In part one of the concluding day we started the journey back to Calgary and in this segment we finish off the 2019 edition of the Great Beater Challenge. We also get to find out what teams make the finish line and what teams win this year’s awards. Follow along for the concluding chapter.
As we left Sundre a field at the side of the road contained this … stuff. I am not sure what is going on here. I suppose if I can dress up a Toyota as a pig then a farmer can decorate his or her field with a bunch of (seemingly) random items.
Anyone need firewood eggs?
As we headed the south the scenery was less treed and more open fields.
Since this is Canada and the growing season is so short some farmers had harvested and wrapped their hay for the season already.
Eventually we headed back into Cochrane from early in day one.
There is a rather large hill east of Cochrane on the way to Calgary. This would prove to be a good test of a beater’s cooling system. The photo does not give a good perspective on how large it is. Luckily the Tercel proved to be a champ and passed this test as well.
The finish line involved driving three times around the traffic circle.
We were one of the later teams to arrive as usual as we stopped briefly to visit my mother as we passed through Calgary.
A row of blue Chevrolets. One of the challenges was attaching a plunger to make your car a unicorn. A few competitors still had theirs attached at the finish line.
Others had different ideas on making their vehicle into a unicorn.
I missed this 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the start line so was able to snag a photo at the finish line.
This 1980 Ford Bronco was judged as most likely to fail (see the trophy on the hood) but managed to make it. In fact defying the odds most of the competitors completed the whole journey.
This 1957 Ford and the Junkyard Juggernauts were the overall points winner this year.
Team Holiday Road won the award for best team with a total spend under $500. This award was the one that we won in the first year. The only difference was we were the only ones under $500 in the first year whereas this Olds had competition.
The most spectacular failure award went to the Austin A40 team with a rod through the block.
The award for least comfortable vehicle, Rusty Bucket Grain Co with their Mercury farm truck, included some comfort aids.
The Ghostbusters team won an award for best costumes and theme.
Another happy award winner.
Peter as well as the other volunteers got a very nice shout out at the conclusion with another successful year in the books.
Unfortunately the party was cut short by rain. It started lightly but then bucketed down.
Teams started leaving. We followed as well as our sunroof was not entirely weatherproof in its current state. Shortly after we left the rain turned to flash flood levels for a short time.
We visited the in-laws for dinner and then headed the 200 kms (125 miles) or so home.
In Nanton, Alberta we stopped by the Bomber Command Museum of Canada (as visited in the 2018 edition) and were treated to their Avro Lancaster Bomber outside. They must have run the engine earlier in the day as they do a few times a year.
As dark was falling I let the older boys have a turn with both in the front seats for the home stretch.
We gassed up one last time and finished off the last segment.
The boys wanted to keep the Tercel in costume for a few days which was fine with me. It attracted quite a bit of attention on the roads. But unfortunately it was de-nosed while parked at school. A rather sad end of the Hambo.
If you have not yet had your fill of The Great Beater Challenge check out the official Facebook page for more photos. The Greasers team also posted this fantastic YouTube video.
At the end of the weekend our little Tercel had done around 1500 kms (930 miles) which was remarkable for a car that had not ventured out of town since its purchase for $480. Probably a third of the mileage was traveling to and from the start line plus our little unplanned detour. This year all three of my boys had come to make great memories for all of us. We finished mid-pack as usual, 30th this year. The Tercel is now getting a well deserved brake job and perhaps an oil change as well. Maybe the Innocenti will be ready for 2020.
Here are the results via the GBC results page.
