Scotia Speedworld
Tonight, on a whim, Savannah and I decided to head to Scotia Speedworld to catch the weekly Friday night races. Since it was Fan Fest, all classes were racing—which meant a full evening of fun. This kind of spontaneity is one of the biggest benefits of owning a PHEV compared to our previous EV (a Mach-E). We can make last-minute plans like this and still get most of our daily driving covered by our solar array.
After work, I picked up Savannah, made a quick stop at Whistleberry Market in Pleasant Valley, and then hit the road. With supper time approaching and stomachs growling, we decided to swing into Truro. We plugged into the ChargePoint station at the Truro Farmers Market and walked over to grab a bite.
Tonight’s dinner spot: The Nook and Cranny on Prince Street, about a 5-minute walk from the charger. When we arrived, there were only a few people on the patio and a few inside. The restaurant’s interior was mostly black—walls, furniture—with brown hardwood-style floors. I thought it looked a little cheap; Savannah said modern. Honestly, it reminded me of the clubs I used to go to at 19. But hey, design taste is subjective—the important part is that the place was clean.
From sitting down, checking out the menu, placing our order, to getting our food—it all took about 20 minutes.
The plates looked solid as they came out… except my Caesar salad had somehow turned into fries. Whoops! Our server quickly fixed it, brought me the proper salad, and let me keep the fries. The sandwich I ordered was hot and tasty, but the fries were lukewarm—a missed opportunity, especially with a plate full of two-inch fries. I had the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich, while Savannah went for the Cranny Classic Club.
My sandwich had great flavor, and the bread was spot on—crispy outside, soft inside—but it needed just a bit more filling. Savannah’s club had generous veggies and decent-sized bread, but the chicken was pretty sparse. Once you’re past the center, you’re basically eating toast. The Caesar salad was a decent size but the dressing tasted like it came from a generic no name brand bottle.
Would we eat there again? Maybe, but probably not. The bill came to $44.85 before tip for two meals with just water. While the portions were fair, we both left a bit underwhelmed. That said, the patio was packed with happy people when we left—so clearly, they’re doing something right. Not every meal is a hit, and maybe tonight just wasn’t our night.
Back at the car, we were charged up to 97% and ready to roll. Next stop: Scotia Speedworld—or so we thought. A slowdown on the highway near the Enfield Big Stop set us back about 20 minutes. Sitting there, I was pretty thankful we weren’t burning gas in an F-150 just to go nowhere.
We made it to the races late, but since it was Fan Fest, all the cars were still lined up on the track—we didn’t miss a thing. The races were fantastic. I thought the Mini-Stocks would be the highlight, but the real show-stealers were the kids. The Bandoleros and Beginner Bandoleros raced their hearts out. One winner (I think it was Jake Campbell) gave an interview that, aside from his young voice, sounded like it came from a seasoned pro. These kids have so much confidence—it’s impressive. Their parents must be so proud.
If you’ve never been to the weekly racing series at Scotia Speedworld, I highly recommend it. The races are quick and exciting, and the drivers are full throttle the entire time. Honestly, it’s way better than watching NASCAR. Sorry, NASCAR fans—but we watched 10 races in the time it takes to watch one stock car event. Just saying.
After the show, we made a quick stop at the airport Tim Hortons for a coffee and then hit the road home. At this point, both the battery and gas tank were running low. From Whistleberry Market to Scotia Speedworld and back to the Shell station on Robie Street in Truro, we averaged 5.5L/100 km. From there, over Mt. Thom and back home—46 km—we finished at 6.6L/100 km with 5 km of battery left. We drove in HEV mode the whole way, knowing we’d only get one opportunity to charge.
I loved our full EV, but I love having my spontaneity back even more. Our PHEV gives us the best of both worlds. Maybe someday, I’ll be lucky enough to own both.