Shakespeare, eh?
September 11 – 16
Join our group of CCCA Full Classic owners on a 400-mile driving tour in Ontario, Canada. This 5-night tour will include everything from a visit to RM Restorations, a show at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Dragon Boat races, and a parking spot for your Full Classic on the field of the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance. See below for all the details and to register.
Day by Day Along the Way
Thursday
September 11
The Retro Suites Hotel is the start and finish line of our tour. Each room in the hotel has its own theme. Which one will you be in?
This is where you will have your vehicle delivered if you are sending it with a shipper. Secure trailer parking is available while we are on the road if you are bringing your own trailer.
Our catered welcome dinner and breakfast will be hosted in the Derby Event Centre.
Friday
September 12
Our morning begins with a private, catered brunch buffet in the Derby Event Centre of the Retro Suites Hotel.
The first stop on our journey is just up the road at the RM Restoration Facility with General Manager Ernie Morreau.
From there, we will begin our 100-mile drive to Stratford, where we will visit North America’s “largest classical repertory theatre company.”
The Stratford Festival produces classics, contemporary dramas and musicals, with a special emphasis on the plays of Shakespeare.
After a catered dinner at the hotel, we will board the shuttle to the Avon Theatre to see Macbeth. After the show, we will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the show’s stage manager, who has been with the festival for more than 20 years.
Upon our return to the hotel, there will be a late-night spread with traditional Canadian snacks like poutine, butter tarts, and more!
Presented at the Stratford Festival’s Avon Theatre
Three witches speak a prophecy of power to an ambitious warrior. When the prophecies prove true and the bodies pile up, where lies the blame: in prophecy, fate or Macbeth’s own secret desires? What alignment of stars guides the anti-hero Macbeth’s bloody hand? This bold reimagining of Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy by visionary director Robert Lepage sets the uncanny action during the biker wars of the 1990s.
Saturday
September 13
Saturday morning begins with a private buffet at our hotel in Stratford followed by some leisure time around town before heading out early in the afternoon.
We are lucky enough to be visiting Stratford during the annual Dragon Boat Festival. The Avon River is located just a short walk from our hotel. Races start at 8am and go on all day! Watch some races or enjoy some time browsing the lovely shops on the main street of Stratford.
In the afternoon we will make our way out of town, heading towards Owen Sound and the Cobble Beach Concours. We will stop along the way at Pebbles Family Buffet for a homestyle meal. Don’t forget to check out the bakery before you leave!
We will arrive early in the evening at our hotel in Owen Sound. There will be no organized dinner this evening since we will be eating late in the afternoon. Take some time to prepare your cars for Sunday and get some sleep. Load-in for the concours is 6:00am to 7:30am.
Sunday
September 14
The Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance takes place in Owen Sound, Ontario with Georgian Bay as our backdrop. This, of course, is the ultimate destination of our drive.
We will have an early start today with breakfast in the hotel before our short drive to the Concours show field. We will arrive on the show field as a group and park together.
The day’s events are yours to enjoy. Lunch will be on our own today only.
Our Full Classics will be displayed together in our own touring group adjacent to the show field. Your registration for our tour includes tickets to the After-Glow Cocktail Reception.
About the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance
The Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Canada’s premier automotive event, is where elegance, tradition, and innovation converge on the picturesque shores of Georgian Bay. The annual celebration brings together the finest classic automobiles from around the world, showcasing their beauty and historical significance in a stunning outdoor setting. At Cobble Beach, we are dedicated to preserving and honoring the legacy of automotive excellence, offering enthusiasts and collectors a unique opportunity to admire and experience the artistry of these timeless vehicles. Join us for a weekend of luxury, heritage, and camaraderie as we celebrate the passion for classic cars in an unmatched coastal paradise.
Net proceeds from this event support Sunnybrook and the Brightshores Health System Owen Sound Foundation. To date, Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance has raised over $1,125,000 for its charities!