- Eileen and the Junkyard Juggernauts, Andrew Scott, Jennifer Brewer & Ralph Ramstead, 1957 Ford Custom- 4164 pts
- We’re Baaack!, Blake & Shauna Ulmer, 1960 Chevrolet Parkwood Wagon- 3870 pts
- Wrench & Tartan, Craig Coburn & Matt Dupuis, 1984 Volvo 245 GL- 3430 pts
- Holiday Road, Mike & Carrie-Lynn Umbach, 1989 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser- 3300 pts
- Out of this world, Travis & Megan Grant, 1963 Ford Galaxie- 2700 pts
- Denim Demons, Rocky Robinson & Mickey, 1998 Saturn SL1- 2635 pts
- Gangster’s Paradise, Mike Corrigal, 1951 Plymouth Cambridge- 2580 pts
- Rusty Bucket Grain Co, Matt Campbell & Armi, 1957 Mercury M350- 2574 pts
- The Glue Factory, Mike Flake & Luke Howard, 1980 Ford Bronco- 2455 pts
- The Bronco Billy’s, Larry & Makenzie Johansen, 1985 Ford Bronco- 2400 pts
- Stockholm Syndrome, Erik & Kayla Larson, 1970 Volvo 164- 2330 pts
- Team Plan B, Ian McCrimmon & Scot McKinnon, 1993 Mercury Topaz GL- 2315 pts
- Ace Vandura, Steve Potter, Taryn Bahniuk, Les Lammerth & Lyle Larson, 1987 GMC Vandura 2500- 2310 pts
- Delapatempo, Randy Van Seters & Brad Vant Land, 1993 Ford Tempo- 2295 pts
- GBC Family Vacation, Howard Diell, Chad & Travis, 2002 Mazda MPV- 2270 pts
- Ramble On, Devan & Christina Gillette, 1966 Rambler American- 2240 pts
- Dollz with Ballz, Brigitte Larose & Christina Parker, 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo- 2230 pts
- Swedish Experience, Bernie Proulx, 2002 Volvo S60 T5- 2230 pts
- Mombies, Chantal Mason, Desiray Vandervalk & Kristen Hatfield, 2002 Dodge Caravan- 2220pts
- Wedded Bliss, Shawn & Trena Dergousoff, 1993 Ford Tempo- 2200 pts
- Danger Zone, Cole Maynard, Brian Cohoe, Mark Johnston & James Callaghan, 1987 Dodge Ramcharger- 2195 pts
- Rusty Creamsicle Returns, Kyle Hellwig, 1975 GMC 1500- 2185 pts
- Mini Truckin’, Vincent Van Seters & Trevor Nelson, 1991 Mazda B2200- 2150 pts
- Team Slapabu, Charlie Eden, Ryer Alyn & Julian Pascoal, 1981 Chevy Malibu- 2135 pts
- Team Duh-kota, David Burnett & Scott Ully, 1992 Dodge Dakota- 2130 pts
- Sightation and the MasterBeaters, Nigel Pettigrew & Brock Brymer, 1982 Chevrolet Citation- 2130 pts
- Porschota, Finlay & Les Tuck, 2000 Toyota 4Runner- 2130 pts
- Deliverance, Quentin Jennings, Carli Curtis & Larry, 1979 Ford Pinto Delivery Wagon- 2130 pts
- Club Foot, Dorian & Rex Calon, 1986 Chevrolet Blazer- 2090 pts
- Hamborghini, David, Evan & Carlos Saunders, 1996 Toyota Tercel- 1955 pts
- Dirty Money, Cody Kaupp & Jordan Ririe, 1999 GMC Suburban- 1941 pts
- Trailer Park Boys, Devin Link & Rob Gillingham, 1977 Chrysler Newport- 1895 pts
- Trailer Trash, Ryan Heuven & Taylor Van Han, 1994 Lincoln Town Car Limo- 1860 pts
- 2 Dollar Hauler, Jason & Dani Freeman, Shane Carriere, 1978 Lincoln Continental- 1804 pts
- Ronin Justified, Hagen, Lydia & Kaleb Hartwell, Chris Kirby, 1988 Subaru Justy- 1775 pts
- Return of the Jetti, Chris Heim & Kassandra Fedorowich, 1998 VW Jetta- 1740 pts
- Initial D, Mark Marynowski, 1984 VW Scirocco- 1740 pts
- Team Volwoa, Dillon Bisson, Kelsey Bolink & Branden Bezooyen, 1989 Volvo 740- 1740 pts
- Blazed and Confused, Robert Siklodi & Aron Shantz, 1989 Chevy S10 Blazer- 1710 pts
- Murray Merlot and the Merlotvians, Grant & Anna Randell, 1996 Chevrolet 1500 4×4- 1690 pts
- Team Un-Impreza’d, Randy & Travis Nichols, Malcom Carlson, 1998 Subaru Impreza- 1645 pts
- Greasers, Ryan _ & Eric Janzen, 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air- 1595 pts
- Team Field55, Mike Northcott, Colin Rempfer & Curt Semotiuk, 1955 Ford Customline Sedan- 1575 pts
- Drag-in-Wagon, Tylr Wladyko, Mike T, Derek, Jacob & Tommy Stahl, 1992 Chevy G20 Van- 1540 pts
- Redneck Love Story, Harley G, Anna Larose, 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass- 1400 pts
- The Flatlanders, Harley Poitras & Byron Prenevost, 1978 Chevrolet Malibu- 1380 pts
- Tennessee Whiskey, David Gardiner & Tim Machado, 1998 Chevrolet K1500- 1350 pts
- Austin 3:16, Darcy Wall, Clint Wall, Loren Janzen & Kris Indenbosch, 1949 Austin A40 Devon- 1345 pts*
- Poor Man’s Vett II, Aaron R & Party D, 1986 Chevrolet Chevette Scooter- 1235 pts
- Go Go Gadget Wagon, Cameron Macloed, 1974 Pontiac Astre Safari- 1170 pts*
- Thunder Cats, Melissa R & Sonja R, 1984 Pontiac Firebird- 1070pts
- Christmas Empirical, Kevin Brown, 1952 Mercury M1 pickup- 875 pts*
- Better off Dead, Von & Derek Alexander, 1975 Toyota Corolla- 603pts*
- Blackpearl, Paul Whitham & co, 1996 Ford F-150- 450 pts*
- Two Headed Monster, Ken & Stephen Paish, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190e- 370 pts*
- Tetanus Toyota, Greg Heinemeyer & Kent Bradley, 1990 Toyota Camry- 240 pts*
- Ramrod, Denis, Jordan & Cole, 2005 Ford Crown Victoria- 321 pts*
- The Innisfailures, Riley Shanks & Jordan Yandeau, 2003 Honda Odyssey- 137 pts*
*= Missing or incomplete data due to DNF, unable to make finish, or other issues
Full The Great Beater Challenge 2019 segments:
It was lots of fun following this again, and getting glimpses of my ‘second home’. Half my family lives in Alberta and I don’t have enough good things to say about it.
