Tag Archives: rally

Hagerty Spring Thaw 2023 – Photo Preview

Whew! That was a wet one!

CCA’s Hagerty Spring Thaw started in Harrison Hot Springs for 2023, with an ‘unofficial’ Thursday night dinner at the Black Forest Restaurant. It was schnitzel, german pilsner, gewurztraminer, and fantastic friends for the pre-event gathering.

The next morning, with it damp in the parking lot, we held a quick driver’s meeting in the ballroom and headed out to see if we could seek some sunshine. If you were near the back of the pack, as I was in the ’58, you did get to reach for the sunglasses a couple of times, but the front of the pack were using their wipers for the entire day. We traveled from Harrison Hot Springs to Hope, through to Princeton and up to Tulameen for an out-and-back. A large portion of the group dined at Thomasina’s for lunch…which if you haven’t done yet, plan a trip!

Following lunch, we continued on to enjoy some CCA favourites. There was Twin Lakes, the radio telescopes, a pass by See Yah Later wines and eventually our overnight in Penticton. It was here that the parking lot became quite the interesting party, and the VW Camper Van was crowned the perfect sweep vehicle. While a Caterham 7 was having some engine work completed, the VW van was able to open the awning, and provide rain-free-coverage for the team. The rain wasn’t putting off any of the fun, though, as the parking lot party continued well after dinner with gourmet popcorn, Caterham 7 fixes, and great conversation.

As I began the day two drivers’ meeting, a welcomed text message came through from our photography team. “sunshine in Kelowna” was the message, and we simply had to jump in the cars to get there! Saturday was Westside Rd, the Salmon Arm & Armstrong loops, Barnhartvale Rd, and for some of us a new road – Duck Range Rd.

Sunday we enjoyed a fantastic drive down the Duffey to Pemberton, where the sun was out, the parking lot dry, and the barbeque lunch was enjoyed with t-shirts and sunglasses on. The perfect ending to an almost perfect weekend!

Please enjoy this photo preview from our photography team. This year Andrew Snucins and Andrew Holliday have combined forces as Meshed House Creative, and we are so thrilled to have them both as our photography team.

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2019 Hagerty Fall Classic – Day Three

The archway in front of the hotel was packed with cars, drying out and applying Rain-X for the beginning of day three. The weather appears a little damp, but even Bill and Wendy in the Caterham 7 (no top) couldn’t be deterred by the rain. We were here for driving, and there was still day three to complete! 

Our route today explored the 229 and 101 North, but dropped off the main tourist routes for some unknown side roads to spice up the day. We wound through farmlands and foothills, past rivers, over historic bridges, and chased forgotten railway lines as we worked our way north. Despite one quick deluge of heavy water, it was mostly the light misty rain typical of the Pacific Northwest in fall. We had started the event in t-shirts and shorts, but the reminder that fall was upon us had arrived!

Eventually we turned east, heading towards our finish in Forest Grove. Typically a CCA event will end at a golf course, or local restaurant, for a finish lunch. This time, however, we arrived at the McMenamins Grand Lodge which was built in the 1920’s. Originally a Masons lodge, the Lodge now operates as a hotel, and is full of history on each floor. 

As our final lunch wound down, it was time for the awards. The Hard Luck award was originally planned for Pat and Pat Brothers, who’s Ford Thunderbird was replaced by a BMW when it couldn’t make the start…but the Camaro driven by Eric Bergman and Mike Ferguson wasn’t going to allow that to happen! With a delayed flight, the guys arrived late to a borrowed car with insurances that it had been “looked over”, and the inspection sheet filled out on their behalf. A weekend spent driving with friends, was also a weekend spent diagnosing, and repairing, a number of items which clearly should have been addressed! So we sent them back to return the car with the best shame we could provide, the Hard Luck Award!

Two of our entrants were prepared to arrive in their 1951 Studebaker Commander, when they heard a neighbour was getting rid of a car parked in their backyard. A poor 1966 Pontiac Executive Star Chief was heading to the crusher before our duo intervened. Rescued from being recycled, they merely replaced the fuel system (adding an ingenious in-trunk fuel tank), swapped out the tires, and arrived in style! The smiles didn’t leave their faces all weekend, they saved the Camaro’s bacon with parts and tools on multiple occasions, and they had most of us searching Craigslist for our next inexpensive ‘barn find’. Paul Johnson and John Ens were definitely worth of the Hagerty Spirit of the Fall Classic Award for 2019!

