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| Author: | khm1997 [ Sat Dec 29, 2018 9:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | perfect. Montrea |
Late 1977. Roger Peart receives a call from the president of the Fédération Automobile Québécoise. Its the Labatt beer company, the then-title sponsor of the Canadian Grand Prix held annually at Mosport near Toronto. They want to know if Montreal can host a Formula One race. "Great question," says Peart, who then asks for a little time for reflection — 30 minutes to be precise. "I first thought of Île Notre-Dame. Then, I looked at a route that would start and end at the Olympic Stadium, but that would have been devilishly complicated to implement. I even looked at [building a track at] Laval." "We didnt have to go far down those roads," says Peart. "The first idea was always going to be the best." After 30 minutes, he phoned his interlocutor back to tell him yes, Montreal could accommodate a full-fledged Formula One Grand Prix, and that the best venue was Île Notre-Dame – a man-made island built to host Expo 67 a decade earlier – if for no other reason than its excellent access to public transit. The timing was perfect. Montreals then-Mayor Jean Drapeau had just announced that the artificial island would be devoted to sporting events, while the neighbouring nature-made Île Sainte-Hélène would host cultural-type events. By April 1978, Montreals city council had accepted the idea of a racetrack — "on the express condition that it cost the taxpayers nothing," recalls Peart. Peart, an engineer, is well-known in the world of international racing. Over the past five decades, he has not only competed as a driver (largely in amateur races) but has monitored and inspected racing circuits all over the world. Now 80-years-old, Peart is still president of the Canadian National Sports Authority (ASN Canada), and the only sports commissioner in the country recognized by the Fédération Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA), Formula Ones governing body. Unsurprisingly, it was Peart who was given the mandate to design the Île Notre-Dame track, which would need to meet Formula Ones rigid standards. The Briton, who was then living in Montreal (he now calls Ontario home), still remembers the moment he went to first inspect what would become Canadas most famed racetrack. Mother Nature had dropped a major snowfall on top of the island, forcing him to develop the initial drafts without even being able to inspect the actual ground he was surveying. "I remember those days at my cottage in Saint-Sauveur in the Laurentians; when skiing conditions were poor, I drew up plans, plans and plans again." The challenge was more than he expected. "First, I had to ignore the old pavilions of the Expo 67 scheduled for demolition. Then I had to deal with some elements – the lake and park in the center, the river on one side, the Olympic basin on the other – that were obviously there to stay." "There wasnt much space and I had to fit a circuit in there, with rights and turns." Despite the challenges, the track, by and large, remains almost the same as Peart originally designed it. The buildings to the east of the island, where the boathouse was situated and where the hairpin turn is still today, were originally used as the pits. One weekend a year, the boats would then give way to the F1 cars — "It was an economical solution," recalls Peart. Because of the impracticality of this arrangement, new pits have subsequently been built in their current location, to the west, just before the Senna turn. This is the most significant change in the circuits 36-year history, a testimony to the excellence of Pearts original design. "Everything Was Going Too Fast!" The construction of the circuit that would later bear the name of Gilles Villeneuve was executed in record time. "It was a crazy time," says Peart. "Everything was going too fast!" After a winter spent developing the best possible layout, the British engineer travelled to Europe to attain approval for the plans by the FIA. By May 1978, after a meeting in Monaco, approval was granted and the construction began shortly thereafter, in July 1978. The first F1 race was held barely three months later. A Fairy Tale for All Sunday, October 8, 1978. The first of 35 Grand Prix of Canada races to be held on the new Circuit Île-Notre-Dame – its been held there every year since 78, except in 1987 during a sponsorship dispute between Labatt and Molson, and in 2009 when event funding became an issue – unfolds like a fairy. Its a fairy tale for Peart, who, serving as the race director, gets to hear firsthand from racers like Jackie Stewart that "his circuit" is "a little paradise in the middle of a great river." Its also a fairy tale for the Quebec public. In a race seemingly scripted by the gods of motor racing, Quebecs own Gilles Villeneuve takes the inaugural checkered flag in his Ferrari to the delight of more than 72,000 excited spectators. Its Villeneuves first win in 19 races, and he receives his much-deserved trophy from Prime Minister Pierre-Elliot Trudeau. For Ferrari, it is the companys first success in eight years. The track would be renamed in 1982 to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in honour of its first champion after Villeneuve tragically died in a crash during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix 36 Years Later: Peart Still Hasnt Missed a Race A technical track - Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve requires full concentration at all times and leaves little room for error. It is a circuit of long fast rights, interrupted by tight corners where, even today, the tires, brakes, engines and transmissions are strained to their limits. However, "unlike so many other F1 racetracks, Montreal has several opportunities for overtaking," says Peart. "That means the races are always exciting." Peart has not missed a Canadian Grand Prix since 1978. He watches every race from the control tower, as one of the three sports commissioners delegated by the FIA. This year will be the first exception as Peart has delegated his position to another steward — hell still be there, just with a different view. And if you happen upon him and ask if, after