Racing through B.C.’s back roads leads to a lot of cursing

There was no mincing words.

“You have got to be kidding me!” I screamed. “They want us to take their car down THAT?!”

Three GPS systems tracked our progress through the back roads of British Columbia and, thankfully, not one could record what I said, because it only got uglier.

For several years now, the Mazda Adventure Rally – autumn is the prime season for charity rallies, with many already completed or set to roll shortly – has seen teams compete in three-day rallies while test-driving a new model. Up for grabs: $10,000 for the charity of the team’s choice and bragging rights. My husband Jeff and I were happy to pick the Rick Hansen Foundation as the charity, but could we persevere?

Photos by Joanne Elves

Day 1

Nine teams from across Canada flew to Vancouver International Airport not knowing anything beyond that.

Mazda representatives, waiting at baggage claim, handed over an envelope with keys and a booklet of instructions, then pointed at the parking garage. No directions as to which level, or what model – just devious smirks.

Three minutes of pushing the panic button located a 2016 Mazda CX-3 sporting a Rick Hansen Foundation door sticker. We were off to the races.

Our first mission: use the dashboard GPS to locate six independent coffee shops through town. Jeff was driving, so I’d leap from the car at the lights and, while he looped the block, I’d purchase a coffee then hop back in. Easy. Next, insert geographical locations into the GPS and hope we did it right.

We were confident Whistler, B.C., would be the day’s destination but the co-ordinates lined us up with the other Mazda CX-3s at the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, B.C. After a breathtaking ride to the top, we were required to answer questions. Moving swiftly past the tourists, we ran across the suspension bridge. (I always take pleasure in making bridges bounce.) Bingo! Answers to all three questions about the history and lore were on the story boards.

The highway to Whistler provided an opportunity to play with the CX-3’s buttons, the sport mode, and test its pep in the passing lane. We reached the Sundial Hotel, and a quick tally of the scores indicated that we were tied for first with four other teams.

We learned what to expect next at an evening meeting. Each car was outfitted with another GPS called ADRIAN that led us on our adventure. It was to be reset on each leg by the hosts. A kit in the back seat had bear spray, an iPad with map books of British Columbia, TP and a satellite phone.

And, at the start of each day, a booklet of directions, questions and photos to identify would be distributed.

Get everything right and a victory dance could be in the near future. Miss a clue or arrive late and, it’s game over.

Day 2

I took the wheel. Jeff is a great driver but even better at telling me where to go. Along the way we had to complete a “Bingo” sheet of questions like, “Name the road referencing a local NHL team” … um, well, that’s actually in honour of downhill skiing’s “Crazy Canucks”, but we didn’t stop to argue. Or, find the “Hanging Tree” in Lillooet, B.C., and the name of the judge who did all the hanging.

The zig-zag of the Pavilion Clinton Road was crazy, but it’s nothing compared to High Bar Road. We climbed to the top of a ridge to stop at a sign that read “23 per cent grade. Not recommended for public use.” ADRIAN pointed us down it. That’s when I let fly with the steady stream of superlatives.

It was one of those insanely steep narrow dirt roads where long trucks don’t turn – they just get to the corner and continue up in reverse. I used the Sport manual option to slow the car, and gripping the steering wheel as tight as I did helped, too.

“Whoa! It’s a long way down,” said Jeff. “Look at that view – no! Not you!”

Eventually, we traded roles, and I was able to fully appreciate the spectacular landscape. I didn’t know British Columbia had such enormous hoodoos towering over the Fraser River.

We pulled into the South Thompson Inn in Kamloops, B.C., within two minutes of the allotted time. It wouldn’t have been that bad had we not got lost during the old-style directive ordering us to “turn left at the fork in the road.” We took the wrong fork, but Jeff got us quickly back on track and – surprise – we were tied for second place with one day to go.

Day 3

We drove along 97C passing the Highland Valley Cooper Mine operations, into Ashcroft and to Spences Bridge, then onto Highway 8.

And we had to watch for ranch signs, rusted vehicles and movie shoots. Using the iPad, we re-enacted scenes from Smallville and Wicker Man.

Our diet consisted of eating dust for the rest of the day as we chased the leaders for 84 kilometres on dirt roads back to the hotel.

In the end, only one point separated second place from fourth. We squeezed into third, a half-point back and a half-point ahead.

Thrilled with that result? Absolutely. The Rick Hansen Foundation received $1,000 from Mazda, we have matching shiny trophies – and those all-important bragging rights.

Through it all, the CX-3 handled the bumpy rally roads like a trooper.

The peppy little crossover was confident and strong and I never lacked confidence in its capability.

The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.