I read a good article about some car journalists driving some Mercedes Benz vehicles in each province for a Canada 150 "event". (See: Oh Canada, What a Road Trip by
Norris McDonald. Saturday July 1, in Wheels section of the Toronto Star). Made me think about my own experiences, hence a comment or two...
I agree with Norris. Seeing the
country by car is the way to “do” the country and doing it with the top down is
extraordinary. For 3 years when in Vancouver on business, I bought an old car
(MGB, VW Beetle and TR8, each a convertible with many kms and standard
transmission) so that I could drive home (to Toronto) rather than fly. The convertible opens the experience. It
allows you to be swallowed up by the majesty of our mountains and awed by the
Living Skies (as they say in Saskatchewan). You just feel and smell the air in a
way that puts you at one with the country. (And in the older car, you drive a
bit more slowly allowing you to see more while hoping that it won’t give up the
ghost somewhere north of Superior!).
Norris’ story also reminded me of a
contest my association* ran some years ago, called Test Drive Canada. We
represented the manufacturers and dealers of the 6 Japanese car brands. There
were 5 winning families. They were flown to Victoria where they met a
6th family (the wagon masters for the trip) and were introduced to 6
different Japanese cars. Each family was to drive each car as they tripped
across the country to St. John’s. A thorough itinerary set out hotels, car
switch points, and several special presentations to the group by local
dignitaries along the way. They were Hatted, Screeched, feted and entertained.
More importantly, they met 5 other families from different parts of Canada, with
whom they shared a pretty unique experience. I am in periodic touch with them
still. I feel good that we helped them see Canada in a special way.
As I continue to contemplate another X Canada trip, I hope the car industry will do more
to promote trips like this for individual Canadians and families and
respectfully, let the scribes and pundits find their own wheels.
* The Canadian Association of Japanese Automobile Dealers aka CAJAD)
