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Sunday, July 7, 2019 at 10 AM – 6 PM
15 rang St-andré, Napierville, Quebec J0J 1L0
Grand derby de demolition. Plus de 80 voitures et camions seront détruits devant vos yeux!!!
Blog
The Ultimate Anime Convention Car Roadtrip Guide
by Roger Senpai
If you’re going on an Anime convention road trip for the first time, this post will enlighten you with all the details you need! Here’s what this post will cover:
I. Should you rent or have your own car for an Anime convention road-trip?
II. What to pack in your car and what items to bring.
III. 10+ helpful tips for a smooth and fun convention roadtrip experience.
Let’s get started!
I. Is it better to rent a car or have my own vehicle?
While buying a car is a topic unto itself that’s beyond the scope of my blog, as a cosplayer/otaku there are advantages and disadvantages to owning one vs. renting one.
With renting a car, you’re guaranteed to drive a relatively new vehicle that’s been well-maintained by the car rental agency. Instead of having to spend $20k or $30k to buy a new car, you can rent one for the weekend for around $100-$200!And if something goes wrong with the car during the trip, the car rental agency will take care of it (if you purchased roadside assistance). Either they’ll send someone to fix the car on the spot or you’ll get you a new one to drive.
However, there are some drawbacks with renting a car. Picking it up and dropping it off is annoying. Eventually, you’ll have to drop the car off at the location where you picked it up. So instead of driving straight home like you would with your own car, you’ll have to figure out the logistics of dropping the rental vehicle and getting back home afterwards. Since it’s not your car, you’ll need to be very careful with how you and your friends treat the vehicle (e.g. no smoking inside the car). Also, the “damage waiver coverage” you buy from a rental is nowhere as good as having your own car insurance; it tends to cover very little.
Hint: before you drive the rental car out of the lot, do a circle check and see if there’s any dents/scratches/damage on the vehicle already. Just to be sure.
With that said however, I’ve had other pleasant experiences with renting a car. Once I rented a car in San Francisco and drove down the beautiful Pacific coastline to Los Angeles, and the rental company let me drop off the car in LA…free of charge! So some rental companies are actually great, especially for doing an Anime convention roadtrip.
Alright, what about having your own vehicle?
With your own car, it really is your property; you decide how far you want to drive, how you want it customized and the way you want to drive. Whereas renting a car, you’d have to drop all your stuff off first, drive back to the rental centre, and then take the bus or cab from the rental centre to your home. But with your own car, as soon as the convention is over and you’ve dropped everyone off, you can drive back home and start unpacking right away. It’s definitely more convenient to have your own ride. Not only that, you’re not restrained by how long your rental is, nor the amount of mileage did you purchase. With your own car, you can drive as far as you want and stay out as long as you want. So if you want to hit up that cool restaurant that’s sort of out of the way without worrying about mileage like you would with a rental car.
But with your own car comes a lot of responsibility. Owning a car can be stressful if you cannot keep up with it financially. Definitely consider that owning a car will significantly increase your expenses by thousands of dollars or more. Not only that, you will have to maintain it in order to keep the vehicle in good shape. This not only takes money, but also a lot of time (e.g. booking appointments with the mechanic, getting your licence and registration renewed at a government centre). You should only buy a car if you plan on using it on a frequent basis (e.g. driving to work). If not, you’re better off either renting a car or buying a bus/train/plane ticket to the convention instead. Especially if you live in one of these 5 cities.
For me right now my Honda Civic is what I use when I drive on an Anime convention roadtrip. Why do I love it? Two simple reasons:
-Very reliable. This baby just keeps going! I’ve done the preventative maintenance like changing the oil and replacing worn-out parts to keep it running. It’s over a decade old and has over 300,000 km in mileage but it’s still going!
-Very fuel-efficient. Gas prices in Canada tend to be more expensive than our American friends down south. But with my Honda Civic, I don’t feel a financial pinch when I fill up the tank. Some of my coworkers are spending more than double with their sports cars and pickup trucks.
I’m keeping this car until it goes completely lemon. Despite the car being so old, it gets the job done. And more importantly, it gets me to the conventions!
Onto the next section: Packing your car for the Anime convention roadtrip.
II. What should I pack for an Anime convention roadtrip?
There are a lot of things you can pack! So I made the list below to with all the stuff you can bring. Some of the items I listed are things that are must-haves.
Convention-related items
- -Documents for the con: pre-registration “ticket”, hotel reservation number, travel insurance, car insurance, passport if you’re leaving the country.
- -1-3 cosplays per person: I recommend only bringing 1 large cosplay and 2 small-medium cosplays per person. That way you ensure everyone’s costumes can fit the car.
- -Cosplay tool kit (e.g. safety pins, glue). If the convention has a cosplay repair station (or Cosplay Medic), then you don’t need to bring this.
