2012 hotel restaurant before saying our goodbyes with special thanks to reps from this year’s title sponsor, All-Star Collision & Glass, for helping to make it possible. As for my confession, the day before the event, I was told that something had come up with the car that I was slated to drive, and I would instead be picking up a Chrysler 300 from Gauthier Chrysler. I was still stoked to be a part of the event, of course, but I admit that I did feel a slight twinge of regret, mainly because I have never really been a “Chrysler guy”. I walked into the service bay where the jet-black Chrysler 300 SRT8 was waiting for me. My first impression: Dang, that’s a cool-looking beast! I climbed behind the wheel and soon realized that I had actually snagged a sports car (that, in the words of Gord Leclerc, “…says, I’m a badass!”) masquerading as a sedan. Throughout the drive to the rallying point, and for the first leg of the drive, I discovered that this is a monster that you strap on, and as I opened it up – shifting with the steering wheel paddles – on an empty stretch of pavement west of the city, the 6.4L HEMI® V8’s 470 horses growled (Yes, horses growl. Go with me on this.), as it took my wife and me to, well, let’s just say we would have been right at home on the Autobahn… in just seconds – and with room to spare under the gas pedal, staying rock solid in its stance, and smooth as riding on new asphalt without giving up road feel – before I backed off the accelerator to resume more, um, regional speeds. I was hooked, and for the rest of the day, rotating through the other cars, all I could think about was how this nonChrysler guy had lucked out. That was the prevailing sentiment from all of the couples driving in this year’s Winnipeg Men Pursuit. Apart from meeting, hanging out and enjoying incredible food at dinner and brunch with all of these other couples, Heather Smith boiled it all down to this: “What a privilege to drive all of these luxury automobiles that you see, but you don’t normally get to drive. You can’t just walk into a dealership and say, Hi, I’d like to drive a Porsche, please!” Finally, the line of the weekend honours goes to Reidy: “The 300 needs to come with a radar detector, but the AMG needs to come with a good lawyer!”
SPONSORED BY
DARCY REIDY – Insurance Broker – Nation West Insurance Current Vehicle: Lincoln MKX Dream Vehicle: Lamborghini Reventon Most important feature in a vehicle: Low end Torque NICOLE LEVESQUE - Financial Services Officer Current Vehicle: Lincoln MKX Dream vehicle: Ferrari Italia Most important feature in a vehicle: Safety Darryl Mackie – Body Shop Manager – All Star Collision and Glass Current Vehicle: 2002 Grand AM GT Dream Vehicle: Cadillac XLR Most Important feature in a vehicle: Sunroof Bonnie Mackie – Insurance Broker Current Vehicle: 2007 Cadillac CTS Dream vehicle: Toyota Camry Hybrid Most important feature in a vehicle: Fuel Economy David Mack – Business Owner – All Star Collision and Glass Current Vehicle: 2011 Ford F150 Dream vehicle: Bentley Continental Most important feature in a vehicle: Comfort Tara Spelmer-Mack – Business Owner – All Star Collision and Glass Current Vehicle: 2003 Ford Explorer Dream vehicle: BMW M3 Most important feature in a vehicle: Convertible Gord Leclerc – News Anchor – CTV Winnipeg Current Vehicle: 2007 Honda Accord Dream vehicle: 65 Fastback Mustang Most important feature in a vehicle - Sexy Heather Smith – Academic Advisor Red River College Current Vehicle: 2008 Honda Fit Dream vehicle: Porsche Boxster Most important feature in a vehicle: Safe and fuel-efficient Scott Bray – Stay-at-home Dad Current Vehicle: 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Dream vehicle: Ferrari Most important feature in a vehicle: Well-designed and quiet interior Leanne Bray – Professional Engineer Current Vehicle: 2012 Hyundai Elantra Dream vehicle: Chauffeured vehicle Most important feature in a vehicle: Safety Kelly Parker – Morning host – FAB 94.3 Current Vehicle: 2001 Toyota 4Runner Dream vehicle: 1962 Lincoln Continental (black of course) Most important feature in a vehicle: Utility Fenessa Parker – Sales Coordinator – National Leasing Current Vehicle: 2004 Jeep Wrangler Dream vehicle: Jeep! Any Jeep! Most important feature in a vehicle: Convertible!
True that.
14 | FALL 2012
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