The Durant Automobile Club visits Ontario Canada
The September weather was perfect for the annual Durant Motors Club meet. It was held in Bowmanville, Ontario this year. Our host was Jennifer Topping with her husband Jeff in a supporting role.
The first day’s activities started with a visit to the Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa. This museum opened in 1963 in a former car dealership. Our group was divided into two groups with Emily Finbow providing docents to guide each group. There were 90 cars displayed on two floors of the museum. The second floor is stocked with autos that tell the extensive story of Canadian automotive history.
The next stop was just down the street, the group visited Parkwood Estates, the former home of Samuel McLaughlin. Before our tour of the Estate our group had lunch on the lavish mansion grounds, at the Parkwood Teahouse.
Mr. McLaughlin was a friend of William Durant. He owned General Motors stock and bought motors and drivetrains from GM to build McLaughlins. It was with financial help from Sam McLaughlin that Mr. Durant was able to form Chevrolet and regain control of GM. Mr. McLaughlin was the founder of General Motors of Canada. He lived to be over 100 years old and was a GM board member up to his passing in 1972. ‘Parkwood’ was built from 1915 to 1917. The mansion is 15,000 sq. ft. with 55 rooms. His family included four daughters. Our group was given the ‘Auto Baron’s Tour’ (downstairs). We observed the huge pool, bowling alley and the remaining green house. Along with many lounges, conference rooms, game rooms, receiving rooms all with period decor.
Joe Konarowski and his wife Lynne greeted us each morning to guide our parade with his 1930 Cadillac. Joe planned all of our road trips and with his guidance no one was lost. The cars and members enjoyed long escapades through the sweeping country side, viewing an assortment of mature crops, most ready for harvest. Blue skies and warm sunshine provided ambience as the cars rolled along Lake Ontario. We turned north to Bewdley Beach where members had their choice of lunch at Rhino’s or The Lakeside Grill, both overlooking Lake Rice.
After lunch, we visited a private car collection. The owner had an example of each year of the model T Ford. Heading back to our hotel, Joe led us through more picturesque countryside that included a stop for ice cream at Enniskillen General Store.
On our third day, again Joe leading us. We made our way to Peter Fawcett’s Restoration Shop in Oshawa. Peter greeted the group with refreshments and donuts. In his shop there was a Canadian Russell receiving the full treatment and other projects at various stages of restoration. Peter is second generation and his shop is impressive. He did mention that with the exchange rate being what it is, that his work is very competitive for US customers.
The feast, dinner at Harpo’s, was when Jennifer shined. The banquet was both delicious and memorable. Jennifer had her own gifts and awards to give out, but we concluded with D. J. Federlein receiving acknowledgement for traveling the furthest to attend and Tom Schaffer being awarded longest distance traveled bring a car. The ‘Hard Luck Award’ went wanting, which is good. Pat and Angela Ferrell could have received an award for bring two cars; a 1928 Locomobile and a 1928 Durant. There also should have been an award for Gordon Curl who drove his 1932 Frontenac from Guelph to Bowmanville (100 miles, through Toronto) to attend.
Our next Annual Meet will be in Colorado Springs, Colorado, will we see you there?