And with that, the 2019 Hagerty Fall Classic by CCA was over. We bid our farewells, packed up our gear…and sat down with maps?! CCA guests are not the interstate home types. Before the group could depart, maps were scoured, routes run past Portland locals, and a fun route home was selected by groups traveling in similar directions. We can’t wait too compare notes, because the group heading towards the ferries may have found part of day two for the 2020 Hagerty Fall Classic!

A preview of photos by the talented Andrew Holliday is below:

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2019 Hagerty Fall Classic – Day Two Preview

Our day two route took us through the Willamette and Umpqua National Forests, before heading west to the coast. Once the Pacific Ocean was in view, we travelled north on a section of 101 which copies the famous Pacific Coast Highway in California almost exactly. Soon we were exchanging stories on the beach, before a much needed sleep!

A preview of day two’s photos, once again by the very talented Andrew Holliday:

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2019 Hagerty Fall Classic – Day One

I’ve often wondered who comes up with the “ten best” lists and articles we all share, again and again. How did driving the Nurburgring become a thing all car enthusiasts need to do, but driving Spa isn’t? Now that I’ve mentioned Spa, you instantly want to add it to your bucket list…but until I planted the seed, finding out how daring you are through Eau Rouge was just a fleeting thought you had a few years ago. In the same way, I wonder who came up with the original “ten best driving roads of North America”, and why we keep rehashing the same list over, and over. Pacific Coast Highway, Tail of the Dragon, etc. etc. In many ways, the list is flawed…and the first day of the Classic Car Adventures Hagerty Fall Classic worked to prove the point. 

What makes the perfect driving road? While the obvious answers is “twisty”, its certainly more than that. The combination of twists and turns, the elevation changes, the scenery, the traffic levels, the pavement quality, and many more factors all need to be considered. The best driving road in a 1964 Buick, is not likely the best driving road in a 1964 Porsche. And yet, there are certain qualities and combinations that make a road exceptional, regardless of the vehicle chosen. Certainly only these particular roads should be considered as “best”. 

Our morning began with a clearing mist of rain, after a heavy deluge overnight. We were in Clackamas Oregon, basically “Portland South-East”, for those of us from out of town, and the driver’s meeting was oddly delayed. We hung around in the parking lot for almost a full 45 minutes of socializing before the meeting finally began. A route of remote road choices, little fuel options, and a miniscule selection of just two food options all day lay ahead. Our delayed meeting was simply to accommodate the lunch timing! 

At first we headed south-east, through the Mount Hood National Forest, before heading south west into the town of Detroit Oregon. In Detroit we enjoyed one of the two dining establishments, and a rare occasion (for CCA) where an entire event meets up to have lunch and swap stories together. I arrived a touch late for lunch, having stopped for breakfast on the road after the driver’s meeting, so it was a quick southern-style barbecue before I jumped in the car to try and keep pace with the early part of the group. Our route continued south, down to highway 20, where my 1958 Beetle just couldn’t hang onto the group through the mountain climbs. Soon I was solo behind some locals, and I missed an important turn onto perhaps the best road I’ve ever driven. 

By luck or chance, Warwick had also missed the turn, I had seen him zip in from the other direction thinking he was doing a side trip…but quickly put two and two together, and reversed course. 

Coming around the corner, on the correct route for today, I was surprised to find all the cars I had left lunch with waiting for me. A certain camaraderie forms when you’re on a classic car adventure, and they didn’t want to start down what appeared to be a narrow twisty road without our “whole group”. We were four Minis, a Citroen, an RX-7, a Pontiac, the Camaro and my VW Beetle. After the first section of twisty hill climbs, we found a straight section, adjusted our running order, and began the best hour and forty-five minutes of my year. So far in 2019 I have driven the top six roads listed in Southern California, three of the top six listed in Colorado (did the others last year), the top roads listed in the Smokey Mountains, and the top roads listed in both Alberta and British Columbia. Nothing could top todays drive. 

