Mario Andretti is to be inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio, as the International Category honoree of 2012.
Andretti, 73, raced in Canada almost as long as in the United States, while winning worldwide in a sparkling 41-year career.
He’ll be honored during the 19th annual Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies presented by Canadian Tire, September 28th along with Canadian inductees the late Bob Armstrong, Jimmy Carr, John and Sharon Fletcher, Ron Fellows and Tom Walters with fans watching the ceremony and partying with the honorees afterward.

Nobody drove a Formula One car faster than Andretti at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, where he won the pole and recorded the fastest lap in 1977, the final year the Canadian Grand Prix was held at Mosport before moving to Montreal. The classic circuit’s back straight was named the Andretti straight after he was clocked there at 178 miles per hour in a 1967 USAC Indy car race.

On a global scale, Andretti was the first driver to win both the F-1 (1978) and Indy car championships (1965-66-69 and 84).

His versatility remains unparalleled. He won the Daytona 500 stock car race in 1967, and both the Indianapolis 500 and Pike’s Peak hill climb in 1969. On dirt tracks he was the USAC champion in 1974. In endurance racing, he co-drove to victory three times at Sebring, and following his
retirement from Indy car shared a class win at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In Canada, Andretti dominated USAC Indy car racing at Mont-Tremblant, winning all four heats of races in 1967 and 1968. He led a start-to-finish victory in Mosport’s 1975 Formula 5000 event.

And yet some of the bad luck associated with him at Indianapolis crossed the border with him. After turning that fastest-ever Formula One lap at Mosport, engine failure sidelined him from the lead. A broken halfshaft eliminated him from the USAC Indy car race that wrote his name large upon the straightaway.

His best finish in a Canadian Grand Prix race was third in 1976. In other podium finishes later in his career he was second at Toronto’s Exhibition Park in the 1991 Molson Indy, following a third at Vancouver in 1990.

He first came to Canada in 1965 for a USAC midget show on the CNE Stadium stock car track. He raced at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Formula One, as well as at Quebec’s Sanair oval in Indy car.

Andretti is the fourth American driver to be named to the CMHF since the international inductee category was introduced, joining Carroll Shelby, Bobby Rahal and Mario’s son Michael.

The American driver of the year in 1967, 1978 and 1984, he was chosen by the Associated Press as the driver of the century.

A limited number of tickets will go on sale Friday June 21 through the Hall of Fame’s website www.cmhf.ca or by calling 1-289 803 1375. Tickets are priced at $80.00 and include attendance at the Induction Ceremonies in the Glenn Gould Theatre and the post-induction ‘Hall of Fame reception’

Those to be inducted include the late Bob Armstrong, Jimmy Carr, Ron Fellows, Tom Walters, Jon and Sharon Fletcher.

They’ll be showcased on the Gould Studio stage in the Toronto CBC Building (205 Front St.) where concert pianists or jazz divas usually perform. With a lobby reception mixing inductees, fans and celebrity guests following the show, the new format is a relaxed step away from the formality of previous black-tie dinners.

“I wish to congratulate the successful inductees for their dedication and contribution to Canadian motorsports“, said the Hall’s Chairman Dr. Hugh Scully.

“We are also delighted with the new format and the participation of Canadian Tire as our official presenter allowing the Hall of Fame to reach new audiences and open our doors to more of the general motorsport community,” concluded Dr. Scully. The International Inductee will be announced next month .

Fellows, of Mississauga, ON, is among the most versatile Canadian racers with wins in 24-hour classics at Le Mans and Daytona, in NASCAR truck and Nationwide stock car competition, and three championships in the American Le Mans Series.

Fellows is inducted as a contributor as well as a competitor. His Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship encouraged and developed young drivers, and he’s a driving force in the Canadian Karting Championship and Team Canada Rotax World Finals program with Canadian Tire. After spending much of his adult life at Mosport Fellows became co-owner of the track in 2011 and its rejuvenation as Canadian Tire Motorsport Park reflects his vision.

Armstrong, of North Gower, ON, who died of cancer in April, is honored as a competitor, builder and significant contributor. Beginning as a track marshal in 1969 and a showroom stock racer in 1973, he excelled in Formula Ford in which held the lap record at Mosport for more than 20 years.
Although an Ontario Challenge Cup champion in the Touring GT class as recently as 2005, Armstrong’s work trackside earned him even more respect. He served as director of track safety at the Canadian Grand Prix from 1990 through 2012.

