Good day everyone and have a safe and happy Canada Day! We are so fortunate to live in the best country in the world where we can, as our motto states, Preserve and Drive our Triumphs. Over the past 18 months it’s been all about preserving our Triumphs and talking with Fred and Laura over at British Autosport they has been supremely busy supplying us with masses of spare parts to help with renovations and fettling our Triumphs. However, yesterday we moved into Stage 2 of Ontario’s Road Map which to us means that 25 people can meet to go on a drive with our Triumphs with a decent number of cars. At last!
Last Sunday Derek led a group of 8 TTC cars, (and the allowed 10 person gathering under Stage 1) on his second drive of the year. Starting between King City and Aurora the group meandered on a scenic 1½ hour route north to Bradford and then west and south to Schomberg. One of Larry Llewellyn’s photos is shown below.
This is what we have planned so far for July.
West-end Drive on Saturday 3rd July
Our first west-end drive of the year will start and finish in Campbellville at the Trail Eatery http://www.traileatery.com/ We will meet at 9:30 a.m. which will give you time to have a coffee and a bathroom break before we head off at 10-o-clock sharp on a Terence McKillen designed route which will take us through lovely rural Ontario. The drive will take about 90 minutes so we’ll be back at the Trail Eatery in time for a spot of lunch if you like. There’s no dining in the restaurant of course so don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs with you. To register for this drive please send an e-mail to dave.sims@cogeco.ca and let me know the names of you and your passenger and the car you will be driving. I’ll send the route and waiver back to the first 25 people who register. The waiver contains a section on COVID. Hopefully most people have received both of their vaccinations, however, as we’ll be meeting up with folks from multiple households we will still need to wear masks and social distance. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing everyone on Saturday.
Round Lake Simcoe drive on Saturday 10th July
I am delighted to report that Bev and Vic Whitmore are organising an around-the-lake circumnavigation, this time it’s Lake Simcoe and will be in the form of a “Poker run”. The drive begins at the Home Depot parking lot on Leslie Street, north of Elgin Mills Road at 9:45 a.m. The trip begins at 10:00 a.m., heading north on Leslie Street and will cover 265 kilometres (~ 160 miles).
The drive will all be on smaller local roads, all paved, avoiding major highways, except for a short piece of Hwy 11 from Washago to lunch at Webers Hamburgers. The route passes through, or by, Goodwood, Uxbridge, Cannington, Dalrymple, Washago, Orillia, Barrie, Bradford, Holland Landing, and Sharon. There will be 4 stops along the way where each participant will be issued one card towards a poker hand. At Webers a final card will be issued to everyone. Each participant then will put forward their best poker hand from the cards dealt. The top 5 poker hands will receive $10 towards their meal at Webers Hamburgers, courtesy of TTC. Lunch will be from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
The return route will skirt Orillia and proceed along the west shore of Lake Simcoe to Barrie. After driving through Barrie, the route heads south, paralleling Hwy 400 to the 5th Line, southwest of Bradford. Participants can opt to turn west and join Hwy 400 or continue east to the end point at the corner of Mount Albert Rd. and Woodbine Avem arriving around 3:45 p.m.
Vic, Bev and David Compton are planning a dry run this week to figure out availability of bathroom breaks, and fuel if necessary, along the way. With Covid restrictions, this may be a challenge so hopefully everyone will be a bit tolerant of bladder bloat!
The first 25 participants to sign up for the L. Simcoe run will be the lucky ones. So please send your name, the name of your passenger and the car you will be driving to vicwhit3@rogers.com Vic will send you the route and waiver. Current COVID rules will apply.
If you haven’t heard, the 6-Pack 2021 TRials is definitely a “GO” for Sept. 30 – Oct. 3 in Richmond, VA. For more details go to the 6-Pack Facebook page or send an e-mail to microtr6@gmail.com
Please stay safe and let’s hope this is the beginning of many summer excursions to exercise our Triumphs. Should you have any questions, please call me.
Cheers; Dave
Dave Sims, President Toronto Triumph Club