- -Camera: for taking all those sexy and beautiful cosplays. Or you could just use your smartphone as a camera to save space.
- -Electronics (e.g. phone charger, your laptop, your video game portable system like a 3DS or PS Vita).
- -Makeup for your cosplay
“Regular” items
- -Physical map: GPS/cellular data can fail if you’re in the middle of nowhere, so it’s super-useful to have a map with you just in case this happens.
- -Money/debit and credit cards: Note that if you’re travelling out of the country, I suggest exchanging your currency BEFORE you leave the country. It’s not always easy to exchange at the destination. (E.g. one time at an American convention, I had to travel all the way to a damn CASINO to get my Canadian money exchanged for USD. All the banks in the area were closed early on Friday and the entire weekend! So get your currency before you leave the country).
- -Clothing such as tops, bottoms, underwear, socks (I also suggest bringing swim gear and a towel so you can take advantage of a hotel’s pool or hot tub, especially at conventions like YetiCon!)
- -Emergency first aid kit and personal medication
- -Sandals. Whether you’re going to the beach or you rather not walk barefoot to the ice machine in the hotel, sandals are super handy when you’re at a convention.
- -Toiletries
Car-related items
- –Documents like your driver’s licence and insurance policy. If you’re renting a car, then all the documents regarding your car rental agreement and contact information should be in the vehicle as well.
- -Emergency items for the car (e.g. spare tire, wrench and tire jack, jump cables, etc.)
- -If you’re driving during the winter, be sure to bring a shovel and snow brush in case a snow storm comes along your way.
- -Water: It’s going to be a long drive and you guys WILL get thirsty! Don’t rely on the nearest gas station, have peace of mind by having bottles of water ready in the car.
So those are all the essentials for packing for a convention roadtrip!
III. Planning out the logistics for a smooth Anime convention roadtrip!
While I agree with the notion that you should have some spontaneous fun during your Anime convention roadtrip, there are some things where you should not “wing it” and hope for the best! In the section below, here are various 10+ tips for having a wonderful roadtrip and avoiding logistical headaches, based on my own experiences.
Before you leave
-If you’re using your own vehicle; get your car checked and inspected well before the convention date. For example, I didn’t realize that the pressure with one of my tires was getting very low. So I was able to pump it up with air and started noticing how much better the car drove after I did. If it’s been a while since you’ve been to the auto shop, now is a good time to take a visit and make sure your car is good to go long distance.
–Get CAA or AAA in case your car runs into trouble. For those renting a car, get roadside assistance. If you’re driving your own car, I highly recommend you become a CAA/AAA member. CAA/AAA stands for Canadian Automobile Association/American Automobile Association. For a small annual fee of around $100-$200 a year, the CAA (or AAA if you live the U.S.) provides you with roadside assistance if your car starts having problems. They can tow your car back home or to the nearest auto shop, fill up some gas in case you run out and they can unlock your car in case you left your keys in the vehicle. They provide very useful service and cover almost the entire continent of North America! It’s peace of mind in case your car malfunctions. Speaking of gas…
–Fill up on gas either the night before or right when you leave the house. You’ll want a full tank of gas while you’re on your roadtrip. The best time to do so is either the night before, or as soon as you leave your driveway. You don’t want to depend on looking for a gas station when you leave the city or while you’re driving to the convention. Because once you leave your area, you don’t know where the nearest gas station will be. Also, the prices on the road will likely be inflated because those gas station owners know that the nearest one is far away. So do yourself a favour and fill that gas tank up before you leave.
–Buy travel insurance if you’re travelling to a different country. Worst case scenario, you don’t want to be paying huge hospital bills in the U.S. in the event of a medical emergency. So get yourself some travel insurance before you leave. It’s super cheap and the insurance will cover you in case anything happens. If you have a pre-existing medical condition then it’ll cost more. But travel insurance is a peace of mind that I feel is necessary for any Anime convention roadtrip.
Convention-related tips
–Completely finish packing the night before. Trust me; you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches if you finish packing the day before. Even better if you put your stuff in the car before you go to bed. That way, you can wake up and head straight to your car without having to worry about what you’re missing.
–Figure out who is bringing cosplay props. This is very important because not only do cosplay props like swords take up lots of space in the car, they’re also fragile. So you’ll need to pack them carefully. I suggest either placing cosplay props on the bottom of the back seat in your car or on top of all your other stuff in the trunk. That way, when you drive and hit a bump on the road, it won’t bounce around as much.
–You can save space by choosing to bring more casual cosplays. A Haikyuu jersey is going to take a lot less space than a full-blown Fire Emblem outfit with Worbla and props. Like I mentioned earlier, each person should only bring 1 bulky cosplay and 2-3 smaller outfits.