Armstrong was chief instructor for ASC-Ontario Region race schools. Hundreds of retired racers remember him as steward for the Canadian Professional F2000 series and the Canadian Rothmans Porsche series in the 1980’s and the Canadian Professional F1600 in 1990-1991.

Jimmy Carr, inducted as a competitor/team member, was rookie-of-the-year in the World of Outlaws in 1991 and went on to Outlaws championships in management roles with Tony Stewart Racing. Carr, now living in Indiana, as a boy watched his father Frank competing on dirt tracks outside Vancouver in the 1960’s. Jimmy raced sprint cars in Washington, Oregon and California before turning to the Outlaws.

Builders John and Sharon Fletcher of Waterford, ON, twice took over faltering drag strip facilities and steered them to prosperity, helping preserve this form of motorsport in Ontario. After purchasing Dragway Park at Cayuga, ON, from bankruptcy trustees in 1982, they introduced new classes to attract new racers, attracted non-automotive sponsorship and held the first Canadian event sanctioned by the International Hot Rod Association. Next they bought St. Thomas Dragway at Sparta, ON, and developed the facility as London Motorsport Park with new timing equipment and improved safety measures.

Tom Walters of Bradford, ON, won 28 division championships in 40 years of southern Ontario short-track stock car racing. He bought a neighbor’s stock car and scored his first win at Sutton Speedway in 1970, and he’s still racing. Walters was mentored by legends like Don Biederman who in 1977 brought a hammer to his car to remove the rear view mirror, saying “without this you will be a better racer.” In 2010 Walters added the McColl Racing Series to his titles, racing late models at Sauble, Barrie, Sunset and Peterborough Speedways.

A limited number of tickets will go on sale in early June. Watch the CMHF website (CMHF.ca) for details.

The Greatest Race Boat Show in Canadian History

July 4,5,6,7 in Gravenhurst, Ontario

The Antique and Classic Boat Society is presenting a special celebration of 100 years of racing history with a variety of activities planned for each of the four days. The highlight is The Greatest Race Boat Show in Canadian History, also known as the traditional Antique and Classic Boat Show, will take place on Saturday July 6, 2013.

Below are the summary highlights of each show element in the order of occurrence. These should hopefully entice everyone to come by for a visit.

Show Spokesperson and Official Host

ACBS is honored to have Jim Thompson as the Official Host of the Boat Festival. Jim is a very storied individual in the boat racing world who brought attention and notoriety to Canada by winning the coveted Harmsworth Trophy for international competition three times with his boat Miss Supertest. He has supported our celebration of 100 years of racing in many different ways including being a featured speaker at the Thursday movie night and by

bringing his boat, Miss Supertest.

EVERY DAY at the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre

On all four days of the Boat Show Festival, The Heritage Centre will have a very interesting presentation about racing called ” Race Boat Glory”. The exhibit will showcase the legacy of race boats, people and places from our past and present including illustrations of the backgrounds of local and famous race boat drivers. One of the features is Miss Canada III ,on loan from the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, New York. And in celebration of the feature boat of the show, Miss Canada IV, a large model of her will be built from lego from Thursday through Sunday. Always a hit with young and old it is amazing to watch.

THURSDAY Movie Night

Racing with the Legends: This is a wonderful presentation of racing movies presented by Jim Thompson and Tom D’eath at the Gravenhurst Opera House starting at 7:00 PM. Jim and Tom will present their movies and chat with the audience about their racing days. These are two legends of racing who can entertain and inform based on their personal experiences. Contact the Gravenhurst Opera house to order your tickets early as this program is sure to sell out quickly.

FRIDAY Evening

Reception for Champions: People make racing happen and the focus of this reception is the celebration of living members of the Canadian Boating Federation Hall of Fame. These are multi-championship winners who have been inducted in recognition of their accomplishments as drivers and or owners/builders. They will be celebrated along with representatives of all race boat drivers who have and still do provide the excitement and thrills associated with this sport – many of whom will be in attendance as well. Order your tickets online right away as this is sure to be a sold out event!

