For the last few years, a small but enthusiastic group of specialized Toyota owners, under the direction of Glen Aldridge and Dave Eng, have been getting together in Victoria.
The group, known as the MR2 Owners' Club, has held a series of informal events, from tea and chats to cruises and fun rallies. In August, they held their first international weekend meet at the Quality Inn, formerly the Waddling Dog, in Saanichton.
It was to be a varied two-day event with expectations of a large turnout. However, the best laid plans of mice and men - "let's have it in August, the weather is bound to be good in the second week!" - so often are at the mercy of the weather.
The Saturday `Show 'n Shine' attracted 14 cars in absolute first class polish, but around the noon mark, spots of the 'wet stuff' began to cover the MR2s. Registraints from as far away as Calgary and Bellevue, Washington, left the parking lot for the bar to view Toyota videos and enjoy a discussion about what is happening in the Toyota world.
The rain passed, and the Parking Lot Olympics (PLO) began. These were driver-skill tests on the very small parking lot. The cars were driven and reversed in an out of tight places marked by pylons, and drivers soon discovered that small errors in judgement cost them points.
Anyone can reverse through a right turn into a tight corner and stop on a mark, right? With the tight turn ans the stop line out of sight, this was easier said than done.
The slow slalon was an enjoyable event - slow beacuse the lot was so small. With the experience of larger and faster slaloms under his belt, Dave Eng of Victoria, in an '85 MkI, came out on top. Geoff Seeley from Duncan came in a close second. Seeley took two other tropies home on Sunday evening, Best Mk2 and Overall Favorite.
Karen Volk of Calgary, who started her vacation two early in order to participate in the event, took home the trophy for Greatest Distance Driven to the Event as well as a lot of enthusiasm, and memories of new-found friends. She was warned of the risks involved in having her father server as navigator on the Sunday Rally and...well they did go home smiling and still friends.
Tim Toenjes of Bellevue, Washington won the Sunday Rally. He spoke volubly about a group of MR2 drivers who work at Microsoft and Boeing - unfortunately none of whom were at the meet.
Glen Aldridge, happy that the event went off so well, took home the Best MkI trophy. "It is encouraging that there were drivers from so far afield, and we will do it again," he promised.
Dave Eng provided the rally's navigation clues that led the drivers all over Victoria, via the official scenic route, to the top of Mount Douglas Park, and back to the Inn. No-one got lost, although there are still a few questions as to just where some of the drivers did get to.
Despite the low turnout of MR2s the organizers are to be commended for the fine event. The club also gained a new member; James Pasta, a young man working at the Quality Inn, demonstrated his MkI and its incredible sound system. His built-in custom woofer set really puts out the watts.
Michael Wilkey
