If you follow our blog, then you know that we're passionate about vintage automobiles. We're even more passionate about getting out and DRIVING these pieces of automotive history! Aside from casual driving to local car shows, what's the best way to get out and enjoy your old car??? Well, we might have a biased opinion, but the answer is the Great Race!
[caption id="attachment_2366" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Check out the map for this year's Great Race!"][/caption]
More of Jeff Stumb's commentary while on the Great Race route:
DAY 5 -- Barry's Bay and Ottawa, Ontario
This is the day I have been waiting for since the route was announced. Instead of taking the straight and easy route from Barrie east to the capital of Ottawa, we selected a route that would take the race throught the Provincial Park (a National Park of Canada). In doing so, we will see some of the most incredible screnery the country has to offer. But there are no major cities capable of hosting a lunch stop. In that part of the country, it is common for there to be only 1,000 people in a 500-square mile radius. Enter Mayor Dave Shulist and the community of Barry's Bay. I called the mayor a month of so ago and told him of my delimma and he told me that if we would come to Barry's Bay he would take care of everything. Barry's Bay has a population of 1,300 people on a good day in a 10-mile radius. It does have a couple of small diners, and the mayor has everyone
Jeff Stumb is still on the road...here are a few of his comments from Day 4 of the trip!
DAY 4 -- Parry Sound and Barrie, Ontario
After leaving Sudbury, the furthest point north on the 2012 Great Race, we headed south toward the beautful town of Parry Sound, Ontario. Although the theme for the event is the Great Lakes, we obviously cannot hug the coast all the way around the lakes and do any rallying. But the interior portions of Canada coming up on Day 4 and Day 5 are probably some of the most picturesque ever on the Great Race. And that starts with Parry Sound. Unfortunately for us, it was raining all day and the view was obscured most of the day. Parry Sound is home to hockey legend Bobby Orr, and the stop there on June 25 will be at the Bobby Orr Museum over looking Georgian Bay. If there is a more lovely spot in Canada, I'd like to see it.
After leaving Parry Sound, we continued south toward Barrie, which is home to the largest Automotive Flea Market in
Another quick note and a photo of a cool car seen on his Great Race planning trip!
Canadians love old cars too! I took this photo of a sharp DeSoto Adventurer in the parking lot of a grocery store in Elliott Lake, Ontario. Somewhere, Great Racer Chad Caldwell is drooling and thinking about hooking up his trailer and heading north of the border to try and find this beauty.
[caption id="attachment_2167" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="What an awesome Desoto...hard to beat those wild designs from the late \'50s and early \'60s!"][/caption]
More notes from the road from Great Race Director, Jeff Stumb:
DAY 3 -- Elliott Lake and Sudbury
We left Sault Ste. Marie bright and early to make the drive over the bridge into Canada. We were through customs in less than 20 minutes, which included a 10-minute trip inside to see the head Mountie about that funny looking gear and cable hanging from our rear wheel. Once we told them we were measuring the course for the Great Race and gave them some hats, T-shirts and programs, we were sent on our way. During the race next year as participants, you will be entering Canada on a pleasure trip and not the business trip John and I were on. And we are working with local officials to have a list of all entrants to the custom officials to speed the crossing up as much as possible. John assures me that no one will get hung up and miss a start (but if you do you can always turn in a time delay).
On the way into Elliott Lake, our lunch stop, we followed the north shore