Gone Roddin’ June 2008

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.

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