–I highly recommend figuring out where you’re going to park your car during the convention…BEFORE you guys leave. Because there are lots of attendees, not only will parking be more difficult to find but the rates may also be inflated during the convention weekend. So in order to park your car right away and to ensure you get the best rates, be sure to plan out where to park first before you leave for the convention.
Take me for example, when I drove to Youmacon for the first time. I thought to myself, “Oh Detroit is Car City…there’s got to be tons of cheap parking around the convention center!” Boy was I wrong. Although there were plenty of parking lots in Detroit (certainly a lot more than Toronto), most of them were expensive as hell. I drove around the convention area looking for a parking lot with a decent price, but I couldn’t find one. Eventually I got tired of looking, so I settled for a lot beside the hotel I was staying at. I ended up paying a ton of money to park there.
So the following year I decided to look up a parking lot in advance to save time circling around finding one. And lucky for me, I found a parking spot that was reasonably priced and beside my hotel! So when I arrived at Youmacon, I immediately parked my car there and checked in my hotel right away. I only paid half the price I did with the expensive parking lot the previous. So a little research and planning in advance can save you a lot of money and time.
The day of the Anime convention roadtrip
–Install Maps.me on your phone. This is a great app that works offline. So if you lose cell phone reception, no need to worry as you can still use this map tool offline. Having this app along with a paper map will ensure you won’t get lost during the trip, even if you’re unfamiliar with the area.
–If you live in a city, leave early to avoid rush-hour traffic. Make sure you guys are out of the city by 1-2 p.m. the latest. Getting out of the city for an Anime convention roadtrip during rush hour is a major headache, and the best way to avoid it is by leaving before everyone is getting off from work.
–When you pick someone up at their house, immediately ask them, “Did you bring your passport?” A passport is essential for traveling outside of your country. The worst thing that can happen is if you’re at the border and one of your friends forgot their passport at home. Now what do you do? Do you drive all the way back home to get their passport? Or do you ditch your friend at the border and drop them off there? You don’t want to be in any of those situations, because it will ruin your Anime convention roadtrip! So ensure everyone has their passport when they get in your car.
–Buy food/drink/alcohol AFTER you arrive at your hotel. Instead of buying food and alcohol in advance, you should buy them AFTER you arrive at the hotel and unpack everything in the room. That way, you’ll have lots of room to buy liquor when you have way more room in the car. I’ve been to many conventions and there was always a location nearby to buy these things. There’s always a supermarket and alcohol store nearby, because most cons are located in convenient locations. So you don’t need to worry about not having it when you arrive at the convention.
Last but not least…
–Bring a music playlist! We’re all Weebs. We love our video game and Anime music. So make sure one of you guys bring a playlist while riding the car. If your car has an old music player like mine, you can a buy a super cheap Bluetooth player for $15-$20. You insert the player in the cigarette lighter and you’re good to go.
And that’s all you need to know for an Anime convention roadtrip! Trust me, they’re hella fun. When you’re driving to the convention, the excitement and hype you get while making your way there is an experience you never forget. And when you’re driving back, the stories of what happened during the con make for memorable times.
I hope you found this useful. Now get out there and plan your next Anime convention roadtrip!
Originally posted on https://rogersenpai.com/
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Salon International de l’Auto de Montréal
Fondé en 1914, par La Corporation des concessionnaires d’automobiles de Montréal, le SIAM est aujourd’hui, Le plus important Salon automobile au Québec avec plus de 600 véhicules, et près de 200 000 visiteurs!
Founded in 1914 by the Corporation des concessionnaires d’automobiles de Montréal, the Montreal International Auto Show is the most important auto show in Québec with more than 600 vehicles on display, and more than 200 000 visitors annually!
The Montreal International Auto Show offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see The Black Box, the Generator and the Garage!
Montreal, January 17, 2019 – Desjardins Insurance presents, in collaboration with The Gazette, the 2019 Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS) at the Palais des congrès de Montréal from January 18 to 27. MIAS will mark its 76th Edition this year and what’s more exciting to announce that the most visited automotive event in Quebec, prepares a renewed content enriched with unique experiences.
Three new features take the center stage, and one chance only to live this unique experience. The Generator: Electric Mobility at Its Best With a goal of creating a forum for future electric vehicle buyers and anyone wishing to discover, compare and become familiar with new technologies in mobility,
MIAS presents The Generator:
A new space where the visitor will discover 20 products and services exhibitors. Further to the 42 Electric vehicles throughout the show, this area will feature discussions about the environment, electric and urban mobility, as well as new technologies from charging stations to solar panels and new energy sources. A conference program hosted every day on the HydroQuébec scene will be offering visitors a glimpse of tomorrow’s mobility. The full conference program is available on montrealautoshow.com.