SATURDAY Race Boat Show

Opening Ceremonies

Don’t miss the opening of the show! We will play both the Canadian and American anthems and have special words from the Mayor of Gravenhurst, but the real entertaining element will be a ceremonial run by the famous Canadiana Grand Prix hydro, with Tony Clement in the passenger seat holding the flags of both countries.

Feature Boat

The just restored Miss Canada IV is the feature boat of the show. This historic boat has been painstakingly restored in Port Carling, Ontario by local restorer Tom Adams. Details of the restoration have been the focus of several articles in Classicboat and in the video titled “Harold and Lorna”. This Unlimited Hydro was built in 1950 and challenged for the famous Harmsworth Trophy flying the Canadian flag. She is powered by a 3000 HP Rolls Royce Griffon engine that was completely rebuilt in England. An image of this working historic artifact will be available for sale at Ship’s Stores, as the official boat show poster.

The Greatest Race Boat Show in Canadian History

Living up to its name, this years show is unprecedented and a must attend event because it is unlikely to ever happen again. The show includes 150 race boats display in water and on land. Over 70 of the finest wooden gentlemen’s racers and historic launch racers are located on two docks and another 25 fibreglass racers on another. The main feature of the 30 plus on land display boats is Miss Supertest, one of Canada’s most iconic crafts because she won the coveted Harmsworth Trophy 3 times. This is a very special show of the best boats in North America.

In Water Demonstration Program

Probably the most unique aspect of The Greatest Race Boat Show in Canadian History on Saturday is the demonstration of 30 plus inboard hydros and 25 outboard race boats for two and half hours in the morning from (9:30AM -12:00 PM) and three hours in the afternoon (1:30 PM -5:00 PM). They will be traveling around a special demonstration course right out in front of the boat docks. There will be lots of noise and excitement.

In addition, a special collection of gentlemen’s racers will exhibit the craftsmanship of these boats as they ride across the waves of Muskoka Bay. Several of these boats have never been to Muskoka before.

Entertainment and Colour Commentary

Back by popular demand musical entertainment during the Saturday will be provided by Spencer Dalton and his Dixieland Band in the gazebo. Nora Fountain and Ron Sclater will be providing colourful commentary from the sound tower with more boats than ever to talk about.

Saturday Morning Seminar

The Saturday morning seminar at the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre will bring The Story of Miss Supertest to life. A not to be missed presentation!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY Shopping

Over 70 vendors will be offering their products and services including many who have never attended the show before. These vendors will be in their usual location and most will be there on both Saturday and Sunday.

Flea Market/Field of Dreams

You do not have to be a dedicated restorer of boats to enjoy the ‘parts and pieces’ for sale or the wide range of boats for sale. It’s always different and interesting. Be sure and visit these display early on Saturday in order to find the truly unique items but bargains are always to be had throughout the day till 5:00 PM.

Ships Stores

Ships Stores will be in its central, easy to find location on Saturday, offering a complete selection of your favourite ACBS merchandise. As usual you can buy an official Boat Show Poster rolled up or mounted of the feature boat of the show, Miss Canada IV. As well there will be hats, golf shirts and T-shirts specially prepared to celebrate the race boat show.

Awards Presentation

On Saturday at 1:30 p.m., awards will be given out by Boat Show Sponsors to boat owners to recognize unique aspects of their boat’s heritage. This will not be a “judged” show in the traditional sense, but rather a recognition of things like the longest haul, the most original racing graphics, and the most original engine. Come and visit with the winners in the Pavilion.

Antique Boat Museum, Clayton New York

An always very special partner of ACBS, the ABM will be represented by a number of members who are making a special effort to bring their boats and support the race boat show. As well, the museum itself has loaned the historic Miss Canada III in honour of the special celebration of racing which can be seen before, during and after the Boat Festival at the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre.

Special RMS Segwun and Wenonah II Cruises

On the Saturday, the ships have special cruises in the morning and afternoon to watch the race boat demonstrations from very unique vantage points out in the lake. Get a totally different perspective of the boat demonstration from 20 feet off the water. The trips will include special food offerings.

