.
Coast to Coast Tour 2010
I’ve had several people ask what the tour is like and all about, I’ll try to explain for people considering the event.
The biggest comment I get is that it was the ‘Trip of a life time” and that is why we had so many from the 2000 tour register so fast. I’ll try to give some details and I welcome other ’Coasters’ to correct me or give further information.
First of all within days a bond of friendship and camaraderie develops that makes the Coasters a traveling family. Like a traveling Circus would be the closet thing I could relate it to. When you arrive in a town or village, people line the street to wave and wish you well; the local car club gives a warm welcome and in many cases arranges a lunch or dinner. As all the cars are driven it's quite spectacular to see 50 and 75 year old cars going the distance. If we are camped in a local sports field or park other club cars arrive for a great mixing of car friends, this with local citizens and often the Mayor or a Councilman to welcome you. The tour visits many places that aren’t open to the public, many private car collections and places of interest. The tour includes sight seeing bus tours that give you detailed information, as your Coaster comrades are on board to point out local details. A typical day is normally short on mileage and includes many things that you can do on your own or may include planned events that you have an option to take part in. Each entrant receives a tour book that when opened has a daily travel map on the left page and an agenda on the right, giving travel information, points of interest, planned events and the nightly stop. The tour book is very well laid out and easy to follow. It takes the stress out of traveling, we are working on a ‘Help I’m lost line’. Sometimes finding your way to the spot makes for those good lawn chair stories in the evening.
Group meals can be an exercise as there are over 300 people arriving hungry, only a few problems in 2000, it gives you an opportunity to meet the person in front and behind you in the line up.
Break downs, well things happen, but you are traveling with some very talented people and remember we are all family. Help is always close by; My Pontiac broke an axle on the Nova Scotia, New Brunswick border, people saw it on the hook and met me in town, treated us like old friends and the black stressful day changed to positive energy with smiles and laughter. We have meeting places as we travel across Canada where Coasters can join in and then travel with the team to St. John's, or if you travel back after Victoria you will certainly have some new friends to travel with. You're not alone, unless you need some quiet time.
Every day wasn’t sunshine, we all remember the days of rain, but even those were filled with bright smiles and warm hearts.
Cost, hard to predict this early in the planning stage, we plan to do something a little different this year and will include camping in the campers registration, this will include nights of free camping only for those who take that option. You may stay with friends along the way and we will deduct that from the total. The same with meals we will get as many of the planned meals as possible prepaid, so the meal ticket will get you into the paid meals and the free meals. Who said there’s no free lunch. There will be a list of cities with the options on the registration form. It’s in the planning stage so don’t ask detailed questions. Yet… The total costs of the 2000 tour was almost $60,000.00 not including meals and camping, the 2010 tour is shaping up to about a $500.00 registration free, this is not written in stone but an estimate.
If something stands out from the tour it is the unity that was created as we traveled across this great county, car people united as friends from every corner of Canada all enjoying the old car hobby together.
We can’t repeat the 2000 tour but we can make this tour unique, we will have many more friends and experiences that will last for many years, then we do it again in 2020.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Chronological List of Information as it was Announced
This will keep you up to date with the latest information
Nov 10/07 Plans are underway, several contacts are made and we have had lots of enthusiasm. All Coasters with email are contacted about the 2010 Tour
Nov 12/07 Liability insurance and other legal matters were investigated. NAAACCC was contacted and discussions held.
Nov 14/07 Today we mailed 180 information letters to 2000 Coast to Coast participates
Nov 20/07 Old Autos in Bothwell Ontario was contacted about a letter to the editor that will appear in the next issue concerning the tour and the search for any Coasters we missed with the mail out.
Nov 30/07 We are asked to be part of the CUPIDS 400 celebration in Cupids NF. The 400th anniversary of Canada's first English Colony. Many of us dipped our wheels in the Atlantic at Cupids. We are working on it, so stay tuned.
Dec 2/07 I am pleased to advise that NAAACCC (National Association of Antique Automobile Clubs of Canada Corp) has endorsed the Cross Country Tour being planned for 2010. This will allow the tour to be under the umbrella of their liability insurance, give us national exposure and great contacts with the network of car clubs and organizations across Canada. We will operate and coordinate the tour and be responsible for all financial and related organizational requirements. NAAACCC is the Voice of the car hobbyists of Canada; please check their web site at www.naaaccc.ca . If your club isn't a member of NAAACCC I ask you to be part of the family. You must will be a member when you participate in the tour. Once your registration is sent in you will be enrolled in NAAACCC. For those already enjoying the NAAACCC benefits with their present club you will have dual citizenship.
Dec 14/07 The Manitoba Classic and Antique Auto Club contacted us and are assisting in planning the tour from border to border in their great province. Their hope is that we can be part of their 50th anniversary Circle Tour. I've reviewed some of the ideas and they are all plus's
Dec 23/07 We have 36 Coasters who have expressed interest or have confirmed their attendance for the 2010 Tour.
Dec 26/07 We have 50 Coaster vehicles planning to attend
Jan 3/08 Insurance liability requires that all tour members be members in good standing with a Car Club that is associated with NAAACCC. This will be checked prior to tour departure. All tour members will automatically be enrolled in NAAACCC
Jan 6/08 We now have 61 Coaster vehicles planning to attend
Jan 12/08 If you have emailed me and I have not replied, please email me again, I reply to all emails. Ensure you are using fraser@coasters2010.com
Jan 17/08 The banquet and camping facilities in Victoria are booked for the August 14th, 21st, 2010 weekend. We've got the start and the finish done now we can work on the middle. (It's January don't a lot of us have to work on our middle)
Jan 22/08 We have 73 Coaster vehicles registered. Please feel free to mention the tour in your club newsletter if your club members are interested have them visit the web site and contact us. We are presently looking for corporate sponsors to assist financially with the tour. We can display their logo on jackets, shirts etc, if you have ideas or suggestions please contact us. This will bring our costs down and it is a great opportunity for a company to have direct contact with automobile enthusiasts across Canada.