Plus I like how this series displays some of the marginal ‘weirdness’ of Albertans! 😉
I’d rather have firewood eggs than diesel showers.
Once again another fun trip. Thanks for bringing us along in the Hamborghini. Maybe next year the Tercel drive train will be transplanted into the Innocenti to make a Hamborghinnocentini.
Hamborghinnocentini is a serious mouthful!
And then there was the Barbecue Day Care we saw in north Florida. We decided not to stop.
I guess that is the risk you take when you drive an old Tercel: it just might make the whole trip without any drama. Thanks for the wonderful pictures, they make a Flatlander like me homesick for the prairie.
Thank you once again for posting this annual series. I look forward to this every year.
The “Fitty Challenge” (if I am remembering the name correctly) was a nice off season story to hold us over until this as well. ;o)
But now, since the very first ‘meet the teams’ post, I’ve had the song “Holiday Road” stuck in my head! Perhaps I should find the old Chevy Chase movie on Netflix to fix this. May as well watch Ghostbusters II while I’m at it.
Already looking forward to next year’s GBC Chronicles.
Fiddy (in reference to 50cc) Challenge was the small displacement rally.
Holiday Road is one of those annoying earworm songs. Hard to lose but comes back easily. Good luck.
I’m wondering if there’s anything on that 1951 Plymouth Cambridge. Those were the most prewar-like of the postwar Big 3 designs.
Ahh the Lancaster Bomber. There used to be one of those sitting next to Lakeshore Blvd in Toronto, but I believe they moved it about 20 years ago to an aviation museum in BC. Lancasters were built in Malton, just northwest of Toronto. Malton is the home of YYZ (Lester B Pearson) airport. There was a strong sentiment about wanting to keep the Lanc in the home town where it was built, but there were complications.
Great stories on the GBC, and great photos. Always a great adventure riding along with you.
There is an Avro Lancaster in the National Aviation Museum Collection in Ottawa. It has been one of the most popular planes in the static display for decades. I remember as a child being intimidated by its huge size and matte black undersides, painted for night bombing raids. As well as the tall tires that towered over me at the time.
This came out a lot better than I was expecting (which was “old Toyota makes long trip, doesn’t break”). Some great variety there. I have to admit that the Pontiac from last year has been my favorite of the three you have done so far. But a running Innocenti – that ought to rack up serious points next year. And the fun names for that team are bursting with possibility. 🙂
This was really fun! Thanks for sharing David. Besides your interesting tale of how you acquired your Tercel, it would be fun to learn where the other teams tracked down some almost extinct beater classics. Many of these cars, besides already proving their roadworthiness, could be restored with reasonable work and cash. That’s if someone wished to do so. I like that many are offbeat classics.
Alberta’s beautiful and varied landscape is a perfect backdrop. I enjoy returning to previous year’s articles documenting the Beater Challenge, during the winter months enjoying the various entries, and the attractive scenery. Thanks for taking us along!
Many great shots, but I really like this one. The isolated, stalwart Tercel with the foreboding sky above.
Unfortunately with the event being so big this year there was not as much time to find out back stories. There is a bit on the Facebook page if you scroll back to the team profiles.
https://www.facebook.com/greatbeaterchallenge/
Thanks (again) for taking us all along with you on this rally – it’s always fun to read these stories, see the pictures, and laugh along with all of the participants.
The video from the ’55 Chevy team was great as well.
So, I assume that the Tercel will live for a while with you all? It seems like you’ve more than gotten your money’s worth out of that purchase!
Yes, the teenage boys drive it a couple times a week. I just gave it new rotors, pad, drum and shoes over the weekend. It is quite a good first car. Can’t pile into too many people, not too powerful and theft proof (stick shift).
I once had a girlfriend who cooked firewood eggs. The kitchen wasn’t the room where her truest talents shined.
Just awesome. This is not about winning, it’s about building memories. And friendships. Just too cool.
Absolutely – we finish mid-pack every year but is not the point for me.
I think we should have a 2020 CC meet up at the World of Speed. It is in Wilsonville Oregon, for those who may not be from this neck of the woods. And we are planning a Jessi Combs exhibit at some point. We have the baja Miata she drove in the Gambler 500
I would likely be up for something like that. Not winter would be preferred but whenever the consensus time is.
Awesome! Well done.