"Look, Chadwick, a tour for us."
Are you ready to go back to school?
The assignment is easy: have fun driving your vintage automobile 1,000 miles through scenic New England, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania visiting en route each of the 8 most prestigious and gorgeous universities on the planet: First day is the Start in Newport, RI and then on to Brown, Harvard, and Dartmouth. Second day is Dartmouth to Cornell. Third day is Cornell to U. Penn. Fourth day is U.Penn, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, and then back around to the Finish in Newport, RI.
You'll have a blast meeting up with classmates and fellow aficionados, talking shop, enjoying incredible amenities, and raising money (and Cain) for a great cause.
"Wait until you see God, then brake."
Just kidding! The Sixth Old's Cool Tour is (tentatively) scheduled for September 5th – 8th, 2024, and will be a GTA (Game-Tour-Adventure) event. There will also be at least one timed stage, a hillclimb at Mt. Equinox, and an SCCA autocross. Participation is kind of by invitation only. The only specific Old's Cool Rule is that the automobile must be at least as old as your graduation year, or pre-1994 if you didn't finish before then.
Keep in mind this is not in any way, shape or form a "race" – obey speed limits and all local laws – the whole point is just to have fun. No diploma required. Originality and creativity encouraged. Life's short.
What's actually on the menu?
Excellent, top-drawer fun. The OCT will be a 4-day event, starting this year at Old's Cool Tour Headquarters in Newport, RI. Each day will be divided into stages, roughly as follows, subject to change.
Wednesday, September 4th, 2024. Arrival and Welcome BBQ. We have reserved rooms at Castle Hill Inn, for anyone coming into town the night before (not included in the entry fee). Cars and support vehicles can be parked here for the duration of the rally. Welcome BBQ will be from 5-9 pm . We will have tech inspection for all cars and any last-minute adjustments made on the spot. We'll invite some of the local collectors to bring their vehicles for an impromptu car show, and we'll also have some branded gin from a local distillery, and drinks on the house.
Thursday, September 5th, 2024. Pre-rally breakfast at OCT HQ. Driver's/safety meeting at 7 am. Start time is 7:22, in honor of Sir Stirling Moss's start time/famous Mille Miglia Mercedes number.
Day 1, Stage 1. Newport - Brown, approximately 1 hour. Stage 2. Brown - Harvard, approximately 1 hour. Checkpoint is Harvard Yard (of 'pahk the cah in...' fame). Stage 3. Harvard - Canaan Racetrack, approximately 3 hours. Stage 4. Canaan – Dartmouth, approximately 20 minutes. Finish of Day 1 is on The Green at Dartmouth. We will have dinner and a gathering for area auto enthusiasts at The Hanover Inn.
Friday, September 6th, 2024. Breakfast at The Hanover Inn. Day 2, Stage 1: Canaan Raceway (for 2-hours of track time) - Mt. Equinox (for a hillclimb and lunch with a view), approximately 3 hours. Stage 2: Mt. Equinox – Cornell, approximately 4 hours. Finish of Day 2 is at The Statler Hotel.
Saturday, September 7th, 2024. Breakfast, Statler Hotel. Day 3, Stage 1: Cornell – SCCA Autocross. Stage 2: SCCA to Lazy Brook Park for lunch, approximately 1 1/2 hours. Stage 3: Lazy Brook to U. Penn, approximately 2 1/2 hours. Dinner and third overnight stop at The Inn at Penn Hotel.
Sunday, September 8th, 2024 Breakfast at The Inn at Penn Hotel. Day 4, Stage 1: U. Penn – Princeton, approximately 2 hours. Lunch at The Cannon Club. Stage 2: Princeton – Columbia, approximately 2 1/2 hours. Checkpoint at Columbia is Daniel Chester French sculpture at The Low Library. Stage 3: Columbia - Yale, approximately 2 1/2 hours. Checkpoint is the Church on the Green. Stage 4: Yale -Newport, approximately 1 1/2 hours. Awards ceremony and farewell. Castle Hill Inn is available for anyone who is staying the night (not included in entry fee).
Seriously, dust off your own classic red Alfa Romeo Spider "Graduate" and call Johnny Mustard at (401) 572-7090 to reserve your spot as soon as possible.
How much does it cost?
Unforgettably charming and authentic road trip with a posse of interesting fellow enthusiasts on the most beautiful roads in this part of the world? Priceless. Poetry and Visa commercial satire aside, the entry fee is $4999 (per team, double occupancy), and the closing date for all entries is May 1, 2024. Payment must be made in full, either by credit card, PayPal, or by check at the time of submission.
N.B. There will be no refunds. If you're in for a penny, you're in for a pound.
Gentlemen, start your engines!
"Daytripper's Special."
Got a good reason, for taking the easy way out? Since a 4-day, 1,000 mile voyage is a big commitment, we're offering an “Old’s Cool Tour One-Day Drive Along” – we’ll start at 7:22 am in Newport, with our first stop at Brown, and then lunch at The Harvard Club at Harvard around noon. You and your lunch mates can then head home, while we continue on our way up to Dartmouth for the night.
Special price for this introduction to our wicked smart adventure is $99, and includes the lunch. Limited to the first 10 sign ups.
This is a fundraiser for the O' Academy
All proceeds will go toward the Old's Cool Academy Scholarship fund, which you can read all about here.
Get in touch
If you'd like to come along for the ride of your life, (or if you just want to say hello), don't hesitate to ring Johnny Mustard up on (401) 572-7090, email him at johnnymustard@oldscoolcompany.com or just stop by the studio anytime — 38 Charles Street, Newport, RI 02840.