Jan 26/08 REGISTRATION DEPOSIT Many people have asked about a deposit on their registration. It's early to know or even judge what the expenses will be. Saying that we are incurring some expenses like phone, postage, web site, accommodation deposit etc. A MINIMUM deposit of $50.00 by August 1st 2008 will be required to keep you on the tour registration list. You will receive a "I'll be there" decal (see it on page three). Mail cheques to Linda Orza, 5150 Six Mile Lane, Cranbrook, BC. V1C 7C2 payable to "Coasters 2010" Many thanks we appreciate it. Your total funds paid will be refundable until August 1st, 2009. After that date the total will be refundable if someone fills your Coaster spot on the tour. We know things happen and don't want to profit on someone that can't make the tour. We estimate the total registration fee to be $500.00 per vehicle based on two people.
Jan 28/08 Excellent news for the few of you that don't belong to a NAAACCC associated car club, we have made arrangements to have all members who are part of the Coast to Coast 2010 Tour to be enrolled in the NAAACCC insurance program for 2010. We will form a Club called the Canadian Coasters Car Club (CCCC) dues to be $7.50 for the tour year and will be included in your registration fee. The insurance of $5,000,000.00 through Lloyd's of London will only be in effect for the year 2010, your NAAACCC membership benefits and discounts will commence as soon as we have enough registrations to qualify. With to-days spiraling legal costs and frivolous lawsuits this is a welcome step toward a successful tour. I would like to thank John Carlson for his assistance and diligence with this. Check their website and sign the petition with regards to leaded gas, also check the work they have done to assist the car hobby. www.naaaccc.ca
Jan 28/08 We contacted East Can Transport in St. John's Newfoundland, they were the transport company that gave us excellent service transporting our collector cars both to the 2000 tour, and depending on what Coast you lived on, back home again. East Can is now the Official Auto Transport Company of the 2010 Tour. They will transport your vehicle in an enclosed specially designed unit, all the way to St. John's or to anywhere you would like to start a little touring. They will also take it East from Victoria, BC so you can take a leisurely flight or Via Rail ride home. www.eastcantrans.com
Feb 09/08 Please note there is a change in our arrival date in Victoria, BC we are now scheduled for the August 21st weekend. This change will make our departure from St. John's easier to manage.
Feb 16/08 The tour has taken on an international flair with participants from Australia, New Zealand, United States as well as from every Province in Canada, we welcome our old Friends and look forward to meeting new ones. The start date will be July 7th in St. John's and the final day will be August 21st in Victoria for a total of 47 days this is only two days longer than the 2000 tour.
Feb 17/08 I had a good conversation with Bob Ford in St. John's this morning and plans are progressing well in Newfoundland. Those who arrive a day or so early will be given even extra tours to showcase the breath taking beauty of the coast and the surrounding area. The tour itself will travel the coast route and avoid the Trans Canada as much as possible. Be prepared to enjoy one of the jewels in Canada's crown, your opinion of the 'rock' will change forever. I've added a 'Get to know the places we visit' section to the next page, I've started with Newfoundland and will add to it as time passes.
For those who wish to ship their cars from the west coast, Dorothy and I have an old Dairy farm with a large building we use for car storage in winter, during the summer it is empty and we can store your car here for pick up by EastCan transport. Secure and under cover. If repairs are needed we have a hoist, air and tools to complete most repair jobs for those of you driving east. We are a half hour from the Abbotsford airport and West jet makes five flights a day from there to all parts of Canada, we can shuttle you to the airport. We also have a fifth wheel trailer for overnight accommodations. We live in Deroche http://www.ourbc.com/travel_bc/bc_cities/vancouver_coast/deroche.htm which is about two hours from the ferry terminal. If you have a trailer and want a few days free camping we have a private washroom facilities with shower in the 'redneck' building for those who wish to explore the area. This is a Dairy and berry farming area (we live on an Island in the Fraser River) but close enough to the big city for day trips, the West Coast express http://www.westcoastexpress.com/ leaves from here in the morning to Vancouver and returns in the evening. Park your car and enjoy the ride. I'm sure there are others who will offer an overnight on the way home, after the tour you're never far from a Coaster Friend.
March 10 I haven't put any updates in the last couple of weeks, this doesn't mean I have slacked off. There is a lot of progress done on many fronts, mainly organizing and checking out some of the tour items. Getting samples and prices all take time and things are starting to roll in. The emails have slowed down and we only have ten or so people on the list for the August draw so get your names in if you are interested. I imagine that in 2009 things will get hectic. A reminder to get your deposits in before the August deadline.
I'll be away for the next couple of weeks doing some volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity in Honduras so if you don't get your email answered right away, I'll be back the end of March and will catch up.
March 30 We've started to form committee's to assemble information and events in their areas. Newfoundland, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, PEI and BC are well into the event planning. I've contacted the Coasters in Nova Scotia and they are getting together, I will be contacting members in each Province in the near future to see if they are interested in contributing. To be part of the Committee is not a must, we know that there is a lot of valuable information stored in the grey matter about the special treasures in your area, this is the information that will make the 2010 tour special. (Did you know North America's first oil well was dug in Ontario in 1858, we'll try to include it in a stop) Thanks to all.
