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Drive Your Story Tour Recap: Toronto

LAST Canadian stop. FINAL tour stop. TORONTO showed up to close out.

Brett Gerstenblatt

Brett Gerstenblatt

Brand Director
Lenses & Features
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CATEGORIES Lenses & Features
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Drive Your Story Tour Recap: Toronto
Drive Your Story Tour Recap: Toronto

LAST Canadian stop. FINAL tour stop. TORONTO showed up to close out.

Stop seven of the Carrera Drive Your Story Tour crossed the border into Canada —Yonge-Dundas, right in the heart of downtown Toronto. The weather delayed the weekend, but a clean window of sun and fresh air on the new date opened up, when the activation hit. Second Canadian stop of the tour, and final tour stop and Toronto delivered — the emcee kept the plaza moving, the booth had real buzz, and the crowd stayed all afternoon.

Driver’s side: @TheHalfDecent (Mattias) — Toronto-based— “For the Collector with Refined Taste.”. Conceptual, design-driven, deeply intentional with every layer; The concept: the entire Corvette is built as a pair of Carrera glasses — wheels as the nose pads and ear pieces, the whole car as the lens. Passenger side: @BrunoSmoky — Bruno, Self-taught artist out of Toronto— a striking portrait of a man wearing Carrera sunglasses, “THE 6IX” in graffiti, a racing “70” number nodding to Carrera’s 70th,. Bruno took it 51–49.

AUTHOR
Brett Gerstenblatt

Brett Gerstenblatt

Brand Director

TORONTO VS. TORONTO

Stop seven took the tour north of the border for the second and final time — Toronto’s very own TheHalfDecent against BrunoSmoky. Two completely different styles, same Canadian energy. Yonge-Dundas made the call.

BEFORE & AFTER | THEHALFDECENT

BEFORE & AFTER | BRUNOSMOKY

THE TORONTO WINNER

BRUNOSMOKY TAKES TORONTO

WORDS FROM THE ARTISTS

We sat down with both artists to talk about what brought them to the canvas — and what it means to make something that thousands of people will see in motion.

Toronto WINNER • Advances to national vote

BRUNOSMOKY

@brunosmoky

"I got inspired by a car racer reaching the final line in the sunset as he is about to win. I think this brand has a lot to do with a slick style but also looks classy."

TORONTO CHALLENGER

THEHALFDECENT

@thehalfdecent

“The racoon is the unofficial mascot for Toronto so why not throw on Carreras and have him see the world through the frames. Carrera is bold and the idea is be unique and stand out, and that’s the goal for myself.”

THE MEDIA MOMENT

Highsnobiety crossed the border too — working with Ola (@ihatemyfits) to capture the first Canadian stop. They walked the plaza, chopped it up with both artists, kept the voting urgency alive across their channels, and helped tell the Toronto chapter of Carrera’s international road trip.

THE DAY AT YONGE –DUNDAS SQUARE

After a fire delayed the event to August, Yonge-Dundas Square came alive with clear skies, big crowds, and strong energy. The artists went head-to-head on the Corvette, helping turn the postponed stop into one of the tour’s strongest.

THE SETTING

THE SETTING

The Yonge Dundas Square — the cultural heart of downtown Toronto. The Yonge Dundas Square as backdrop, the city moving around the activation, and the Corvette planted dead center.

THE '79 CORVETTE

THE '79 CORVETTE

Two iconic Toronto artists, head-to-head on each side. Bruno’s bold graffiti, Carrera racing portrait and The Half Decent’s conceptual design with tastes of Toronto and Carrera. Two Canadian lanes on the same car.

THE WEATHER

THE WEATHER

From horrific fire causing a delay to August, brought a weekend of cloudless sky, hot sun, and the energy to follow. The kind of summer day in Toronto a brochure promises.

THE ENERGY

THE ENERGY

Real buzz around the booth, the emcee keeping the square tight, and the kind of foot traffic that turned a postponed event to one of the strongest stops on the tour. Try-ons and tote lines all afternoon.

THE DAY IN PICTURES

THAT'S A WRAP!

The Paint My Ride Tour made its mark in Miami, Houston, Chicago, San Diego, Vancouver, Philadelphia, and Toronto. Stay tuned to cast your vote for the grand prize winner!