SOMEWHERE ALONG THE TRANS-CANADA NEAR ESPANOLA, Ont. — About 20 years ago a young man driving a red 1972 Datsun 510 with his girlfriend ran out of coolant and had to pull over to the side of the highway.

The driver got out of the car, thumbed a ride down to Nairn Centre to get some water and Bar’s Leak and the guy who gave him a lift back to the Datsun commented:

"You figure you would hitchhike that far if it were your girlfriend who was thirsty instead of your car?"

It was a sentiment the man would never forget, and now, 20 years later, that young man (who is on the reportorial staff at todaystrucking.com) is going to try to immortalize that memory and that stretch of highway in the CBC Radio 2 RoadSong Contest, which opens in September.

(There were some other things that happened to that guy on that road but you’re going to have to wait for the contest to hear those details.)

The point is, CBC Radio 2 wants to add to the annals of Canadian songwriting by creating 13 new road songs, one from each province and territory.  

Think you can turn a highway adventure into the next
great Canadian road song? Check out CBC’s Song Quest

And the brains at the CBC recognized that truckers are in the best position to nominate those roads.

According to a statement from the corporation, "we’ll be asking Canadians to nominate and vote for an awe-inspiring stretch of road that should be immortalized in a brand new song. Whether it’s a stretch of pavement, an ice road or a gravel by-way they’re all gateways to travel and adventure; a story just waiting to be turned into a song."

"When the voting is over, our 13 Song Quest artists will get to work and write a brand new song for their province or territory, using the road or place that wins for their province or territory.

Song Quest starts on Tuesday, September 7th and the 13 new songs will be revealed on Friday, October 22nd.

Starting Tuesday, September 7th, you can tune in to CBC Radio 2 to hear the 13 Song Quest artists who will write a new song for their province or territory, listen to great road songs, and find out what roads or places Canadians think should be immortalized in song.

Here’s how you can participate in CBC Radio 2’s Song Quest: The Road Song:

Starting September 7th, go to www.cbc.ca/radio2 and nominate a stretch of road or place you think should be immortalized in song. You can also create a blog, upload photos or even submit your own song.

Call the CBC at 1-877-222-8166 and leave a message. Tell them which stretch of road or place you would like to see immortalized in song.

Then listen to hear yourself on the air.

Meanwhile, we here at todaystrucking.com are still working on a something that rhymes with radiator.