The Garage
A new and enhanced version of the mythical Performance Zone will be launched at MIAS. This modified car area is renewed year after year to bring a series of vehicles out of the ordinary to the show and the 2019 Edition will be no exception and has many surprises: the visitor will be transported into the world of performance at level 7, with an Acura Integra 2000, a Chevrolet Belair 1957, a Porsche 914 1973, to name a few. The car enthusiasts will be filling-up their emotions.
The Black Box
Visitors of the Montreal International Auto Show will get the opportunity to discover The Black Box, presented in collaboration with OB Prestige Auto. It’s a section of the event featuring a mysterious decor that mixes light and sound. Never seen before in the Show’s history, this feature will present three exceptional, rare cars that are sure to get visitors’ hearts pounding; two of them rank amongst the fastest cars on the planet and amongst the most expensive as well. The third one was born in Quebec and blessed with an amazing drive and jaw-dropping bodywork: A Bugatti Chiron, a Koenigsegg Agera RS, and the Quebec design by Antoine Bessette, the Felino cB7R. A record number of 42 Electric Vehicles, all under one roof MIAS attendees will discover in all 3 levels of the Auto Show, a record number of 42 Electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen vehicles. A floor plan will be distributed for electronic ticket buyers, as well as at the ticket counters of the Palais des congrès, to help visitors identify electric vehicles throughout the show. This initiative, combined with the electric vehicle test drives as well as the Generator is positively a step forward to help the future electric car buyer find all the information under one roof.
CAA-Quebec Electric Vehicle Test Drives
A resounding success, MIAS will once again offer visitors the unique experience of driving electric, hybrid, plug-in vehicles in January. In partnership with CAA-Quebec, this activity will be offered free of charge to visitors.
This year the line-up of 12 car models is sure to please our attendees, featuring: BMW i3, BMW 530e xDrive, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Chevrolet Volt, Honda Clarity Plug-in hybrid, Hyundai Ioniq Electric, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro PHEV, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Nissan LEAF, Volkswagen e-Golf, Volvo XC 60.
Auto Show contest: an exceptional vehicle!
MIAS in collaboration with Mitsubishi is proud to announce the car of the 2019 contest: the splendid crossover Eclipse Cross SE 2019 valued at $31,942. Visitors of the show will have the exceptional opportunity to participate on site at level 5 and win this magnificent vehicle offered by Mitsubishi. The winner will be unveiled Sunday, January 27 at 6 p.m., at the closing of the show.
50 Debuts and Special Presentations
33 Canadian premieres, 2 North American debuts at Genesis and Kia, and 15 other special presentations will present to MIAS attendees the innovations of the auto industry. Moreover, once again this year, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) chose the MIAS to honour the winning manufacturers in the 12 categories of the car of the year award.
Desjardins Activity on Level 5
Event visitors can go to the Desjardins Insurance booth to enjoy a larger-than-life experience and enter a contest for a chance to win $5,000.
The 76th Edition is from January 18 to 27, 2019!
Desjardins Insurance presents the Montreal International Auto Show, a production of the Montreal Automobile Dealers Corporation, in collaboration with The Gazette.
About the Auto Show
The MIAS has just turned a page of history, and highlighted 75 Editions last January since holding its first Auto Show organized by the Montreal Automobile Dealers Corporation (formerly MATA) in 1914 at Drill Hall.
More information: on www.montrealautoshow.com.
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Why I Deal with a Car Broker
It was almost 5 years ago that began the search to find a replacement to my Volkswagen Rabbit 2008.
That car was very enjoyable, and it suited all my vehicle requirements. Sadly, after two major accidents, that occurred in a short period it was losing its fun to drive factor. Decidedly, time had come for a successor and this recounts the experience that lead me to using the services of a car broker.
First, it was important to determine what I wanted and was willing to spend: budget, compact size and fun to drive, a/c, etc. This obviously included making the decision of make and model. In my case, it was almost a no brainer, a newer Golf, fulfilled that want and thus the search began.
The Search Begins
Online classifieds became a little bit of a nightmare in the search for a used, more recent car. The condition of the cars often weren’t exactly as described. Some people tend to romanticize the value and condition of their belongings, which brings out and for whatever reason tend to change or embellish the facts. Often times, a few specific questions would reveal less than desirable treatment of the vehicle or previously unmentioned facts. Also, and importantly the vehicle maintenance never seemed up to date.
My Time Was Being Wasted
One thing was certain time was being wasted in what should have been straightforward and easy, according to me. So I then went off the private sales and onto dealerships; thinking they have guarantees on their cars and if I find a reputable dealership, my Golf would be found in no time.
