I thought I’d do it as a reincarnation / barn find /shop truck, complete with Tremclad rust flat black paint polished through – patina’d with SBC, 4 speed, whites, etc. Just a great driver & fun truck! My Dad was in tears when he saw what I was doing! Makes a guy feel good!”

Larry, thanks for sharing. More photos HERE >>