Rudy and Ruth Croken from Prince Edward Island were just two of the classic car owners who stopped in Assiniboia as part of the Canadian Coasters 50th anniversary coast-to-coast tour. Over 100 classic cars, trucks and even a refurbished old ambulance filled 3rd Street in front of the Southern Cruiser’s building. Assiniboia’s Southern Cruisers hosted the drivers and they enjoyed the town’s amenities.
The classic car fans have been riding across Canada to commemorate a double celebration – Canada 150 and the 50th anniversary of the Coast to Coast ride. The ride left Victoria, B.C., on June 28 and ends at St. John’s, Newfoundland on September 1.
It will be an incredible, memorable Canada 150 year for the Crokens who will have crossed Canada twice by the end of the summer. “We left PEI on June 15, but our truck broke down in Quebec,” said Rudy Croken. They returned home and exchanged vehicles so they could continue their ride to join the start in Victoria. They made a stop in Assiniboia on their journey.
Like the Crokens, many coasters are driving their vehicles, towing trailers, but some are pulled behind RVs. Joan Brown from Nova Scotia commented that it’s her third time on the cross-country coasters ride, but this is the first time she’s making the whole trip from Victoria.
The 2017 Canadian Coast to Coast tour is the most unique automotive tour in the World with participants from across Canada. The riders take a leisurely drive through each province and explore sites along the way. For example, the ride stopped in Ogema to take Southern Prairie Railway’s historic train ride. The first tour was made in 1967 to commemorate Canada’s Centennial. Canadian car clubs were invited to take part and nine cars drove across Canada hosted along the way by various car clubs.
