3-5 JULY 2023
Over a period of three days, five antique cars, all built before 1932, will travel 545 kilometres from the Ontario border (“Pine”) to the Saskatchewan border (“Prairie”). Their route will be the original Trans-Canada Highway as it existed in 1932 when these cars were new.
The lead car will be a 1923 Ford Model T that is marking its 100th birthday this year, in fine running order, with a maximum speed of 72 kph (45 mph).
Funds raised in this historic drive across Manitoba will be used to build a roof over the Tree Planting Car acquired by the Manitoba Agricultural Museum in 2022. Online donations to the Pine to Prairie Relic Run are processed, and tax receipts will be issued, by Canada Helps. We will also be accepting donations—via cash, cheques, and major credit cards—along the route.
One lucky donor, chosen at random, will receive a framed, original 1926 Manitoba road map.
People, organizations, and companies interested in sponsoring the Pine to Prairie Relic Run, or individual cars in it, should contact Gordon Goldsborough at secretary@mbagmuseum.ca or 204-782-8829.
The Cars
| Spec \ Car | 1923 Ford Model T | 1928 Ford Model A | 1928 Ford Model A | 1930 Ford Model A | 1931 Ford Model A |
| Model | 4-door Touring | 2-door Sedan | 2-door Depot Hack | 4-door Sedan | 2-door Victoria |
| Engine | 4 cylinder 177 cu in | 4 cylinder 201 cu in | 4 cylinder 201 cu in | 4 cylinder 201 cu in | 4 cylinder 201 cu in |
| Transmission | planetary 2 gears | manual 3 gears | manual 3 gears | manual 3 gears | manual 3 gears |
| Owner-Driver | DW | DR | CB | CT | DA-JO |
The Route
The Itinerary
| DAY ONE: Monday, 3 July 2023 | km | Approx. Arrive |
| Start at 1932 Trans-Canada Highway monument | 0 | 9:00 |
| West Hawk Lake – stop at West Hawk Museum | 6 | 9:45 |
| Rennie | 38 | 11:00 |
| Whitemouth – stop at Whitemouth Museum | 72 | 11:45 |
| Beausejour – stop at Brokenhead-Beausejour Pioneer Village Museum | 118 | 13:30 |
| Garson | 133 | 14:15 |
| Lockport – stop at Skinner’s Highway 44 | 150 | 14:45 |
| Winnipeg – stop at Manitoba Legislative Building | 177 | 16:00 |
| DAY TWO: Tuesday, 4 July 2023 | ||
| Headingley – start at Jim’s Vintage Garages | 196 | 9:00 |
| St. Francois Xavier | 207 | 9:45 |
| Poplar Point | 245 | 10:45 |
| Portage la Prairie – stop at Fort la Reine Museum | 273 | 11:30 |
| MacGregor | 309 | 12:45 |
| Austin – stop at Manitoba Agricultural Museum | 321 | 13:00 |
| Sidney | 337 | 14:30 |
| Carberry – stop at Carberry Plains Museum | 357 | 15:00 |
| Douglas | 384 | 16:15 |
| Brandon – stop at Brandon General Museum and Archives | 406 | 16:45 |
| DAY THREE: Wednesday, 5 July 2023 | ||
| Brandon – start at Daly House Museum | 406 | 9:00 |
| Kemnay | 419 | 9:45 |
| Alexander | 431 | 10:00 |
| Griswold | 450 | 10:30 |
| Oak Lake – stop at Oak Lake and District Museum | 462 | 11:00 |
| Virden – stop at Virden Pioneer Home Museum | 490 | 12:00 |
| Hargrave | 508 | 13:30 |
| Elkhorn – stop at Manitoba Antique Automobile Museum | 526 | 14:00 |
| End at Saskatchewan border | 545 | 15:30 |
The Questions
How fast will the cars travel?
The maximum speed of the older cars is about 45 miles per hour (mph). Given their advanced age, we won’t press them but will try to maintain a speed of about 25-30 mph. A modern car could make the drive in less than one day; we will take three days.
Who are the drivers?
The drivers are the owners of their respective vehicles. One of the drivers is 93 years old, the same age as his car.
What kind of fuel do the cars burn?
Most of the cars will be using gasoline. However, one car may be running on denatured ethanol produced from Manitoba-grown grain.
What is the Tree Planting Car?
In 1920, the Tree Planting Car (TPC) started cris-crossing the Canadian prairies, educating children and adults on the virtues of planting trees. It was a classroom on wheels. The final year of operation was 1973 when the Canadian Pacific Railway donated the TPC to the Manitoba Forestry Association (MFA). By that time, it had travelled over 263,000 miles and had been visited by over 1.5 million people. In November 2022, the MFA moved the TPC from the Sandilands to the Manitoba Agricultural Museum.
Is the original Trans-Canada Highway driveable?
Portions of the original route have disappeared through the years. We will have to make minor detours here and there but we are confident that we will be able to cover most of the way. Some portions will be primitive (i.e., gravel or worse) compared to the modern Trans-Canada.
How can I help?
Several ways! You can spread the word about the Relic Run, referring people to this website (http://p2prelicrun.ca) or our poster available here. You can make an online donation in support of building a roof for the Tree Planting Car. You can sponsor one or more cars ($500 per car) or the entire Relic Run ($1,500) or you can donate at one of our stops along the route. You can buy a book that will be available at our stops and for which a portion of the sale price will be donated to the Manitoba Agricultural Museum:
 Exploring the Old Trans-Canada East: Canada’s Route 66 by Clint Cannon $25/book |  A Prairie Odyssey: Alan Beaven and the Tree Planting Car, How Tree Planting Transformed the Prairies by Dianne Beaven $25/book |  Abandoned Manitoba by Gordon Goldsborough $25/book |
How can I donate?
We accept cash, cheques, and major credit cards.
What do I get if I donate?
Everyone who makes a donation to the Relic Run will be entered in a random draw for a framed, original 1926 Manitoba road map.
What if I have a question that you did not answer?
Send us email at info@p2prelicrun.ca or secretary@mbagmuseum.ca.