Monday
September 15
Let’s take advantage of a later start on Monday, after a long day enjoying Sunday’s Concours. Grab some coffee and snacks from the free continental breakfast at our hotel, and get ready to hit the road around 10:00am.
We will make our way south along the east bank of Lake Huron. Watch for glimpses of the lake along the way.
We will have lunch in Goderich at Beach Street Station. This Canadian Pacific Railway Station in the Goderich Harbour was built in 1907.
Our final stop on Monday is the town of Grand Bend, home of the Grand Bend Motorplex. At the Motorplex we will have private access to the drag strip where we’ll make some fun runs complete with time slips!
After some drag racing, we’ll head to our hotel in downtown Grand Bend and enjoy our final dinner next door at Industria Pizza!
Tuesday
September 16
Tuesday morning, we will check out and drive around the corner for a hearty breakfast at The Lake Hound.
Then it’s time to enjoy a relaxing, 80-mile drive back to our starting point at the Retro Suites Hotel.
Suite 46 Restaurant, located in the Retro Suites hotel, will be open for lunch on your own if you’d like to eat before heading home.
Space is limited due to the number of hotel rooms available to us in Owen Sound where the concours takes place. See below for details & register early!
The fee of $800USD per person includes just about everything other than your rooms to sleep in each night! From name tags and personalized tour books to custom license plates and goody bags, we’ve got it covered. Some of the events include a visit to the RM Restoration Shop, a few hours at a private drag strip, tickets to Shakespeare’s Macbeth presented by the world-famous Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and show car parking at the Cobble Beach Concours plus tickets to the afterglow party. It even includes all the meals for the entire trip except lunch at the concours, which is on your own.
Our goal is to create driving experiences to enjoy with fellow hobbyists, and this one has been two years in the making. If you have ever attended an event coordinated by Melanie Harwood, you know they are well-organized and memorable every time. If this will be your first time joining us for a drive, we hope you will find it to be an event you will always remember.
A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person is due at the time of registration. The balance will be due no later than July 15th. Payments can be made online by credit card through the registration system or by check to GearBox Events.
About the Drive
Our drive will be a total of approximately 400 miles on quiet, smooth, low-traffic, country roads with ~45mph speeds.
Day 1 Driving
Retro Suites to RM Restoration Facility 6.5 miles
RM Restoration to Best Western Stratford 106.5 miles
Day 2 Driving Distances
Best Western Stratford to Pebbles Buffet 61.9 miles
Pebbles Buffet to Comfort Inn Owen Sound 31.7 miles
Day 3 Driving Distances
Comfort Inn Owen Sound to Cobble Beach 10 miles
Day 4 Driving Distances
Owen Sound to Beach Street Station 82.2 miles
Beach Street Station to Grand Bend 34.5 miles
Day 5 Driving
Colonial Hotel to Retro Suites 78.4 miles
Registration Form
Please use the form below to complete your registration. A minimum deposit of $200 per person is required to hold your space. We prefer that you pay online through the secure PayPal system (you do not need a PayPal account) but may pay by check if desired.
Final payment will be due no later than July 15, 2025. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us right away.
Accommodations
Please take your time to be sure you have booked a room for each location along the journey.
Make note of the different codes required by the different hotels.
THERE ARE ONLY 25 ROOMS AVAILABLE FOR OUR GROUP.
ROOMS MUST BE BOOKED BY JUNE 30th.
The areas we are visiting are very busy in September, so all rooms will be released July 1st.
Night 1
Retro Suites
2 King St W, Chatham, ON
519-351-5885
CAD $179 – $199 per night
Must book by June 30th
Night 2
Best Western Plus
552 Ontario St, Stratford, ON
519-275-2936
CAD $309 – $339 per night
Must book by June 30th
Nights 3 & 4
Comfort Inn
995 9th Ave. E., Owen Sound, ON
226-908-2346
CAD $195 per night
Must book by June 30th
Night 5
Colonial Luxury Hotel
1 Main St W. Grand Bend, ON
519-238-4000
CAD $239 – $289 per night
Must book by June 30th