I recall this one time, finding a low mileage, black, Volkswagen Golf about 1 year old. Seemed like exactly what I wanted. A phone call, quickly led to meeting to see the vehicle. Upon my arrival, was told it had been sold and hence was no longer available. I would have wished that I had been told since it would have avoided an unnecessary drive. The frustration didn’t end there, since the sales person tried to convince me of other models that were similar and more expensive in the end.
Decided it was enough and done with that time consuming process. Clearly patience was wearing out and was not how I saw this. Convinced there was a better and less frustrating way looked up a broker I knew from a friend.
My First Broker
Upon making the call to the broker, we discussed the essentials budget, make, model, color and other options as well.
Within 3 hours, got a call back and was presented a possible car and time to go see it. It was interesting to see that, what had taken so much time, and running around, was going to be resolved.
Of course, I then went see the vehicle. Quickly ensued the usual formalities, such as, test-drive, delivery date and contract signing.
Within 2 days I went to pickup my car and drove it home. All this was made much easier and with none of the hassle.
Indeed, that search that was using up so much of my time and patience had come to an end.
I now had exactly what I was looking for and didn’t have to deal with all that misleading and time consuming exercise any longer.
And Baby Makes Three
Another story happened when about 3 years ago. My wife and I were expecting a baby and decided that a bigger vehicle for the family was necessary since our compact cars just would be insufficient in handling the task. A month or so before the arrival of our child, we went on the hunt for a new family car. We knew what we wanted and went on a mission.
We assuming it would be easy and would get a great deal on a small SUV. Unfortunately it was not.
Our search would require the visit of a number of dealerships. We then revisited our target vehicle and moved onto another model. This time, knowing what we wanted since we had nailed all details but still no one would deliver everything on our list. With time ticking and baby soon to arrive, we made the call to a car broker.
My Next Broker
Once again, everything happened with ease and became the pleasant experience I imagined it should be.
Upon taking contact with the car broker, we sent the list of what our desired vehicle should be. Within an hour we got a call, that the car was found and to go see it. Literally, within 2 hours everything was settled and all that remained was pickup on the agreed delivery date.
In the end, if you value your time, detest haggling and hassles, a trusted car broker is the way to go!
They find what you want and all you need to do is sign and pick it up.
-Diego Pagliuca is husband, father and a fan of everything cars and time/cost saving consumption
The Deal About Cars and Women
by Patty Contenta
How important is your car when it comes down to meeting women?
Very important!
According to multiple studies, the vehicle a man owns reflects his image and has a strong affect on his perceived attractiveness and even the way he drives.
We all have stereotypes of people based off what they drive. Porche, BMW, Prius, Harley Davidson…the list goes on.
The goal of this article is to help you understand the relationship between your vehicle and your image so that you can control it and use it to your advantage.
Here’s the deal about cars and women:
It is not so much the car that is desirable to women but more as to what it represents. A great looking car signifies security, stability and luxury, which are key traits women find desirable from a man.
When a woman gets into your car for the very first time, she’s evaluating not the car you drive, but the way you take care of that car, which says a lot about how you take care of yourself.
Here is a key point to consider:
Please Her Senses.
Sight:
Keep your vehicle clean. Is your backseat piled with tons of stuff? Is the car dusty? Do you have dirty coffee cups in your cup holder? Are your compartments filled with papers, receipts that you’ve been collecting? Is the outside of your car dirty? She’s going to see it all. Gentlemen, when she gets into that car, remember it’s an extension of you. The seats should be clean. Make sure she’s not sitting on any old potato chips. Make sure there’s not a bottle of water at her feet. And definitely keep clean floor mats. A woman hates to have the heel of her shoes dirty.
Sound:
Have a good playlist. Set the mood. Be sure you’ve got the right music on, so when she gets in the car she’s sitting in an environment that’s friendly. Play a little bit of Coldplay, maybe some Ray LaMontagne, basically good, mellow music at a volume that’s not too high and not too low, just enough for background. If you really want to score points, be sure to ask what what music she likes and have it playing when she gets in the car.
It shows you were paying attention.
Taste:
Have mints and water available. If you want to exceed expectations, pay attention to details.
Walt Disney is a prime example of a company that understands how details improves customer experience.
A woman can sense your thoughtfulness when you have mints, tissues or water available for her.
Scent:
Keep your car smelling clean. Unpleasant smells actually send pain signals to the brain. It turns out that your sense of smell is the most powerful of all your five senses. In fact, the deep limbic center—the part of your brain that controls your emotions— is connected to your olfactory system, which means that different scents can affect your mood or evoke certain memories and emotions. Do not mask any odor with air fresheners, that’s a short cut you don’t want to take. Get your car detailed if there is a stubborn odor.
Touch/Feel:
Seat warmers are an added bonus. On a cold winter day, those heated seats can be soothing while a woman waits for the car to warm up.
