Charlie Farguharson and Don Harron Terry’s Car Stories #4

While working for West End Chrysler Plymouth, in Toronto I was given the opportunity of acting as transportation coordinator for a Variety Club’s 48 Hour Telethon. I enjoyed the job immensely, although it was a bit taxing on the body. I was coordinating vehicle transport for the stars that were performing for the Telethon. I remember  William Shatner and Don Harron (Charlie Farquharson) were co-hosting and performing.

I had been up for nearly 42 hours when the call came in to supply a driver for Don Harron, who had to go to the airport to take a private jet to Montreal for another show. I volunteered, primarily because I was getting tired and  I lived very near the airport.

I picked up Mr. Harron at the side door of the Royal York Hotel and started to drive him to the Airport. It was about 4 am and winter. I got onto the Gardiner Expressway and started towards the airport. The traffic started to slow down as it was snowing slightly and the roads were getting a bit slippery. I applied my brakes only to find out that the roads were not only slippery but were icy too. I started to skid and did a 360. I was able to get control of the car and keep going in a forward motion. I looked in my rear view mirror to see if Mr. Harron was ok. To my shock I didn’t see him at all. At first I thought maybe I was hallucinating and he didn’t get in the car after all. Then I thought he must have fallen out when I skidded. I spun my head around only to find him lying down fast asleep on the seat.

I proceeded on to the airport without further incident. I arrived at the far end of the airport on Derry Road where the private hangars were and looked for one of the hangars that was lit up. I kept driving for quite a distance, driving over a large hump in the road and eventually came upon a lit hangar. Mr. Harron was still not awake so I went and inquired if this was where Mr. Harron was flying from. The chap there said yes, but where did you come from. I said down the road. He said did you not see any signs. I said no. He said you just crossed the main North South runway and it was live. Headlines in the Toronto Star the next day could have read Don Harron aka Charlie Farquharson dies when run over by plane on runway at Toronto (now known as Pearson) International Airport. Fortunately Mr Harron was oblivious to the whole situation. That is until  May 4, 2004, when I got a telephone call from Mr. Harron. I had written to Carp Magazine to relate my story and had suggested that before they published the story that they get the ok from Mr. Harron. We had a lengthy conversation and he reiterated that he was not aware of the incident, but was grateful that everything worked out ok.

Inglourious Basterds

Saw this movie last, another really good movie by Quentin Tarentino. Very violent in places, very funny in others. Well acted by Brad Pitt playing the leader of 8 Jewish Nazi Killers. Christopher Waltz plays Nazi Colonel Hans Landa with what appears to be great glee. He is menacing, compassionate and terrifying sneaky. He should probably get an Academy Award for the part. Mike Myers plays a small role as a British Army General.Well worth seeing but beware of the language and violence.

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com

Email issues corrected by Sean @ itgroove

This past week I had a major issue with outlook email, I apparently lost everything, my contacts, my messages etc. I called Sean at itgroove 250-220-4575, explained my issues. He connected remotely checked out what was going on, within 1/2 hour the problems were resolved and everything was back to normal.

Sean also does SharePoint which he is presently in the process of setting me up with. By the way Sean is my son.

To learn more go to www.itgroove.net.

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com

65 and getting better

Last night my family, six grandkids (one on the way), and the whole family celebrated my 65 birthday with the whole night being topped off by a strolling bagpiper. He played several Scottish tunes including of course Amazing Grace and Happy Birthday. The whole evening was fantastic and one I won’t soon forget. A special thank you goes to my wife Joyce of 41 years (this Sunday August 23) for putting the whole event on along with the piper. It’s hard to believe anyone could put up with me for that length of time, patience?

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com

Terry’s Car Stories #2

One day we had our regular radio installer put a factory radio into a brand new Jaguar XKE (due to increasing theft of radios they were sent separately to the dealer). The Jag was sitting in front of the showroom window. After installing the radio the technician, as he always did, locked the car up. I was looking out onto the lot and called to one of the other salesmen “who’s driving the Jag?” When no one answered I rushed out the door to find that the radio installer had locked the door and left the car in neutral with the handbrake off. This was his normal way of installing the radio due to tight space. As the lot was on a bit of an angle the car eventually started to roll down the lot. I tried to slow it down to no avail. The other salesmen and manager by this time were out trying to stop the car. But by then it was too late. The Jaguar had rolled neatly between to brand new MGBs. The impact bent the front bumper of the Jag back into the body and smashed the taillights and rear bumpers of the MGBs. Damage was in excess of $3000.00.

Needless to say the radio installer never installed another radio at our lot.

Victoria’s Largest Little Airshow August 15-16

My wife and I visited Victoria’s Largest Little Airshow this morning. What a show, they flew everything from World War I bi-planes, World War ll fighters, to a flying iron, the Mars Water Bomber, a fighter jet, and many other acrobatic planes from1/5 scale and up. Fantastic show, well presented and very well attended. Admission was by donation and parking was free.

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com

Julia and Julie (the movie)

Saw Julia and Julie the other night, starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Stanley Tucci. Excellent movie, very funny. Meryl Streep was fantastic as Julia Child. Strongly recommend seeing the movie at the theatre rather than waiting for the DVD.

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com

Terry’s Car Stories #1

When I worked for McMillan & Saunders Ltd, in Malton, Ontario, I once sold a used TR6 to a young guy. He didn’t drive manual shift at the time but still wanted to buy the car. He asked if I would take him for a test drive to show him how it performed, which I gladly did.

