Page 31 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 89

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #89 April 2020 31

Tales from The Trails

Tales from the Trails: Tom Irwin and Adventure Tours

By Casey Leger he’s part of three generations of
racers. His father won two national
ou’d think that selling the family championships, and his daughter
Ybusiness would be a chance to
Katie won a Quebec championship
kick back and relax. Maybe it would when she was fifteen and a ladies’
be for most people, but for Tom
class national championship ten
Irwin, it was simply the start of the years later.
next chapter in his interesting life and
career. These days, Tom Irwin is putting
his power sports expertise to use
If the name “Irwin” sounds familiar, in a different and interesting way -
it’s probably because that name has
with Tom Irwin Adventure Tours.
been a staple in Cornwall and area “We specialize in ATV, off road Photo Submitted
power sports circles for eighty-odd
motorcycles, and snowmobile guided or renting one of ours.” increase over last year,” he says.
years: Irwin Supply. “I sold it 3 tours,” he explains. “This spring, The tours take place mostly in “Half my customers are from cities
years ago,” says Irwin. “Now, no we are adding ‘Guided Exotic Car the Calabogie area, although special like Ottawa and Toronto. Often, they
family member is involved.”
Tours’ to our menus. These will be tours in other areas can be booked. have no wilderness experience. A lot
Business was one facet of the Irwin 100-kilometre guided tours, where “If someone wants a special tour of my other customers are Europeans
family’s endeavours. “I also raced the customers drive a Lamborghini, elsewhere, like an ATV tour in on vacation in Canada, while another
motorcycles professionally for 44 Ferrari, or Nissan GT-R. I will be in Limerick Forrest in the Johnstown group is built around team building
years, which included 5 Canadian a lead vehicle.” area, or a snowmobile tour in northern and family activities.”
Championships between 1982 & Quebec, we’re portable,” he says.
All the Irwin adventure tours are “I started [the adventure business]
1992,” Irwin says. “I was the over guided. “We have a fleet of ATVs The business booked around 125 in 2017,” Irwin says. “We base
50-year-old National Champion in
and side-by-sides and snowmobiles,” tours last year, according to Irwin. our business on the idea that every

2012.”
Irwin says. “Customers have a “Until the COVID-19 crisis kicked customer should leave with a memory
Irwin is proud of the fact that choice of bringing their own machine in, we were running a thirty percent that they will cherish for years.”
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