In conclusion, it may be what’s on the inside that counts, but it’s what’s outside that attracts.
A man’s car reveals a lot about his personality and values, and may determine a woman’s attraction toward him.
Patty Contenta is a professional dancer, choreographer, judge, Master Examiner and international traveling dance consultant for the world renowned Arthur Murray Dance Studio Franchise. Founder of Sensuality Secrets, the author of Desirable And Deserving e-book and Sexy In Seconds DVD Program that helps women who are struggling with their body image reconnect with their feminine energy and sensuality through the art of body language and dance.
http://www.sensualitysecrets.com/
My First Car – 1969 Camaro
by Jim Riga
My favorite was my second-hand 1969 Camaro.
It was a 2-door coupe,
gold with black racing stripes.
No car before that one, or since, ever handled the way that li’l gem did. In a way, after all these years, I wish I had kept it, because they’re worth a small fortune today.
Talk about “feeling the open road”, that car did it in spades, and made me feel freer than any bird! I souped it up because I was bitten by sports cars & racers from my early youth.
When I drove it, with the windows open, I could almost touch the road outside ….. that’s how low to the road it drove. I equipped it with extra-wide Good-Year tires (with white lettering), custom Kragar mag wheels, which cost a small fortune, even in those days, and I put it an ultra-small solid walnut steering wheel. You couldn’t do that today because of the central air bag system. In fact, the steering wheel was so small, and with no power steering, my mother, who borrowed it on one or two occasions, could not park the darn thing because you needed “muscle power” to just turn the wheel!
It also had a Lear Jet 8-track tape player, which someone eventually stole by smashing a window. And I remember that when the police took the report, one of the officers happened to be a friend, a musician whom I had played with in a band from my younger days. I eventually joined another band later, when I was teaching, and that same police officer was the guitarist for that group …… yea, it’s a really small world!
The car was also side-swiped one winter, when a snow plow smashed the door in near the sidewalk.
But that beauty never let me down.
And I especially enjoyed driving it to my country chalet in the Laurentians because of all the curvy & winding roads.
Yep, those were the days of “Route 66”, the days of freedom on the open roads, and I often reminisce of those days of my youth. Today, the ol’ geezer in me drives a more practical and ordinary SUV …… amazing how immaturity forces us to make foolish choices, AND as we mature, we tend to hopefully make wiser choices in our brief lifetimes!
That car was eventually sold to my brothers, who had it repainted, and it served them faithfully for a few years afterward.
The li’l sportster may be gone, but it’s not forgotten!
-Jim Riga
Jim Riga is a retired teacher from St. Pius X in Montreal. His passion has always been sports cars, but his “dream” came true when he bought this second-hand beauty. Today, that passion has been replaced by fishing & recreational trap & skeet shooting. But the “fire for the road” still burns strong.
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DEATH OF THE DART
BY PETER ANTHONY HOLDER
The return of the Dodge Dart has more than a twinge of nostalgia for me. I grew up in a Chrysler family. Our first car was a 1970 Dodge Dart (pictured below). It was our first days of freedom and the last days of public transit for us.
The Chrysler Corporation, which was itself on death’s door not too many years ago, found a Sugar Daddy to save it, in the form of Italy’s Fiat. Now on somewhat solid road, the car company has brought back from the dead one of its most remembered nameplates, albeit this time on an Italian chassis.
The return of the Dodge Dart has more than a twinge of nostalgia for me. I grew up in a Chrysler family. Our first car was a 1970 Dodge Dart (pictured below). It was our first days of freedom and the last days of public transit for us.
Though only 12-years-old when this car came into my life it was almost entirely my choice of vehicle. I loved the Chryslers of my youth, enjoyed the sport model of the Dart that was driven by TV’s Mannix, and had major sway on my Dad who really knew nothing about cars (and truth be told, knew very little about driving them too).
But five years later we traded up to a more mid range 1975 Dodge Dart. Again, I had complete say on this deceptively fast family sedan with a .318 V8 under the hood. However, once again Mom picked the colour. Not wanting to beat around the bush with a choice that could look somewhat green (unless it was cloudy or dark outside), she went full bore with her favourite colour, which is green. (For the record, green is NOT my favourite colour. On the contrary, it is a colour I do not like at all).
This car was my baby. I got up early in the morning to drive my father to work, then took the car to school. I picked my Dad up after work, then went to my job as a theatre usher after that. On the weekends, once I made sure to take Mom to the supermarket for groceries, I was free to roam the world in that Dart.
That car, which was affectionately known as “Betsy” was everything to me. And I put her through a lot. In the eight years I had her, she saw almost 300,000 miles (long before the days when we counted distance in kilometres). At the time of her death I was living in Brockville, Ontario working at a small radio station (two and a half years of my life I will never get back. I went there to cut my salary in half and double the Black population. A story I may or may not share another day).
