NIAGARA FALLS, ON - The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) is an organization that is dedicated to assisting, promoting and maintaining the integrity of automotive journalism. It has held a reputation over the years as the largest Canadian automotive journalists association and prides itself on operating only under the highest of code of honour and ethics. 

The association, however, is well known for being extremely difficult to join. In order to join, one must meet a set amount of requirements before joining and if you’re one of the few accepted in, the advantages are boundless. 

The most exciting event that you’re invited to, as long as you meet the 26 car review quota for the year is TestFest, held in Niagara Falls. TestFest is where AJAC journalists come to test and score the latest model cars for the year, eventually leading to naming the AJAC cars of the year. 

This year, I was able to get a feel for the TestFest scene as a guest on Open Thursday. I wasn’t able to drive any of the cars, being just a guest, but the open venue with all the latest cars was enough to get me excited. 

As I entered the new venue at the Legends on Niagara Golf Course, I was a bit struck with feelings of acceptance, envy and pride, as I caught a glimpse into my own future. Having car enthusiasts read my thoughts on why this sedan or that SUV deserve the title of Car of the Year didn’t seem too far way. 

However, on this very day, I felt like I stood out like the Stig in a grocery store. Representing the driver as a writer, but unable to actually drive any of the cars, the only thing left for me to do was engage in what my college professor’s call “networking”. 

I stepped into the cold that was TestFest with my typical Oakville Sperrys on and made it my mission to absorb as much information about AJAC. I would be a sponge for the next six-to-seven hours. It was quickly apparent to me that most of the journalists were busy conducting their drive tests and had limited time for this lanky, 19-year old with more questions than a game of cranium. Eventually accepting defeat, I wandered the event with our video crew; looking at cars, filming them, sitting in them trying to stay warm and out of the rain. 

With the day dwindling and getting windier by the second, I eventually ran into a peculiar man who stood out from the rest. To my surprise, this was Charles Renny, the current AJAC President. This conversation was just what I had been hoping for. It satisfied my cravings for useful information and left me inspired to pursue my automotive writing career with the hope to one day join AJAC. 

In the end, TestFest was a success. I went with the idea to review a few cars, but instead got a unique perspective of someone looking from the outside in. Now, being determined to join, I plan to dedicate myself to this profession and one-day cast my votes for Canadian Car of the Year. See you next year TestFest!