The curves never ended, the trees formed a tunnel for roughly 70% of the route. Occasionally we’d be river-side, and the break offered by the water would open up vast mountain views. The road, while paved, is used so little it’s growing moss in the centre. For the most part the dips, yumps and crests formed by years of road movement added to the enjoyment. Where they were car damaging, the route book either gave warning, or the road was painted to call attention to the issues. We weren’t moving at a particularly fast pace, but the road kept you working the entire time. The Minis would dart ahead in the tightest corners, and we would catch up and ride behind in the others. Up, down, left, right, the road never stopped challenging for its entire length. We passed towering dams, vast lakes, and forest so thick we almost needed headlights. The entire time you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, and you could feel the smiles coming from the other cars in the group. With so many corners, it felt like the Nurburgring. It was as tight and twisty as the tail of the dragon, with a speed limit that says “remote and unused”. When we stretched at the end of the road, everyone was talking about how it might be the best thing they’ve ever driven. Over drinks, later in the hotel parking lot, we were discussing how we’d love to share the route with friends…but hope it stays a secret to be enjoyed. 

Perhaps the worst thing to happen to the great driving roads is their inclusion on a “ten best” list. Everyone with a rental car heads to them, adding traffic and congestion to routes which were once someones secret route. In each region where “the best” road is featured, I’ve found similar roads which I think are far better for the driving enthusiasts. Today’s road doesn’t show up on any best list of driving roads in Oregon, and I found it mostly by accident, hoping to extend a route by an hour or so. It was so good, however, that I will plan an entire future Hagerty Fall Classic around this one road, perhaps driving it in the other direction next time. 

A road that good? I must have been one incredible driving day…

Special thanks to Andrew Holliday for his phenomenal photos of the day, a preview of which are available below:

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2019 Hagerty Silver Summit Photo Preview

Whew! Four events in five weeks…but we’ve finally returned home to the office. The Hagerty Silver Summit was a wonderful experience full of new friends, Colorado Classic Car Family, great roads, and fantastic cars. For the most part, the weather held out and only a few of us saw some snow on Saturday afternoon’s mountain pass. The following is a preview of photos from Andrew and Samantha Snucins, we’ll be posting links to the full gallery once they’ve had a chance to recover and edit!

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2019 Hagerty Silver Summit – Supp Regs Posted!

Back in the 50’s and 60’s, as you and your works team prepared to enter an upcoming rally, you would wait in anticipation for the Supplementary Regulations Document. That all-important document that told you the specific details about a particular event. Those of you anticipating the 2019 Hagerty Silver Summit entry opening will be excited to know the Supp-Regs document has just been posted!

Inside you’ll find all the details necessary for registration, which you can do starting mid-day on February 12th when we post the entry form. We thought we’d give you a day to read the important Supp-Regs document before releasing the entry forms!

Here are a few images from the 2018 Hagerty Silver Summit, to get you excited for this year…

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2018 Hagerty Maple Mille – Day Three

As we departed the hotel, I tried to explain to Victor (an American) exactly what “The Big Nickel” was. While the route book described the roadside attraction, and the history of how it came to be, I was having a tougher time of selling Victor on the idea. “So it’s a statue of a coin?” Well, yes. “I’m okay, I don’t need to see the Big Nickel”, he said to me. “Vic,” I replied, “as a Canadian I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t bring you up to the Big Nickel.” Since I was driving, I won the debate!

As we rounded the corner in the parking lot, I was proud to see that 90 percent of group had agreed with me! The parking lot was full of classic cars, and despite the rain folks were out of their cars and walking up for the perfect picture of the Big Nickel. So, what is the big nickel? You might be asking.

Alright, to be fair, the Big Nickel is a 30ft tall exact copy of a 1951 Canadian Nickel…a five cent piece. Constructed to represent the wealth that Sudbury has contributed to the Canadian economy through nickel production, it’s become one of the many tourist attractions that bring people north to visit a town once known for its barren landscapes. It’s the largest coin in the world, and one does not return from a trip to Sudbury without being asked “did you go to the big nickel?”

And so, with our tourist duties done, we headed off onto the route. Today’s route book took us into the town of Whitefish, before everyone was instructed to use the “re-route” notes handed out at the driver’s meeting. It seems our original route was now 24km of gravel, and we’d need a twisty and wonderful reroute to avoid the gravel. We headed northwest on regional road three, then onto regional road four and finally regional road five. The twists were fantastic, as we followed rivers and dodged small lakes left over from glaciation. If the road was so great, you might wonder, why wasn’t it the original route?! Well, regional road 4, and some of five, was what we would call “rough”. Between frost heaves, potholes and pavement patches, the conditions were far from ideal Given the choice between rough pavement and gravel construction, however, and I think were were all okay with the roughness!