During my Brockville days, I drove Betsy home every weekend. It was a two hour plus drive to Brockville, but only a 90 minute drive back to Montreal (I told you, I didn’t like Brockville and the Dart did have a .318 V8).
That car had been through a lot, least of all my adolescence. I can truly say that with all the car had endured, it stood up to the challenges. And at the risk of sounding old, they don’t make them like they used to.
To say I was distraught at the loss of my beloved vehicle might not be too far off the mark. But I got through my grief by placing an obit in the Brockville daily newspaper, The Recorder and Times (apparently they would let you write anything in the classifieds as long as they saw the money . . . . again another sad story for another day).
What can I say?
We all grieve in different ways. So in this millennium, as a once venerable automotive giant looks to its past to try and rebuild for the future, with ad campaigns and much hype over the return of a treasured nameplate, I will quietly applaud them for their attempt. But I will also look back fondly, with a smile, (and maybe a tear) knowing that the glory days of my youth were truly enhanced by my relationship with that 1975 Dodge Dart.
And I hope that out there somewhere is another teenager, with or without a sense of history for the name, who might fall in love with a Dodge Dart of his own and begin the journey on the highway of memories.
That’s the Stuph – the way I see it
PETER ANTHONY HOLDER
PETER ANTHONY HOLDER IS A 35-YEAR BROADCAST VETERAN, INCLUDING A 20-YEAR RUN AS THE HOST OF A LATE NIGHT MONTREAL RADIO SHOW AND A FORMER TELEVISION NEWS ANCHOR/REPORTER. CURRENTLY HE’S THE HOST OF THE STUPH FILE PROGRAM, HEARD WORLDWIDE ON MANY PLATFORMS, INCLUDING ITUNES, STITCHER, SEVERAL RADIO STATIONS AND SHORTWAVE RADIO. HE’S ALSO THE PRODUCER OF THE JUST FOR LAUGHS SIRIUSXM RADIO PROGRAMS AND A FREELANCE WRITER. ADDING TO THE LIST OF WRITING CREDITS IS A BOOK ENTITLED GREAT CONVERSATIONS: MY INTERVIEWS WITH TWO MEN ON THE MOON & A GALAXY OF STARS. THE STUPH FILE PROGRAM IS AN ECLECTIC SHOW FEATURING INTERVIEWS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND SOME OF THE ODDEST NEWS STORIES YOU’LL EVER HEAR. SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS WEEKLY HOUR OF FUN!
HE CAN BE REACHED AT
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Great Conversations by Peter Anthony Holder
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1987 BUICK REGAL “GRAND NATIONAL”
– For Sale By Owner (located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Message From Owner:
I’m the original owner and I have all the papers.
Its a 1987 Buick regal grand national with a rare sunroof option.
I put a GNX style dash and flared fenders as well as adding a spoiler in 2001.
Since then I’ve put on about 25, 000 miles and in the last 5 years or so less then 5000. Three years ago the engine was rebuilt at FRESKIES KUSTOM.
Since I don’t drive it much anymore, I’ve decided to sell it.
It is modified to be a race car with the a/c/heater removed and line lock added and lots of other goodies listed below.
But it was way to fast to drive on the streets with even my higher then stock brake conversion system and of course no safety air bags.
Not to mention the blue meanies.
I used it strictly to go to car shows and the occasional leisure ride.
It has won many trophies at car shows.
I added a lot of chrome and made cosmetic changes from stock exterior and interior.
GNX style mags are also painted black.
And I removed the badges as I liked the Darth Vadar look but I still have them as well as two Mickey Thompson racing slicks on original gn mags.
I did a 1.6 60 ft time.
I’m asking 30,000.
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My First Car – 1979 Beetle Convertible
by Peter Hehn
As a teenager growing up in the eighties, films and movies had a tremendous influence on my friends and I when it came to “cool cars”.
On TV, there was Miami Vice with Crocket’s pseudo Ferrari Daytona and then a real Testarossa.
Knightrider was a talking Pontiac Trams-am! (see above)
The Dukes of Hazzard had a Dodge Charger named the General Lee.
In the movies, we were teased by all the exotic cars chasing Aston Martins in the James Bond movies!
My friends ended up buying Honda Accords and CRXs, Volkswagen Jettas and GTIs and Chevy Camaros and Firebirds!
What did I end up buying?
An old Beetle!
For today’s generation, that’s a Beetle with the engine in the back!
I remember reading in the classified ads of the Gazette in the spring of 85 (that’s how you shopped for a car back then), a low mileage Karmann Beetle Convertible. I asked my friend Eugenio to come and see it with me since he had a car.
Before I went into the dealership, I asked him to go inside first and tell me the condition of the car. When he came out, he smiled and said nervously:
“Don’t go in,
unless you really want to buy it”.