We drove away from the lot, along a two lane road, at a fair speed, of course not exceeding the speed limit, with me changing gears rapidly to show the performance and agility of the car. As we came to an intersection where I had decided to make a left turn we came across a large tractor trailer also making a left in the opposite direction. As there was only soft shoulders on both sides of the road I proceeded to make my turn. Only to find a Volvo 164 speeding along the soft shoulder and passing the truck. I applied my brakes quickly to try to avoid what was obviously going to be a collision. To no avail, the Volvo didn’t see us until it was too late and slammed into the front of the TR6.

The TR6 was fairly badly damaged to the front right, but the front of the Volvo was pushed in and the bumper lay on the ground. As it happened the Volvo in question was the demonstrator of the President of the company and was being driven by the assistant parts manager.

There were no repercussions against me but the assistant parts manager was severely reprimanded for bad driving.

After getting towed back to the dealership, the young guy who was thinking of buying the car said “when can it be fixed and when could I get delivery of the car?” I told him about a week to ten days. He agreed and bought the car. He then asked if I would deliver the car to him, I said yes, only to find out that he lived in Barrie about 100 kilometres away.

Approximately two weeks later I drove the car to Barrie,  north of Toronto and handed the ecstatic owner the keys. He asked me to give a short lesson in driving a manual shift car and to show him we him the controls. Which I did and then left on the bus.  We must have done the repairs well as we never heard from him again.

Butchart Gardens and the Victoria Symphony what a combination.

Went to Butchart Gardens with my Bassett Sergeant Major to see and listen to the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. They were fine form and played for over one and half hours. If the play there again, you shouldn’t miss them.

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com

GSA Auto Rentals another happy client

Hello Terry:

We had a great time in Victoria and were very much pleased not only with the rented van but the excellent service you provided in picking us up on our arrival at the international airport and delivering us to the airport on our departure.       

Our costs for your vehicle and your service was extremely reasonable.

We certainly would recommend your company to anyone wishing to rent or lease a vehicle and will also look forward to doing business with you on any subsequent visit to the Island.

Thanks again

Sincerely

Robert & Lillian Parkyn

Jarret Parkyn & Trena Benson

Lethbridge, Alberta

www.gsaautorentals.com

Horse back riding in Elk Beaver Lake

My wife and I were riding our horses in Elk Beaver lake when we confronted with a jogger. She complained about the horse manure that she encountered on the trails and proceeded to say she was visiting here and would never jog in this park again. My wife (who is a park warden) tried to explain that the horse manure was environmentally friendly (hay and enzymes), but this jogger kept ranting on that it was disgusting and that horses shouldn’t be allowed in the park. We didn’t get a chance to tell her that if it wasn’t for horses she wouldn’t have any trails to jog on. I have to think she must have been from some big city where everything is paved and dogs don’t poop and pee. On well that put a damper on very pleasant day in Paradise.

Terry www.gsaautrentals.com

The Victoria Music Festival Society presents the RCMP Musical Ride

August 9, I attended the Victoria Music Festival Society  presentation of the RCMP Musical Ride. Prior to the musical ride we were entertained by a couple of Polo matches,  the Victoria Skydivers, the Air Cadet Kittyhawk Band, followed by the Victoria Region Police Pipe Band, culminating in a spectacular performance by the RCMP.

It started out to be a very dreary and wet morning which ended just prior to the performances in magnificent sunny weather.

The cost for the event was reasonable with the exception of the $5.00 per car parking. The egress was deplorable. I had a client that I had to meet at the airport after the event. It seemed like I would have had enough time to leave the parking lot only to be held for over 40 minutes before leaving the parking area.

The whole day was spoiled by sitting in my vehicle waiting to get out. Badly mismanaged, only two young people directing traffic at the parking area with no-one directing traffic onto Wallace Road.

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com

    

Dockside Grill at Van Isle Marina Sidney, BC

Went for late lunch with two of my grandsons and wife to the Dockside Grill at Van Isle Marina, Sidney, BC.

Service was a  little slow (even though we were not in a hurry). Didn’t get anything to drink (not even water) for over 2o minutes. When finally some one came to take our order, she was very pleasant. We ordered Halibut and chips for ourselves and pizza for the grandkids.

When the meal arrived it was excellent and hot. Unfortunately the follow-up service was not.

All in all a nice spot,a little pricey for the location, considering it is associated with the Great Fish on Fifth. Will go back.

Terry www.gsaaautorentals.com

Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre Sidney BC

My wife,  two of the grandsons, and I visited the Shaw Ocean Science Centre in Sidney http://www.oceandiscovery.ca today. Total cost for two adults and two children under 10 $37.80 (GST included). Probably should have been half the price. Quite a nice exhibit, even though I felt it was rather small. It was missing signs that would let you know what you were looking at.  Instead they had volunteers that would explain everything to you, this to my way of thinking is a waste of man power. I would rather read about what I am looking at, at my own leisure.  Rather than someone going into great detail as to what I am looking at. Our grandchildren got bored fairly quickly.

Just my opinion, you should see it for yourself.

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com

Ran out of cars again

Another busy day at GSA Auto Rentals. Apparently the major rental companies must be doing some downsizing. I rented out all my vehicles even my drive home. Oh, well another day.

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com

Stonehouse Pub in Sidney has re-opened

I along with my wife, her sister and  husband visited the Stonehouse Pub in Sidney the other night. The first time since it re-opened. Was not over impressed, they call themselves a pub and yet they do not serve traditional pub fare and they don’t carry any English beers. For all those that relished the steak and kidney pie of later days, not available.

I had what was called at roast beef Yorky, a Yorkshire pudding stuffed with roast beef and cheddar cheese with a very small portion of reheated french fries. Not impressed at all. Will probably give them one more try. The total cost for the 4 of us including 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine and coffee $98.00.

Terry www.gsaautorentals.com