Friday, May 9, 2014
Richmond Review · Page 13
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Discovering beautiful B.C. in a classic car adventure Only mad dogs and Englishmen drive We donned many layers of clothing, open top cars in the extremely chilly including leather aviator jackets and B.C. high country at this time of year. fetching, matching yellow helmets, then in. George at the wheel wheel, me But taking part in the three-day Hagerty strapped in by his side as his nagivator. We pulled Spring Thaw rally, staged by Classic Car Adventures, certainly turned on this out on the Sea to Sky highway and that Limey to the idea of a B.C. summer journey to Whistler brought tears to my ‘staycation’ on roads that show natural eyes, as did the rushing wind. The twisty beauty at its awe inspiring best. Duffey Lake Road beyond Pemberton Since my old U.K. friend, George Holt, The rally certainly was no challenge for the mighty Jag. It moved to Gabriola Island a few years stuck like glue to the hairiest hairpins turned on this Limey down to Seton Lake. A rest stop at that ago, he’s pestered me to join him on a rally. Wild tales of his racing exploits watery stretch of tranquility brought the to the idea of a BC persuaded me that my participation sounds of silence to our ears. summer ‘staycation’ might make it the last wish on my buckGeorge broke the silence: “It goes like on roads that show et list. Literally. stink, Sid.” I completed his sentence. When Hagerty Insurance invited me to natural beauty at its “And stops eventually.” Recalling a take part in the non-competitive rally recent bit of hard braking that had me awe inspiring best. for pre-1979 touring and sports cars, worried for a while. covering almost 1,100 kilometres, I fig- Keith Morgan It was then on to Cache Creek and desured this was the time to invite George. ert country before climbing to the snow “I’m up for it, Sid, and I have the line towards Logan Lake where my face perfect car,” George responded. You get froze. The shower at the Kamloops hotel used to him calling every male, Sid, and female, Doris. brought back some colour to my cheeks. He worked day and night to ready his 1954 XK 120 The second day would take us by Monte Lake and Jaguar roadster – it rolled off the production line in Falkland and on to Vernon – in the pouring, icy rain. the same year I did. It cranks out 200 horses from The rains stopped as we stopped to look at a ‘car an inline straight-six cylinder 3.4-litre engine housed graveyard’ where rusty examples of steel steeds past under that long hood. caught George’s eye. “Look, Sid, my first car – a Ford The gleaming blue roadster with a large number 54 Prefect.” emblazoned on each side drew much attention at the I then misdirected us to a second graveyard near Armrally start point in Squamish. The warming sun showed strong, populated by Sunbeams, Hillman and even old off the almost 80 other classics to their best, too. Zodiacs. He took careful note of the location so that There were Alfa Romeos, many Minis circa mid-1960s, he might return for his next restoration project. Porsches, Jags, MGs, Aston Martins – including a The sun peeped out as we were welcomed by the rugstunning 1934 Mk II owned by a gentleman from the ged northern end of the Okanagan Valley. We buzzed same neck of the woods as George and me – plus a along the Lake Country lanes that run alongside rare Noble M400. Okanagan Lake, between the vineyards.
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Then we bypassed Kelowna and headed for Beaverdell, admiring the evidence of the now defunct historic Kettle Valley railway. Then the chilling hail hit but a single glass of beer at Rock Creek restored us us. We weaved our way north along the valley, through wine country, to Penticton. “Piece of cake,” said George the next day as he looked at the route to Hope. The winding back road trail to Princeton was a joy but the last stretch home was not. First, we were hit by snow, then hail that numbed our faces as we descended from Manning Park. I thought I had made a significant anatomical discovery when it appeared that the icy wind blasting up my right nostril seemed to exit through my left ear. Of course, it could have been the hole in the left side of my helmet. There was one other little challenge. The panel failed so I had to peer at my handheld GPS to figure out what speed we were doing then shout at the top of my voice when George exceeded the posted limit. We made it safe and sound. “Next year, Sid?” “I’ll get back to you, George.” keith.morgan@drivewaybc.ca
Question OF THE WEEK: Driveway editor Keith Morgan writes today about how a 3-day rally along picturesque B.C. roads turned him to the idea of a B.C. summer ‘staycation’. Will you do a road trip holiday though B.C. this year, and if so where to? Go to DrivewayCanada.ca to submit your answer.
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QUESTION OF THE WEEK!
Safety Tip: As the weather continues to get warmer, drivers should expect to share the road with more motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. When turning at an intersection, use extra caution and look out for these other road users to help keep our roads safe.
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