It was bound to happen at some point. After hosting several UCR driving tours since 2021 and seeing nothing but sunshine on all of them, I suppose I was overdue for a rainy one.
The 2024 Grand River South Tour started out fantastic weather-wise, with participants gathering in Kitchener for the drive along the Grand River, south to Dunnville, then back north to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope. It was cool out but dry as everyone greeted each other, socialized and discussed their Porsches. After waivers were signed and the pre-drive safety briefing concluded, the group departed at 8am, snaking through Cambridge and then enjoying some twisty back roads on our way to the pit stop in Caledonia.
During the first leg however, the rain began to fall as forecast. Driving at tour pace with speed limits obeyed, grip was tested on the cars but no one put a foot wrong in these fantastic machines. At the pit stop, we enjoyed good luck as the rain stopped, so we were able to enjoy the cars and company without getting soaked. After the short break, we headed south along River Road to Dunnville, enjoying more twists and views of the Grand River.
Turning back north at Dunnville, the skies looked more than foreboding- they were downright apocalyptic! Sure enough, heavy rain soon followed, necessitating very careful and attentive driving. Fortunately, we all adjusted to the driving conditions and made it to the Museum safely and in great spirits.
Because of lightning in the area, we weren’t able to park on the tarmac upon arrival, but CWHM staff assured us we’d be able to get photos of the cars with one of the vintage warplanes once the skies cleared a bit. The museum staff guided us to alternative parking, brought us inside and hustled to get lunch prepared early. Participants had time to view the exhibits and, before long, lunch was served and the draw for a 1-year membership and gift certificate for a flight on one of the museum’s aircraft was held. Congratulations to Gary Thistle for winning the draw!
After lunch, the skies started clearing, the hangar doors opened, and the plane we’d be having photos with, a Fairey Firefly, was pulled outside. The Firefly was designed in 1940 to be a carrier-borne, fighter and reconnaissance aircraft, and served with the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy in various theatres throughout WW2 and the Korean War. The Firefly is a very special aircraft and I was told photos with it are quite uncommon. In fact, of the 1702 Fireflys built, only 20 survive, and the museum’s is the only one still airworthy.
We pulled the cars onto the tarmac right up to the plane where Melody Zapotoczny took photos for the participants. After the photos, many elected to re-enter the museum and continue with a guided tour. Despite the rain, it turned out to be a really fun event, and proved we Porsche enthusiasts are not good at keeping our cars hidden – no matter the weather, we drive them like they are intended to be driven.
It cannot be said enough that these events don’t happen without contributions from volunteers stepping up. So I’d like to offer special thanks to Melody for doing a great job sweeping and taking photos, Tyler O’Donovan for handling the mid-sweep duties, and Rob West and David Adams who contributed many more fantastic photos of the day. Finally, I’d like to offer a very big thank you to all the participants who came out, some coming from long distances for the early departure. I trust you all enjoyed the day and I’m looking forward to next year already. </>
Photography by David Adams, Rob West and Melody Zapotoczny









































































