So I went in.
Right next to the Beetle was a 1957 Thunderbird for sale for the same asking price!
I looked at both cars, same asking price, 14,500$.
One was in showroom condition with 11,000KM, the other a multiple car owner with reliability issues according to the (honest?) salesman!
Both convertibles, so a winter car also needed to be calculated into my budget.
The decision from a “car guy” prospective was a no-brainer, go with the flashy looking car to get the girls!
But then as a first time car buyer, realistically you have to be rational about what you will buy as you first car.
Is it because you need a car to travel to work, mobility because you want freedom or because the vehicle is an extension of you?
My Italian friends ended up with Camaros! My other friends Hondas or GTIs. All great cars but none really had any “personality”.
At the end of October of that year, I took possession of the 1979 Beetle Convertible!
Countless stories and history has been written about Beetles, more that any other car, and for good reason! It truly has a personality that is undeniable.
Just ask Walt Disney!
Prior to his death, he wanted to make a movie about a car with a soul! The story goes that Disney asked his employees to pick a car in the parking lot on their way home. Among the dozen or so “casting cars” chosen, the overwhelming favorite was the Beetle!
My car was named “Alyson” for no other reason that the name just came to me! Alyson the Beetle! She became an extension of me. She was the queen where ever I went! People would start a conversation with me, tourists wanted a picture with her, everyone wanted a ride! She had trouble keeping up with buses but everyone’s eyes were on her!
Alyson was always the star! Among all the Corvettes, Porsches, Alfa Romeos, she out-shined them all! I had one gentleman in a blue Ferrari pull up to me and ask if the car was for sale because his wife sitting next to him wanted the car because the color matched the Ferrari!
A “his” and “hers” in the garage!
She was so beautiful, Alyson was cast in two movies shot locally in Montreal. One movie called “Green without Envy” a Harlequin made for TV romance and the other starring James Brolin (Josh Brolin’s father) called Back Stab.
Alyson was also the car chosen by Eugenio for his wedding, as well as 4 other friends and countless strangers who requested her! As the saying goes…Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue! She was all that!!
My Beetle is the most reliable car ever made! I have replaced the alternator once, brakes pads, spark plugs and oil filter regularly and that’s it!
Since 1985!
For those that are not familiar with Beetles, the engine is air cooled!
There is one belt and fan! That’s it!
I will never sell her!
I have a Mercedes-Benz as my “daily driver”.
A Porsche 911 as my “stress relief” car and
a BMW motorcycle as my “freedom vehicle”!
After owning her for 33 years, she is about to get a heart transplant! Not because she isn’t reliable, on the contrary, her next heart, like the rest of her, will require no maintenance at all! In fact, all I will need to do is change brakes pads!
Alyson, like all cats and Beetles that have nine lives, is going electric!
-Peter Hehn
Peter Hehn has been an automotive enthusiast his whole life. He fell in love with cars at 10 when he first saw a picture of James Dean in a Spyder. Peter also enjoys riding two wheels, motorbikes and bicycles! When not obsessing over “wheels”, he works as a recruitment and branding consultant. He began his career in commercial real estate and is still a managing partner in developing resort properties in Tremblant. He is now obsessing over acquiring a VW Westfalia!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO REBEL RIDEZ
So another Rebel Ridez season has come to an end. So on our behalf, Pat and Marco we would like to thank all our sponsors, all our supporters and last but not least, all the members. It was a great and busy 2018.
Lots of ups and downs, which is normal. But at the end, we all had a lot of fun and that’s what its all about. We went to a lot of Amazing summer shows together and that was a blast. We win some we lose some. It doesn’t matter. Were together and were having fun.
And of course we cant forget our Great 8th annual Rebel Ridez Car Show.
Best in the East. We Thank you all and until next summer. We’ll burn some rubber together. Cheers!
Cheers! Une nouvelle saison de Rebel Ridez est donc finie. Donc, en notre nom, Pat et Marco nous voudrions remercier tous nos commanditaires, tous nos partisans et, enfin, tous les membres.
Ce fut une grande et occupée 2018.
Beaucoup de hauts et de bas, ce qui est normal. Mais à la fin, nous nous sommes tous beaucoup amusés et c’est ce qui compte vraiment. Nous sommes allés à beaucoup de spectacles estivaux incroyables ensemble et c’était génial. Nous en gagnons, nous en perdons. Cela ne compte pas. Étaient ensemble et s’amusaient.
Et bien sûr, nous ne pouvons pas oublier notre grand 8ème salon de l’automobile annuel Rebel Ridez. Meilleur à l’Est.
Nous vous remercions tous et jusqu’à l’été prochain. Nous allons brûler du caoutchouc ensemble. À votre santé!
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