Build Your Own Sea Flea

The Sea Flea Club is offering a special opportunity for a young person to build a Sea Flea during the show and have an opportunity to take it home. Sea Flea club executives will guide a limited number of willing young people using safe tools to actually build a boat. Sign up early as space is limited.

Hagerty Junior Judging

A new addition will be the Hagerty Junior Judging Program. Youths over the age of 10 are invited to learn how to judge antique and classic boats with the help of an adult.

Post Show Reception

All members and exhibitors are invited to join in a very casual post show reception at the Pavilion late afternoon on Saturday. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather and celebrate the day’s events.

SUNDAY

An all new youth oriented program can be experienced on Sunday from 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM with both on water action and on land entertainment.

Sea Flea Festival

The Sea Flea Club is presenting Sea Fleas in action to demonstrate how much fun it is to own and drive a Sea Flea. Over 50 Sea Fleas will be running around in Gravenhurst Bay close enough to shore so you can really see the action. Club members and volunteers will be available to explain about club program.

Children’s Programs

Cardboard boat building and racing normally found on Saturday are happening on Sunday where there is more room and less wave action from boats in demonstration. Also small boat painting will occur on Sunday as part of the youth program.

BMX/FMX

Very exciting demonstration of BMX and FMX will occur three times on Sunday on a very large structure containing ramps and jumps. Internationally recognized Crazy-E-Crew is a world class athletic stunt team that will thrill all ages with their high energy show. First time in Muskoka!!

Rolling Stones Tribute Band

Who doesn’t like the music of the Rolling Stones? This special tribute band will perform twice during the Sunday celebration alternating with the BMX/FMX show and provide a very festive atmosphere right beside the Beer Tent!

Please visit www.acbs.ca for further information and registration to social events.

Cordts finished 3rd at the USRRC race at Bridgehampton on May 19, 1968,. Robert G. White photo.

This interview by Allan de la Plante originally appeared in the Toronto Star Wheels and has been reprinted with permission.

VICTORIA, B.C.—“Do you happen to know where I could find the home of John and Linda Cordts?”

I had pulled off the rural road well lost. The woman walking her dog was full of smiles and friendly.

“Do you mean John Cordts, the carver?”

“No. I am looking for John Cordts, the racing driver,” I said smiling, knowing full well that John was now a well-known wood carver.

“This can’t be the same man, but I can show you where the carver lives and perhaps they will know where the racing driver lives.”

I took the directions. When I got to the white house that sat on a hill overlooking the island countryside, a tall, slim, white-haired man stretched out his hand and softly said, “It’s been a long, long time.”

I had known John Cordts when I was a teenager. Little did I know then that I would one day sit and chat with him about his life in racing, when the thunderous roar of a Canadian-American Challenge Cup series car would thrill thousands of fans across North America.

Here are excerpts from our conversation.

Allan de la Plante: It’s been a while since we last met John.

John Cordts: It was the mid-’60s. You came up to my house in North Bay to look at my Elva racing car. I think you also took my Jag out for a bit of a thrash.

AdlP: You were well into racing by then. When did it become part of your life?

JC: I started getting interested in making things go fast when I was about 10. By the time I came to Canada at 19 (from Germany, 58 years ago), I had raced motorcycles a bit. I got into car racing at a track called Green Acres (near Goderich).

AdlP: What were you driving?

JC: I started with an Austin Healey, but there were hardly any around to make up a class, so I drove an MGA. I then started racing at Harewood Acres near Hamilton.

AdlP: When Harewood Acres closed in 1970, the (outright) lap record was held by you.

JC: Oh yeah, in a Formula 5000 car. That’s good!

AdlP: So walk me through getting to Can-Am.

JC: It was just really dumb luck. I stuck my neck out a mile and a half and bought a Corvette. That Corvette won almost every race I ever entered except the first one. We did really well. It was sponsored by Gorries Golden Mile Chevrolet in Toronto. David Billes of the Canadian Tire family, he also had a Vette and we raced together. I guess he was impressed. The following year, he decided to become a sponsor and give up driving so he got me to drive his new Mark I McLaren ( a very large smile covers John’s face).

AdlP: You did quite well in Can-Am. The grids at that time had some serious competition with the McLarens and Porsches, and drivers like Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart and Peter Revson, to mention a few.

