Our inaugural Hagerty Maple Mille began in Barrie Ontario this morning. An intrepid group of adventurers set out to explore some of the best roads Ontario had to offer, and we did our best to deliver! If you’ve only ever gone to Muskoka cottage country via Hwy 11 or 400, you’ve missed some of the best roads the region has for the motoring enthusiast. Some of our group was familiar with our choice north, but after toying around on some of Muskoka’s more famous routes and views we introduced them to an Out-and-Back road that few were aware existed, and fewer still had driven.
The twists and turns were on par with Muskoka’s best, and light elevation changes added to the enjoyment. Eventually we popped out into a sunny parking lot, lake side view and the perfect opportunity to switch cars and try something different for the way back.
I went from driving a bone-stock, restored, 1979 Super Beetle into a 1965 modified Mustang. The clutch pedal was like moving a mountain in comparison to the beetle, but once I turned the key it all made sense. An afternoon romping on a 302 V8, pushing out horsepower rounded to the ‘nearest hundred’ is not to be missed! Each session on the accelerator pedal was finished with a “I might have to get one of these” statements. I wasn’t the only one getting to try a new vehicle out…it seemed that drivers and co-driver’s alike had all found new rides to finish the afternoon off with!
When we finally arrived at the hotel for the night, the group gathered together to compare driving notes, favourite roads and discuss the Coach-Bus-Fire which shut down the highway and almost spoiled our fun.
Preview photos provided by Ralph Saulnier Photography:
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Before we release you to the entry forms, you might be interested to hear we’ve been hard at work all Fall planning the Hagerty Spring Thaw. This year’s version will combine many of your favourite things, along with a few new changes which are sure to excite you. “Changes,” you say, “you can’t change it!?!” Well, lets not panic too early! We’re not tossing out the carburetors for fuel-injection, or opening the entry list to 1990 Cavaliers. But we are, for starters, changing our sweep team. Our regular guests on the Hagerty Spring Thaw are all familiar with Nigel and Yoki, who have for years followed our event ensuring each and everyone of our guests has made it to hotel in the evening. Nigel is one of the most passionate classic car enthusiasts we know of, but he’s only ever experienced the Hagerty Spring Thaw from the very back of the pack. Wouldn’t it be great to have him running ‘in the pack’ with the rest of us?
Fortunately some great friends have also wanted to give Nigel and Yoki a chance to experience more of the Spring Thaw for themselves. Robert and Jacyln, from RWM & Co. had so much fun joining us as sweep at the Fall Freeze, they asked if they could do the same for the Hagerty Spring Thaw. We couldn’t be more delighted! Robert has done more than a few road-side repairs for guests in previous Spring Thaws, and having a classic car restoration specialist at the back of the event is never a bad thing! 
Hopefully you’ll agree with us that our “big changes” for 2015 are a great idea, and will only change the event for the better. We’ve been very careful to stick to our recipe of Great Roads, Great Cars and Great People. Speaking of which, we should mention Dave Koszegi and Mid-Island Realty. Dave Koszegi (Dave K) is always the first person to approach us about supporting the Spring Thaw each year. As we sit writing this, it seems to us that it was at registration for the 2014 event that Dave K smiled his traditional huge smile and confirmed “we’re doing this again next year, right?!” Mid-Island Realty loads up our prize table each year like it’s a Christmas Tree for the whole event, helps to fill your schwag bag with items you really want to keep and use, and (most importantly) reminds us often how excited everyone is for another year of adventures. Whether you’re looking for a home on the island, or elsewhere, it would be wise to call up 
