Drive Festival 2023

Last weekend (Sept 8-10) Drive Festival was held at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and although it was quite popular I still feel like a feature post would boost next years’ attendance. 2023 marked 3 years for this event, so still quite new out there, but that didn’t stop motorheads alike from attending. 

Drive Festival is the ultimate car show for gearheads in Canada, so it’s no surprise that new car technology and test drive opportunities are featured on the three test tracks at this event. In 2021, when the event was held from Sept 10-12, Drive Festival made history. 17,000 people attended and this helped to make Drive Festival the largest automotive show and event in Canada that year. 

Meet the Co-Founders!

Like everything, there is always a place or person that’s behind a successful event. Let’s meet the co-founders that helped make Drive Festival possible. The Event Manager, Adam Ruppel, has 22 years of experience running events, from organizing them to promoting and overseeing huge events. And to top it all off, he is a car fanatic. Drive Festival is essentially the best of both worlds for him – he can run an event successfully and provide a space for automotive enthusiasts to gather and be inspired. He is also the co-founder of Mud Hero – Canada’s largest obstacle race with 60,000 participants annually, and the Founder of North America’s largest 24-hour mountain bike event, the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice. 

The other part of this duo is Fred Cox, the CEO. Fred is also the President of National Event Management, a Markham based company that has created and produced over 500 consumer events over the past 35 years. Currently National Event organizes 37 consumer events across North America (in a variety of industries) that host over 4000 exhibitors and attract over 200,000 people annually. He leads a team of 30 full time staff that are experts in creating, selling, promoting, and executing successful events. Hey, that sounds a lot like marketing if you ask me. Believe it or not, National Event Management has created more successful and interactive events than any other company in North America over the last 20 years. 

What Else Can You Do There? 

So as mentioned previously, there are sections throughout the park that feature test tracks, and to be honest, I feel like this is what attracts people the most. Here, attendees get the opportunity to test drive some of the newest models of cars out there. Test drives take place on the Performance Track, PRO-SERIES Manufacturer, and Off-Road Track. 

There is also the Mobil 1 Dream Car Speed Run, and I have to say, this sounds like it would be one of my favourite features. This is a closed racetrack where every vehicle has a clean run and does so safely, as many of these cars are irreplaceable. Attendees are able to see, hear, and feel the rush from being in the presence of a very exhilarating environment at top speeds in the 2 KM track. 

The Overland Park, which is one of the New exhibits, is the place to be for thrill seekers and adventure enthusiasts alike. Rugged terrains can be conquered in new manufacturer vehicles (the only time a test drive will allow you to do this), where every turn tests your driving skills and capabilities of the vehicle. 

Then there’s Aviva Electric Avenue (another new exhibit). Here visitors are allowed to explore and compare different EV models whilst learning about the benefits of switching to electric. Manufacturers include: Polestar, Tesla, VW ID Buzz, and more. You’ll just have to visit the event to see the full list! 

And as if you needed another reason to get your heart pumping at this event, there is the Racing Cart Experience. This works a little differently though. First, the driver has to be 16 years of age or older in order to participate and there are 3 stages to this experience: (1) Drivers Safety Briefing (2) Session 1 – Lead Follow Format with Experienced Instructor and (3) Session 2 – Open Lapping. You can really get the taste for the European-style racing carts on the 1.5 KM long purpose-built racing circuit. Interested? Register here!

Final Thoughts

Are you convinced this is the place to be next year when this event comes back to Toronto? Let us know in the comments and follow us over on our socials!