JC: I was always fast, but hardly ever finished. I had more bad luck than anyone deserves and got a reputation as a car-breaker. Most of the time it was little things like a broken magneto — which never breaks!

AdlP: I don’t recall any serious off-track excursions.

JC: Well, I did roll one of Dave’s cars into a ball once on the back straight at Saint-Jovite (le Circuit-Mont-Tremblant). It was a McLaren. Nobody really saw it other than when they brought the car in. It was pretty serious. I was caught inside the car and it was upside down with a fire in the engine compartment. I thought for certain I was dying.

Both fuel tank lids opened up and the gas was running all over me and the ground. With the fire behind me, I was just waiting for the big boom! Then, after a while, I thought: “Well, I’m not dead yet.” I undid the belts and I must have lifted the car as there was hardly an inch clearance for me to get out. So here I am.

I’ve had many close calls where I should have been dead. I don’t know why. I guess somebody is looking after me.

AdlP: Fans just don’t realize how tough the competition was in Can-Am. Tell me about the time you were second in a Can-Am race.

JC: It was at Atlanta, Road Atlanta in Georgia. It’s just a twisty track. My kind of track. I also came in second at the last Can-Am in Elkhart Lake. I had decent cars and could race with any of those guys. I had a lot of experience. I drove a lot of inferior cars and that’s how you learn to drive.

AdlP: You were racing against some very high-rollers. There was a lot of money around those drivers. How was it for you?

JC: I was absolutely starving! Totally starving! I needed a job, but I couldn’t have a job and be a race driver at the same time. I wanted to be a race driver and nothing else. My heart was in racing. I was living on nothing for a long time.

“I built a log cabin in the bush and ate turnips and rabbits that I was able to catch. I was really poor, but I never felt sorry for myself. When I went to the track I lived in a pup tent behind the pits.

“Later on, I started to make a little in the prize money. I would have done it for nothing, but you still have to eat. I did a lot of freeloading and sponging off friends, but I survived.

AdlP: You now are an accomplished artist with your wonderful wood carvings. Was this evident when you were racing cars?

JC: I’ve been doing this since I was a little kid. I did some when I was just 9 years old — carving faces in a bit of wood with a jackknife. I was just a kid whittling on a stick.

I’d stop for years, then pick it up again for a couple of years. I was doing this when I was race-driving in my spare time, which I had lots of.

AdlP: Do you think there is a relationship between racing and art?

JC: I don’t know. Somebody did a survey on racing drivers, and what makes a racing driver, and he came up with (the fact that) some are big and fat, some are tiny, some are tall, some are short, but every one of them had special eyes. You got to have those eyes.

Me, I’ve got mean eyes (he squints and a twinkle takes over). So that’s maybe it. Good eyesight and, of course, a total lack of fear of the car. I’m afraid of everything else in the world, but I was never scared of driving 350 km/h in the car. That was just good fun.

AdlP: I’m going to ask you about a grid you sat on with the best the racing world had to offer: Jochen Rindt, Jackie Stewart, Piers Courage, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Jean-Pierre Beltoise — all of the big names were there.

JC: I know which one you’re thinking of: the Formula One race at Mosport — the (1969) Canadian Grand Prix — but that’s one race I’m not proud of. The car I was in was a nice little old Formula One car with well-worn tires. It was totally out of date. It was just not competitive at all.

AdlP: Yet you qualified the car 19th on the grid and an oil leak took you out on the 10th lap while you were running 16th. You were moving up!

JC: I didn’t see it that way. I saw it as something very embarrassing. I was glad when I was able to park the car and get the heck out of there. Most races I’m not embarrassed by, but that one I was. But I made some money! I needed money so badly that I was willing to embarrass myself.

AdlP: It certainly didn’t embarrass your fans. You’ve still got a tremendous fan base.

JC: We do get a lot of mail, but a lot of people are interested in a Formula One driver. I never call myself a Formula One driver. I just drove one around for 10 laps.

AdlP: So what is it about winning?

JC: Well, you keep your job if you are sponsored. I don’t know . . . I’m so competitive when I’m out there, I have to do anything I can to get to the front. You don’t really think about the money when you are out there, it’s just the competition.

AdlP: Is there any particular turn that caused your stomach to jump?

