Road Trip to Canada

[Chopper Dropper]

:D Just back from 9 days in Canada. Drove a lapping day at Mosport last Friday. As much driving as you could afford Canadian gas , tyre rubber and brake pads from 9 till 5 with a one hour break for lunch. Fantastic track, good surface, couple of real pucker corners. Fantastic. Facilities not bad. They had everything on the track from zero zero students to pro corvette cars, formula mazda etc(no open wheel) Couple of P cup cars and the odd GT3, Vipers etc. Corded my Hoosier slicks and had to finish on RA1, damit. Very well done event, passing with signals only, and congo lines of students dissipated very quickly, very courteous and fast. No incidents, no one towed out of gravel, couple of black flags for mechanicals that had to be towed in, mostly tows were done under white flag. Went on to Mt Tremblant about a six hour drive on Saturday, took Sunday easy whilst 2 of our party went down to Montreal and scalped tickets for the FI. I just wathed it on TV with a nice Gin and Tonic. Monday Tuesday Wednesday with Rennsport region at Le Circuit Mt Tremblant was great. Had been last year so knew the track. Rennsport run a very good event. Instructed all weekend and had plenty of track time. Definetely my overall favourite track. Challenging, fast, excellent surface, great corners. Only minutes from the ski/hotel "alpine Village" complex. Weather was great after Monday morning rain.Again not one incident, couple of spins I saw stayed on the black stuff, no one towed out of the gravel, just one or two mechanicals towed in. Treated like adults and behaved well. Good signaling from students and very co operative signals in the instructor groups if you know what I mean. About a 650 or so mile hike home yesterday in 14 hours including stops, trafic and duty free shopping.(Single malts naturally). This is the second year 4 or more of us have done this Candian road trip. Rennsort region were very impressed with our driving, our behaviour, and setting a good example ( doesn't sound like me!!) Try it next year if you can.
Dirk

[Jim Richards]

Sounds like great fun, Dirk.

[Jase007]

Dirk:

Fantastic track, good surface, couple of real pucker corners.

That is an understatement :shock:. How would you like your blind off camber turn today sir? I drove this track a few times several years ago. All I can say is the locals with track time definitely had an advantage. Sounds like you had a great trip.

Jase

[Parenn911]

Awesome write up Dirk! It looks like I will need to make a trip up to the north border soon. Do you have any photos?

[Chopper Dropper]

I have in car video of both tracks(Cannon mini cam) came out very well.Don't know how to post it. Also have some with a digital. Turns 2 and 4 at Mosport are kind of exciting as Jase said.Heard comments like " and you see God " There is nothing ahead of you, just tree tops and no asphalt and you have your pedal to the metal. Turn 1 at Mt tremblant is also exciting.Cuving right up and over a fairly steep hill.You see gaurd rails to your left and tree tops. If you are wide and fast you will get up close and personal with hard objects.Very much worth a trip, gas is expensive, people are very welcoming .
We will no doubt have another road trip going up next year, preferably after Black Fly season.
Dirk

[Doug E]

Thanks for sharing Dirk ... sounds like the tracks would be well worth the trip.

Besides, after making the hike down to Daytona for RRII a 650 mile trip would seem like a jaunt to the grocery store :lol:

[MBuck951]

Here are some of my pics. These trips to Canada just get better and better.

The two Ferrari's @ Montreal
http://members.rennlist.com/mbuck951/DSCN0413.jpg

My car on "rains" in the paddock @ LCMT. (Dirk on left, Dean right)
http://members.rennlist.com/mbuck951/DSCN0434.jpg

Dirk chasing a 993 into turn 1. Blind, 90mph, uphill right
http://members.rennlist.com/mbuck951/DSCN0457.jpg

Dirk chasing . . i mean about to pass, a GT2 out of turn 14
http://members.rennlist.com/mbuck951/DSCN0482.jpg

Eric just coming out of turn 14
http://members.rennlist.com/mbuck951/DSCN0496.jpg

Eric, Dean and Dirk about to head out in Red
http://members.rennlist.com/mbuck951/DSCN0552.jpg

Trackside lake
http://members.rennlist.com/mbuck951/DSCN0513.jpg

Mont-Tremblant Village (our hotel is to the left and bottom)
http://members.rennlist.com/mbuck951/DSCN0575.jpg

[cmartin]

Great shots Mike.

I have to make it up there next year!

[Jim Richards]

Why can't Summit look that good? OK, just kidding.

Great pics, Mike! Thanks for posting them :D

[Parenn911]

Awesome pictures Mike! Thanks.

[BillJ]

Dirk,

Had an amazing experience at that track several years ago. Was a guy named Botho (I think he was enthusiast of the year within the last 5 or so) that was my instructor. GREAT guy. Scary track with the off-camber blind stuff. After three days, I finally learned to trust it a little more. My favorite course.

Bill

[Eric S]

Road Trip '04 was Excellent!

That makes three in a row, and honestly, this was the best trip yet. Hmmm..., where to go next year - you'll just have to wait and see! But do seriously consider joining us!