Show ‘n Shines, Concours and other competitive events are only half the fun of the car hobby. Cruise-ins, and Cruises, are a great way to enjoy your car, see other classics, and meet other like minded fellow enthusiasts. The Corvette Club of Ontario hosts several cruises throughout the season, and each includes an organized scenic driving tour, and is completed by a social event at the end of the drive. We also participate in various cruise events that are hosted by other organizations, and are a big supporter of charity related events as well.
Cruise-ins or Cruise nites are held weekly by various car clubs all over, and there is usually one somewhere in Southern Ontario every night of the week. We have attended many, hosted by both Corvette and non-Corvette type clubs, including ones in Brampton, Barrie, and Thornhill. They are fun events, and can include music, barbecue, draws and giveaways, but no competitions or judging.
NCRS is famous for its annual North American Road Tours. Every year, tours are organized by region across the US and Canada, with members of individual chapters joining the tour as it passes through their region. You can stay with the tour for a segment of the journey, or complete the entire trip which finishes at the city where the annual National Meet is held.
Here we are at the Jolly Roger Hotel in Parry Sound Ontario with part of the 1996 Can-Am Road Tour. We met up with them in Wasaga Beach, as it passed through Ontario on its way to the National Convention in St. Pauls Minnesota.
We enjoy attending various cruise nites and one we are often found at is held by the Thornhill Cruisers. They host this popular cruise-in every Monday night throughout the season at the Thornhill Square Shopping Centre in Thornhill Ontario. Admission is free, and there is music, food, and lucky draws, as well as many fabulous rods, customs, classics and antiques on display.
The ultimate Corvette event of the year in Canada has to be the annual Beach Cruize hosted every August by the Wasaga Beach Corvette Club. This event regularly draws 400 plus Corvettes to the scenic Town of Wasaga Beach, and we are always impressed with the efficiency with which this club organizes such a large and activity packed three day happening.
We have attended every year since 1994 and these photo’s are from the 1995 event when our car still wore its silver paint. The Corvette Club of Ontario has the largest club attendance, with as many as fifty of our club members cars attending.
On the Saturday, an afternoon cruise through the surrounding country side, is held, complete with police escort, as 300 Corvettes pass through the many picturesque towns in the area. After the cruise, there are Mr. Muscle and Miss Bikini contests held on the beach Midway. On Sunday there is a Show ‘n Shine, and various crazy Funkhana games and contests throughout the three days. Evening events also include dances with live entertainment.