We worked our way westward, and then south onto Manitoulin Island. A usual day-three on a CCA event means non-stop driving to the finish, so that we can enjoy a lunch and awards before departure. This year, however, things were different. The route book suggested a route on Manitoulin Island that highlighted a coffee shop, waterfall, museum and art gallery stop. Guests, however, were also given the local tourism map and magazine, and encouraged to explore the things that interested them the most. Roads on Manitoulin Island are well maintained, and an interesting mix of gentle curves and winding twists as they travel around lakes, or the spine of the island (us westerners hesitate to call it a ‘mountain’).

With our island explorations complete, we met once again as a group at the South Baymouth Ferry Terminal. Included in the 2018 entry fee was a reserved space on the Chi-Cheemaun ferry. As the group checked in, we discovered the ferry crew had reserved three lanes for us, and planned to park us on the boat separately (to avoid any dings or damage from other passengers). As the boat left the dock, we met on the stern for a big group photo, and then headed to the restaurant for our final meal together.

As we rocked, ‘slightly’, to the wavy conditions, we hosted a two-course dinner and ran through the final awards and draw prizes for the event. For two years now, one of our guests has been trying so hard to earn himself a coveted award. Announcing, as we left the garage in a back-up vehicle, that he was family and thus ineligible for an award, John Hord was hopeful he wouldn’t be singled out. Fortunately your organizer is a crafty one, and a very special “Hard Luck” award was assembled for John out of the parts that stranded his Beetle before it even started. The actual Maple Mille Hard Luck award, assembled from Scott’s engine failure last year, was presented to Larry Nobbs for the fact that he left his Buick in Sudbury with a failed transmission.

Creemore Springs Brewery had prepared a gift pack for us to draw names for, and Mike Martin was our lucky winner for 2018. He heads home with Creemore Springs glasses, a T-Shirt, and a gift card for a free 8-pack of the organizers favourite beer. If you follow Dave on Instagram, you’re already well aware of Creemore Springs Beer!

Roue Watch donated two brand new wristwatches for our driving enthusiasts. Penni Matt was the first entrant to be heading home with a new time piece, and Victor Ceycis was our second. Every entrant on the Hagerty Maple Mille received a discount code, should they be interested in adding a new time piece to their own wrist.

Our final award, is the Spirit of the Maple Mille. This award is used to honour the entrant(s) who best demonstrate the goals of Classic Car Adventures. Here at CCA we’re all about spreading the love of classic car motoring, and we enjoy honouring the guests who help make the weekend special. Honourable mention this year went to a pair who started the event as a way to honour their father in his beloved classic car. What they found along the way, was an incredible way for two brothers to spend a weekend together, and a new found love for classic car events. What started out as a one-time-adventure, became a fun debate about “what car will we take next year?”

For 2018, however, we couldn’t let a particular pair go without recognition. Originally the vehicle they were running was purchased to run the Hagerty Spring Thaw out in British Columbia. When that didn’t work out, the car was shipped to Ontario in an attempt to run the 2017 Hagerty Maple Mille. Delayed shipping meant they didn’t make it until the 2018 running, and quickly made friends. Was it the classic rally styled Mercedes? Their enthusiasm to know more about each vehicle in the parking lot, regardless of make or model? Perhaps it was the way they stopped to offer help, or tools, to anyone who found themselves on the roadside. Regardless of the final reason, Jason Plugowsky  and Simon Wheeldon were certainly worthy of being this year’s Sprit of the Mille award winners!

Alas, with the final award handed out, and the ferry quickly approaching the dock, it was time to close our event for 2018. We had avoided thunderstorms, tornadoes and cold weather. Instead we experienced sunshine, twisty roads and friendships which will last for years to come. Entrants are attracted to CCA events because of the roads and adventure, but we return to hang out with our “Classic Car Family”, in addition to the great fun each event provides.

A special thanks to Elliot Alder & Clayton Seams for the photos that accompany today’s story.

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