Pine to Prairie Relic Run is an antique car journey of a handful of vehicles from up to 100 years old. Dr. Gordon Goldsborough is head researcher, Editor and Webmaster who led up the fundraiser. They drove through Portage la Prairie today down Saskatchewan Avenue. He notes they left Winnipeg Monday morning and reached Portage at about 11:30 a.m. yesterday (Tuesday).
"It's the second leg of the Pine to Prairie Relic Run and the idea is we're driving the original route of the TransCanada Highway from the Ontario border to the Saskatchewan border," says Goldsborough. "Yesterday we drove from the Ontario border to Winnipeg. Today, Winnipeg to Brandon. Tomorrow, Brandon to the Saskatchewan border and we'll wrap up."
He notes they're using the old TransCanada highway as much as they're able to.
"There are a few places where the old highway is basically gone. There's only so much you can do. So, we have to make a few small detours, but I've got the exact route mapped out and the odd place to say we'll have to deviate. But otherwise, by and large, it's the original route as it would have existed in 1932. That's the year that they linked up the TransCanada and Manitoba with the TransCanada in Ontario. So, it started to become a TransCanada highway as opposed to a TransManitoba highway that it was before 1932. In fact, all the cars are older than '32. The idea is that these cars could have driven that original highway in 1932 when they linked it up."
The journey began at West Hawk Lake Monday morning.
"It's just a little in from the Ontario border. We had hoped to start at the Ontario border itself. They're in the middle of twinning the TransCanada there. We're driving to the Saskatchewan border just a little southwest of Kirkella. Kirkella is on the TransCanada, the modern TransCanada. The old TransCanada used to move into Saskatchewan about a mile and 1/2 or so southwest. That's where we'll end the run. And then, if we have time, we'll just head back over to Elkhorn because, symbolically, that's really the best place to end. It's a wonderful old Museum of antique cars. You know, these cars that we're driving will fit right in with the other old cars at that museum. So, I think it's a fitting place for us to wrap up this run."
Their destination should be reached today -- Wednesday, July 5th.
They're raising funds for the Manitoba Ag Museum.
"We have recently taken possession of something called the Tree Planting Car, a modified railway car that traveled all over the prairies from the 1920s to the 1970s, encouraging people to plant trees. We've taken possession of it, but it needs a roof over top of it to protect it from the snow and the sun in the summertime. We're fundraising along the way. We accept donations for which we offer tax receipts. We have some books that are relevant to the subject of the Relic Run. The authors of those books have told us that they will donate the royalties that they get from the sales."
You can make a donation at their website where there's a donate button.
"All donations, every single one, no matter how large or small, will be entered in a random draw for a genuine 1926 Manitoba road map," adds Goldsborough. "It's from just around the time that the TransCanada was starting to form. If you look at it, the section that we drove yesterday is not on the map because it wasn't completed until 1930, and this map was from 1926. It's showing basically the evolution of the highway system that we have today. Most people, I think, have jumped to the conclusion that highways have always been the way they are now. No, they've evolved over time and the TransCanada is a great example of that. Most of the run we're taking is not on the modern TransCanada -- the F part yesterday, not at all, and a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow, but I would say 10 per cent or less. The rest of it is all kinds of other places."
He outlines the vehicles in the run.
"We have five cars, the oldest of which is a Ford Model T. We have two 1928 Ford Model A's, One 1930 Ford Model A, and our youngest car that's a mere 92 years old is a Ford Model A also. So, one Model T, four Model A's -- all Fords."
David Rourke is from Minto and grew up in Winnipeg. He drove the tan-coloured 1928 Model A 2-door in the Pine to Prairie effort to raise money for the Manitoba Ag Museum.
"It’s the first year they made Model A," says Rourke. "Back at home, I have a 1927 Model T made in Canada T, which is kind of special and reminds me that there's a best time for everything. Henry Ford's Model T had come to an end and the Model A is a much better car."
He notes the improvements were made mostly in the drivetrain.
"The Model T -- and we have one, of course, here and his is exceptionally good shape but -- you have a lever on your left-hand side. To pull forward, you push that halfway down. The pedal on your furthest left, you push all the way to the floor, and that's first. And if you want to go into second, you push the lever all the way down and lift the pedal up. And if you want to stop, on your right-hand side is the brake, which is opposite of what we're used to. And if you want to come to complete stop, you pull that lever halfway back, not all the way back, but halfway back, and that will get you into neutral. If you want to back up, you leave that in the neutral position and there's a third lever, one in the middle. You push that all the way down, and then you back up. These other ones have a clutch with a 3-speed stick. It's really easy. Different."
He heard Goldsborough talk about the Run last summer, and thought it would be fun.
Website: https://mbagmuseum.ca/event/pine-to-prairie-relic-run/