JC: No. Really sharp turns, I never really liked because there wasn’t much you could do in a hairpin. You just slow down and get around it.

I was always good on S turns, where you could do 150 m.p.h. I would usually beat everybody around that.

(There was) no turn that really scared me, except maybe Daytona up on the bank. It’s a little scary until you get used to it. Definitely scary up there.

AdlP: What about Turn 2 at Mosport?

JC: Yeah. Never did like Turn 2 much.

AdlP: What is it about that turn?

JC: It slopes the wrong direction. I spun my Corvette there once. A complete 360 and kept going. Over the sound of my engine, I could hear the people cheering!

AdlP: Do you still think about racing?

JC: I still dream of racing every night and it’s just like the real thing . . . most of the time, I have nothing but car problems!

AdlP: One final question John: what about Formula One drivers today?

JC (with a big smile on his face): Strap 700 horsepower to their arse and take away the downforce and see what they think!

John Cordts was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2003.

He is being inducted into the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame this weekend.

Allan de la Plante is the photographer and author of Villeneuve: A Racing Legend.

Bob’s dedication to the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was exemplary. As a member of the CMHF Board, his thoughtful, well-considered input to our discussions always resonated well. His leadership, honesty and fairness as Chair of the Inductee Nomination and Selection Committee were always very helpful. Indeed, it was with great pleasure that I talked with Bob recently to inform him that he had been unanimously elected to Honourable Membership in the Hall this year. He was very pleased, proud and appreciative! His devoted wife, Cindy, and his family will be invited to the 2013 Membership Induction Ceremonies in September, where Bob and his contributions to motorsport in Canada will be honoured and remembered.

Hugh E Scully, BA,MD,MSc,FRCS[C],FACS,
Chairman, Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame

This article, written by Norris McDonald, originally appeared on the Toronto Star’s Wheels.ca and has been reprinted with permission.

Bob Armstrong of Ottawa, a competitor and major contributor to motor racing in Canada, died Friday of cancer. He was 65.

As well as race-driving himself – as recently as last fall, in fact, during the Celebration of Motorsport weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – he was an organizer, supporter, contributor (chief steward of several racing series and director of track safety at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, for example) and an administrator and executive (the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame) of motor sport in Canada.

Dr. Hugh Scully, Chairman of the Motorsport Hall, announced Saturday that to honour Bob for his many contributions, he will be made an Honourable Member at an induction ceremony later this year.

Said Scully: “On behalf of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, and personally, I want to express sadness and heartfelt condolences to his family and a real sense of loss at the passing of Bob after a courageous battle against cancer.

“He was an accomplished racing driver, a highly respected teacher and mentor to young drivers and a leader in motorsport safety at all levels,including Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR.

“Bob’s dedication to the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was exemplary. As a member of the Board, his thoughtful,well-considered input to our discussions always resonated well. His leadership, honesty and fairness as Chair of the Inductee Nomination and Selection Committee were always very helpful.

“Indeed, it was with great pleasure that I talked with Bob recently to inform him that he had been unanimously elected to Honourable Membership in the Hall this year. He was very pleased, proud and appreciative.”

Paul Cooke, vice-president of ASN FIA Canada, the regulatory body that governs motorsport in Canada, issued this statement Saturday:

“If there is a Canadian `Royal Family’ of racing, it is certainly the Armstrongs. On any given weekend it was not unusual to find Bob the father, Cindy the mother and Jennifer the daughter at a race event in any number of roles from track preparation, race driving, officiating, training or whatever was needed to be done.

“Bob was someone that I personally worked with on many projects for more than three decades. We worked together for a week or 10 days every year at Canada’s most prestigious motor sport event – the Grand Prix of Canada. In addition to safety responsibilities for the Indy Racing League in Canada, Bob was also a key player in NASCAR Canada’s safety program.

“To know Bob was to respect his wealth of experience, knowledge and his willingness and ability to share with others. More importantly, to know him was to like him.

“Motor sport in Canada is better because Bob was here,” Cooke concluded.

I watched Bob race for years, but got to know him when we were both involved with the Motorsport Hall. When French-Canadians were inducted, I would read the English dedication while Bob — who was fluently bilingual — would read the French.

