My fellow Canadians: It’s time to start your engines and get riding. While we’re not completely done with cold, wet weather, there are many nice days ahead in May and onwards, and if you haven’t gotten your bike out and prepped for the season, now is the time!
(See our primer on that process here).
Now is also the time to start thinking about what riding events you want to hit this year. Here, in chronological order, are some fun events we’d recommend you check out:
May 4 — International Female Ride Day
International Female Ride Day was started by Canadian rider Vicki Gray, so naturally there are lots of Canadian riders heading out this Saturday to take part in the fun! To find a local group to ride with, or other deets on IFRD, check out the website here.
May 18 — Flat Track Canada season opener
One of the most exciting race series in the country starts with a competition at Bayside Trailblazer Park in Shannonville. Tickets at the door; more details here.
May 17-19 — Shannonville CSBK opener
The Canadian Superbike series returns to Shannonville (the roadracing track, not the same venue as the flat track event!) for an early Round 1. Will Ben Young repeat his championship, or will Jordan Szoke return to his dominance—or maybe one of the up-and-comers will finally upset the top-runners for the title. A three-day weekend full of racing fun, and lots of good times off-the-track too. Camping is available, for the bold! Get tickets here, and see the full 2024 CSBK season here.
May 17-19 — La Classique adventure rally
If your interests are more along the lines of adventure riding, then La Classique in Quebec is a worthy alternative for this weekend. One of the biggest events in the Canadian ADV calendar, this year’s rally is even better with the addition of a Horizons Unlimited meeting over the same weekend in Lachute! And along with that travelers’ meeting and Saturday and Sunday’s riding, there are demo rides as well. The TMFF is also showing films that weekend. Lots to see and do; more deets here.
May 24 — TMFF Tour: Vancouver
The Toronto Motorcycle Film Festival takes the show on the road, with a Vancouver visit. One night only at the Rio Theatre; find more info on tickets here.
June 1-2 — CMDRA Opener
Mission, BC, sees the Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association open its season this weekend. The CMDRA has kind of had a low profile in recent years, so we can’t tell you much about what to expect this year, but you can check out their site here for links to more info.
June 2 — Triple Crown MX Opener
Canada’s national motocross series opens its season in Calgary at Wild Rose MX! You can find a schedule for the weekend here, as well as order tickets. The schedule for the national competition as well as the eastern and western regional series is posted here.
June 7-9 — Moto Craft Show
A hip show that showcases art, custom bikes and other moto culture goodness. Originally slated to run June 14-16 down near Exhibition Place, but now moved back a week and running at the Queen Elizabeth Building. Otherwise, the details we shared previously should give you a good angle on what to expect. More info here.
June 10 — Ride to Work Day
Started by Andy Goldfine (the same guy who founded Aerostich), Ride to Work Day has been running since 1992. It is exactly what the name sounds like: A day where motorcyclists worldwide are encouraged to ride their motorcycle to work, showing the vehicle’s practicality for personal transportation. Read more about Ride to Work Day here, and you can even get stickers, printout posters, all sorts of fun stuff at that link.
July 10-14 — Paris-Dacre Challenge (Rally Connex)
This rally is one of the longest-running in Rally Connex’s calendar, and has long been considered a real accomplishment to even finish, if you’re running in the more difficult classes. There’s something for everyone here; dual sports, enduros, ADVs, even ATVs. The organizers bill it as Canada’s hardest one-day rally, and as past failed CMG attempts can attest, they just might be right. More info here.
July 28 — Back Alley Scooter Rally
The Mad Bastard Scooter Rally is gone, alas! Here in its place is a Toronto-centric event that looks like it could be the spiritual successor (also from Rally Connex). CMG is hoping to cover this event this year, if we can only find someone silly enough to lend us a scooter …
August 9-11 — “Mosport Weekend”: CSBK at CTMP
Round 5 of the CSBK championship gets a special shout-out because the weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is always extra-fun. The OEMs often provide demo rides, and there’s often a special movie night as well, with help from the Toronto Motorcycle Film Festival. Check for tickets here, and expect announcements of the weekend’s attractions as the summer goes by. But if you can only make it to one of CSBK’s events in Ontario this year, this is the one you want to get to.
August 29-September 1 — Wharf Rat Rally
The classic biker rally on the east coast. Roll around Digby, eat seafood. Admittedly a very cruiser-centric event, but it still draws all kinds of riders from all corners of eastern North America. Find a rally pass here, and keep an eye on their Facebook page for an idea of what to expect for entertainment, food, etc. this year.
September 13 — Friday The 13th, Port Dover
The one, the only Friday the 13th in Port Dover, Ontario. For better or worse, no other Canadian event is quite like it. Ride down, see for yourself, shudder at the madness… or revel in it.
September 19-22 — Corduroy Enduro
Gooderham, Ontario sees the return of the Corduroy Enduro this weekend (with Rally Connex running a dual sport tour in the area the same weekend that often provides excellent race viewing opportunities). The Cord is Canada’s toughest race, and people come from all over North America to test their mettle. Join the fun, if you can qualify, or sit back and watch other people abuse their bodies and their bikes for a chance at a podium. The Cord was hard enduro, before that was even a thing! More info here.
September 26-28 — Toronto Motorcycle Film Festival
The TMFF is scheduled to run the 27-28 at the Revue Cinema in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighbourhood, with pre-festival party on the 26th at Flying Squirrel Motorcycle on Queen Street East. Always a chance to see excellent moto films, both shorts and features, documentaries and narratives. We expect more details in the months to come, including the festival lineup, so keep an eye on the website here.
