The best road in Ontario? Mixed Run in Muskoka

[imcarthur]

If you ever want vehicular mania, join the mixed Fchat & NSXprime run. Oct 7 was the 2nd run of the year – up to the Muskokas. Certainly a very different group than a PCA or Pelican run. Except for a few notable exceptions, I was ignored. The guys with the ‘hot’ cars stuck together as they congratulate themselves, compare gold chains etc. There was some rice clingons & a mess of photographers & videographers. One jerk even did donuts in the parking lot – dangerously close to parked cars. He needs a lobotomy.

Our convoy up the 400 went out the window, as the highway was stop & go all of the way to Barrie. And then it was merely really busy. We invaded Orillia & were quite an attraction at the lakefront park with gawkers & kids & an old man in a motorized cart who I invited along – he wanted a 2-hour head start though. All through the day, people were staring, taking pictures, giving thumbs up & the occasional middle finger.

Off to Rte 13 (cuts off Hwy 11 north of Orillia & runs to Hwy 169 near Bala) which is the twistiest road I’ve driven in Ontario. Near constant turns, blind corners, elevation changes & a 60 – 70 km/hr speed limit. This was exceeded. Some of the locals did get a wee bit irate at the noise & speed. Justifiably imho. Those GTs are LOUD & some of the drivers were imbeciles. I drove near the front on the way out & the speed was a little absurd. I could hear the GTO a ¼ mile away & that was with my top down & flat 6 humming beautifully. I backed off after a while since the trees & rocks were really close . . . But the road was fantastic.

And my poor old 911 held its own on the twisties against some heavy machinery – Ferraris: 348, 355, 308, 430 & Gerritt’s great 308GT4 (he followed me for the run & tried to keep up – ha, ha – not really - he's a good driver . . .) 3 Lambos Diablos, 2 Ford GTs, Cdn-Wolf’s C6, and a passle of NSXs. Oh and a 996 Turbo, a 996 cab & an ’83 Euro 930 (with a carseat - backwards in the front + kid).

Somehow our Porsche runs seem more fun – and certainly safer. I guess I’m getting old.

Some pics:


My valiant steed.


Some pretty machinery. The Murci didn't do the run . . .






Terrorizing Orillia. That GT is LOUD!!!! I followed him thru the town.







At the 1/2 way point. The 348 was overheating - on a cool day & driving at highway speed? Hmmm.

All in all it was fun, but we're not going to be eager to go on another with this group.

Ian

[pongobaz]

Very entertaining write-up Ian! Is it just me or does the Ford GT look a bit like a kit car? I'm not too fond of it with the Gulf racing colours, stripes and numbers (?!)...pretty high poseur factor. A ferrari overheats on a cool fall day?...that's no better than my 1971 Alfa GTV; Italian progress I guess.
I agree with you that while the machinery was quite impressive, pissing off the locals with excessive speed, noise and stupid stunts in parking lot is definetely not cool.
Anyway, at least you discovered some good twisties we can use for a P-car fun run in the future!

[imcarthur]

Originally posted by pongobaz
I agree with you that while the machinery was quite impressive, pissing off the locals with excessive speed, noise and stupid stunts in parking lot is definetely not cool.

At one point, the front bunch passed some slower cars in a bad zone (dangerously passed in a blind spot) & I hung back. When I got by the slow traffic, I was alone for a while & came upon a cyclist who yelled at me to SLOW DOWN. And I wasn't driving fast . . . She actually got in the middle of the road to stop others behind - and came close to being a hood ornament on a 348.

On the return trip, 4 of us were stopped by a man who came out onto the road to swear at us. We were at the tail at this point & he was seriously pissed. In other words, we were not cool.

Anyway, at least you discovered some good twisties we can use for a P-car fun run in the future!

True. It is worth the drive, as long as we behave ourselves.

Ian

[Komenda Fan]

I can't believe it, I was cruising around with the wife in our honda all day yesterday up along the same route, shame I missed your convoy! Fantastic roads, I really need to find a good classic so I can enjoy that area properly...

[imcarthur]

Mark (CDN_Wolf_eh) posted some pics & videos on the Corvette site Here

Ian

[CDN Wolf eh]

Hey Ian,

Good write up ... guess I was in the boring groups ... no one yelling at us ... no one jumping in front of the car ... just lot's of beautiful leafs ... and nice roads!

I drove that same route a week and a bit before this cruise, but only with Vette's and the sun was just starting to set ... the road had a really different feel to it, and hardly and spectators! lol

Here is my second set of pic's and vid's! .... http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1520102

Enjoy!

Mark - CDN_Wolf_eh

[imcarthur]

Yeah, Mark. I felt like a bit of a heel by the end of the run. And Blanca concurred. We can't forget that we are driving by people's homes. We go for cool roads & roar by at Mach 1, while their kid's are playing in the driveway . . .

How pissed we be if 40 cars roared through our quiet neighbourhood's?

Ian

Great pics & videos btw.

[CDN Wolf eh]

Originally posted by imcarthur
Yeah, Mark. I felt like a bit of a heel by the end of the run. And Blanca concurred. We can't forget that we are driving by people's homes. We go for cool roads & roar by at Mach 1, while their kid's are playing in the driveway . . .

How pissed we be if 40 cars roared through our quiet neighbourhood's?

Ian

Great pics & videos btw.

I hear you Ian ... I live just off Burhnamthorpe ... so I guess I have gotten use to the noise ... but that does not excuse our collective behavior. I found the groups that I was traveling with though reduced speed in the populated areas ... but you still run the risk of people out for a stroll or on their bikes ... critters can be a risk as well.

[imcarthur]

I 've done numerous Porsche runs & we get smiles & thumbs up everywhere. This Fchat run & the previous one in the spring that I missed last minute are the only ones that have had a problem with the local population. It happened last time too.

Hmmmm. I'll stick to our 'peaceful' runs. btw you're welcome & Gerrit & anyone else that wants to be civilised.

Ian

[CDN Wolf eh]

Originally posted by imcarthur
I 've done numerous Porsche runs & we get smiles & thumbs up everywhere. This Fchat run & the previous one in the spring that I missed last minute are the only ones that have had a problem with the local population. It happened last time too.

Hmmmm. I'll stick to our 'peaceful' runs. btw you're welcome & Gerrit & anyone else that wants to be civilised.

Ian

Yes ... when I'm on strickly Corvette cruises ... seems we always get a bunch of smiles, thumbs up ... picture takers ... all that stuff, never any negative responses ... unless we have someone with a really loud exhaust! lol

Well thanks for the invite ... I would love to cruise with you guys again!

Had a blast the first time!

Mark