all these years, he would change anything about his original design? Hell tell you that, to this day, throughout the world, he has never seen a track as perfect. Encounter With A Young Gilles Villeneuve Early 1970s. Peart is, at the time, chief instructor at the Fédération Automobile du Québec, when as he recalls, "a quiet little man from Berthierville comes to see me." "He wanted to drive race cars. I asked him about his experience, and he replied that he was racing, of all things, snowmobiles. "As our summer events were all finished, I suggested he rent [some time at] Sanair [Super Speedway], bring along a car and we would see what kind of automobile racer he would make." "The day he showed up with his brothers Mustang, I had to leave for a business appointment. But I asked a fellow instructor to work with him and give me a report. Later in the day, the instructor called me, excitedly saying, Hey, boss, we may have something here!" "Each and every lap, the young Gilles Villeneuve was faster than his instructor. Obviously, we gave him his racing license." "I remember that to thank me, he wanted to give me a five-dollar tip." Via www.Autofocus.ca . -- Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the Dodgers starting pitchers in their two-game season-opening series in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks. . Mueller is the grandson of the late Ron Lancaster, the Hall-of-Fame quarterback and longtime head coach in the CFL. Last season, Mueller was quarterbacks coach of the University of Regina Rams, his alma mater. http://www.cheappelicansjerseysauthentic.com/. Dane Dobbie had four goals and two assists, Karsen Leung had two goals and two assists, and Matthew Dinsdale scored two and helped on another for Calgary (6-3). Shawn Evans and Jeff Shattler had eight-point games with a goal and seven assists apiece, and Jon Harnett and Geoff Snider also scored. . Its other five picks were all six foot or better, with three at 6-1 or above. Third-round pick Brett Lernout stands six foot four and weighs 206 pounds. .5 million. The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2.A preview of the pick of the action from the first day of The Open at Cheltenham on Friday. Trainer Ben Pauling is relishing the prospect of seeing stable star Barters Hill make his debut over fences in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices Chase at Cheltenham.The two-and-a-half-mile contest has an illustrious roll of honour, with Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Denman, Imperial Commander having landed successive renewals. Grade One winners Grands Crus, Dynaste, Taquin Du Seuil and More Of That have also struck gold in the race.A quality field of seven runners has assembled for the latest running, with Barters Hill perhaps the headline act, having won seven of his eight previous starts.Pauling had been aiming his charge at next weeks Hennessy meeting at Newbury, but decided to let him line up at Cheltenham following significant midweek rainfall.With March in mind, I dont think you can have too much experience of the place, really, said the Bourton-on-the-Water-based trainer.If wed been forced to go to Newbury next week I was considering bringing him here at Christmas for the Dipper.Now were getting a run here it means we can also consider the Feltham (Kempton). It just opens up options for us.At Newbury, wed have been taking on horses who had managed to get a run under their belts at level weights, but by running here those that have won already will be giving us weight.As ever, he will come on a good deal for his first run but hes as fit as we can get him at home. Im just so glad its rained, we can finally crack on with him.Its a relief all round, for me, his owners and everyone in the yard as we were getting frustrated.The Philip Hobbs-trained Rock The Kasbah made a fine start to his chasing career at Chepstow a month ago, but must concede 8lb to Barters Hill as a result.With Barters Hill in the race, it will be interesting, Hobbs told At The Races.He was very safe with his jumping at Chepstow, which is probably a good thing for a first time novice chaser.Hes got the penalty to carry, which might not be easy against some of these ex-hurdlers, but hopeffully hes a very decent horse and probably our best prospect for novice chasing.ddddddddddddO O Seven won three times over hurdles last season and was twice runner-up in Grade One company.Trainer Nicky Henderson, who also saddles Theinval, said: O O Seven is a novice to look forward to - he is a pretty talented horse.He has schooled very well and his technique looks very good. We are not as forward as some people at this time of year.The horses are winning what they are capable of winning, getting away with it, but when you get into this sort of standard of races you need to be a little bit riper than we probably are.Dan Skeltons high-class hurdler Itsafreebee made a smart debut over fences at Fakenham last month, while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Flying Angel won at Perth before falling when beaten in the race won by Rock The Kasbah at Chepstow.Sizing Tennessee from Colin Tizzards yard completes the line-up.Grade Two honours are up for grabs in the Neptune Investment Management Hyde Novices Hurdle.Wholestone and Thistlecracks half-brother West Approach do battle for the second time within the space of three weeks, having finished first and second respectively at The Showcase fixture last month.The Skelton-trained Spiritofthegames, Baden from the Henderson yard and Paul Nicholls Pilansberg also feature in a nine-strong field along with two Irish challengers in Crosshue Boy and Peregrine Run.The latter steps up in grade, having won his last three starts for trainer Peter Fahey.He said: I cant say I have got a reason why he has improved - maybe he has just taken time to mature.Since he won his maiden hurdle, he has been thriving and improving with each run.Once the ground softens, we might try him over two miles and see how he gets on but we wont keep him too busy him over the winter.We will have him back for the spring festivals. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports ￡10 completely free bet! ' ' ' |
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