Stately reminders of a bygone age romanticized in countless ganster films where the villians and g-men standing on the running boards while they hurtled down dusty rural roads firing off endless rounds of machine gun bullets. Small wonder that these magestic vehicles have captured the hearts of their dedicated owners.
MANITOULIN—The Tehkummah Triangle Seniors Club Hall was packed to the gunnels on Saturday evening as members of the Historical Automobile Society of Canada held their annual Normoska antique car rally on Manitoulin Island.
The over 50 antique and classic automobiles were turning heads all across Manitoulin as they visited communities and took in the sights.
“We had about 80 families taking part,” said Historical Automobile Society of Canada president Fred Elliott of London. “Not all of them had cars, of course, some trailered up and others brought their modern vehicles, but there were probably 50 or 60 cars ranging from the 1970s to the teens.”
The group were casting about for a place to hold this year’s Normoska when they hit upon the idea of returning to Manitoulin. “We were up here in the 1980s,” said Mr. Elliott. “We had a great time then, so we thought it would be a great idea to come back again.”
The group goes to a different area each year, explained Mr. Elliott. “The name Normoska started out as ‘North to Muskoka,’ but we shortened it up a bit.”
This year’s Normoska committee included Jerry and Sharon McMullin of JD’s Garden Centre in Tehkummah, Keith and Carol Hensley along with Fred and Liz Elliott.
Among the top attractions at this year’s show and shine was Max Burt’s venerable old 1909 Tudhope, long rumoured to be Manitoulin Island’s first automobile. The Tudhope is also heralded as the “most Canadian of automobiles.” The Tudhopes were built in Orillia, Ontario and said to contain the most made in Canada parts of any car before or since.
The car enthusiasts certainly enjoyed their time while on Manitoulin Island and Islanders enjoyed the opportunity to check out the ancient and classic vehicles and kibbutz with the owners about the history and rejuvenation behind each shining example.
Plenty of large lights supplied plenty of candle power on this beauty.
Members of the
Historical Automobile Society of
Canada visited a number of iconic
Manitoulin sites including Lobo Loco Alpacas and the harbour at South
Baymouth.
Members of the
Historical Automobile Society of
Canada visited a number of iconic
Manitoulin sites including Lobo Loco Alpacas and the harbour at South
Baymouth.
Members of the
Historical Automobile Society of
Canada visited a number of iconic
Manitoulin sites including Lobo Loco Alpacas and the harbour at South
Baymouth.
Tyler Leeson of South Baymouth stands proudly beside his 1962 GMC dumptruck. Tyler was likely the youngest participant at 14-years-old.
Max Burt sits at the wheel of the family’s 1909 Tudhope, long believed to have been Manitoulin’s first automobile. The Tudhope is considered the most Canadian of cars as it contains the most Canadian manufactured parts of any vehicle before or since. The Tudhope was manufactured in Orillia.
photo by Steph Burt Hillyard
Stately reminders of a bygone age romanticized in countless ganster films where the villians and g-men standing on the running boards while they hurtled down dusty rural roads firing off endless rounds of machine gun bullets. Small wonder that these magestic vehicles have captured the hearts of their dedicated owners.
It’s a hard luck life sometimes when you are an antique car rally, and this innovative trophy will help to commemorate the challenges presented by a cantankerous old vehicle and the steadfast and unconditional love of its owners.
Around 80 families made the trek to Manitoulin Island as part of the Historical
Automobile Society of Canada’ Normoska odyssey, bringing between 50 and 60 antique and classic cars and trucks to the highways and byways of the Island. The awards dinner held at the Tehkummah Triangle Seniors Hall packed the house.
photo by Michael Erskine
The band Double Barrel performed at the South Baymouth event for the Classic Car Show.
photo by Steph Burt Hillyard
Michael Erskine BA (Hons) is a staff writer at The Manitoulin Expositor. He received his honours BA from Laurentian University in 1987. His former lives include underground miner, oil rig roughneck, early childhood educator, elementary school teacher, college professor and community legal worker. Michael has written several college course manuals and has won numerous Ontario Community Newspaper Awards in the rural, business and finance and editorial categories.