A contributor in many ways over the years, he served most recently as chairman of the Hall’s selection committee.

Throughout his on-track career, Bob raced Formula Fordsand Formula Atlantic single-seat cars as well as IMSA GTO, Firestone Firehawk, Michelin Enduro and Sprint GT cars. No homebody, he raced at circuits throughout North America.

He was runner-up twice in the North American Pro-Ford Series and won three Canadian Formula Ford championships in the 1970s. He was 1994 Canadian Endurance Champion, 2003 Canadian Touring GT Champion and 2005 over-all Division winner of the Sprint GT Championship.

In the mid-1980s, while still competing, Bob became ASN Canada FIA’s Chief Steward for the National Formula 2000 and Rothmans Porsche Series and oversaw competition that featured drivers like Ron Fellows, Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser, Alex Tagliani, Patrick Carpentier and Scott Goodyear, among others.

In 1990, he also became Director, Track Safety at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and since then worked with the FIA Formula One World Championship (Canadian Grand Prix), the World Sports Car Series, the CART Indy car series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Bob was also the Chief Race Instructor for the CASC and provided advanced driving training to the staffs of automobile manufacturers operating in Canada. Another contribution he made to the industry was by helping out each fall at the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s annual TestFest.

Two of AJAC’s executive members, Richard Russell of Halifax and Clare Dear of London, Ont., were saddened by the news.

“Bob was an immense asset,” said Russell. “Working with him was a pleasure. He controlled the track component in his usual capable manner with humour and understanding, giving encouragement when deserved and discouragement when necessary.

“Bob was an asset to Canadian motorsport from his days as a competitor to those as a wise guide.”

Added Dear: “Bob’s skill and experience as a racer and track safety expert ensured all involved with our TestFest track activities were in the surest hands. The fact we’ve never had a crash or injury is a testament to his abilities to keep the journalist testers’ adrenalin and testosterone in check.

“He was quick to offer encouragement and advice to the newbies, yet he could tone down even the biggest egos in such a subtle manner, when necessary. And there was always that trademark smile.

“Bob has always been a huge supporter of Canadian motorsport, so it’s not surprising he was so actively involved in the Motorsport Hall of Fame. His contributions to the sport, and more important to the people who are involved in it at all levels, are immense, but equally important is the fact Bob was such a genuinely wonderful person.”

Thom Dickinson, vice-president of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, spoke about Bob’s commitment to the sport.

“Bob was one of the most passionate and dedicated people I have ever known,” Dickinson said.

“As a Member of the Board of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, and later as its Vice President, Bob would leave no stone unturned in his quest for the best for the organization. It would start with a four-to-five-hour drive each way from Ottawa to Toronto for our meetings. His attention to detail was impeccable, and his care and concern for the people we inducted was unmatched.

“I considered him a friend as well as a colleague, and will truly miss him, as will Canadian Motorsport.”

Ralph Luciw, former Honda-Michelin Challenge Series director, and a friend, had this to say:

“Bob was very much a no-nonsense kind of guy, but only for the best of reasons. He wanted things done right, the first time.

“He worked tirelessly on the CMHF Honourable Members Inductee program and did a masterful job of chairing that process for the Hall of Fame. His contributions to the safe running of events, whether it was a club race or an International event or the AJAC Car of the Year competition, were too many to list and contributed to the success of all of these programs.

“He could be tough but he always had time to help people out and after he “straightened you out,” he’d leave you with a big smile and a pat on the back.”

Robert Allen Armstrong was born in Ottawa on April 5, 1948, and died in Ottawa on April 19, 2013. He leaves his wife Cindy, sons Scott and Trevor and daughter Jennifer, five grandchildren and 22 nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held, with a Celebration of Life planned for the near future.

The family says it welcomes donations in Bob’s memory to Pancreatic Cancer Canada or the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.

This article by Jim Kenzie originally appeared in the Toronto Star Wheels and has been reprinted with permission.

Peter Wright, one of the truly nice guys in the world of Canadian motorsport, passed away last Sunday from cancer. He was 66 years old. He is survived by his wife Lorie.

Peter was first exposed to motorsport when he navigated in rallies with his father in a Mini when Peter wasn’t even old enough to drive.

He parlayed that interest and considerable talent into the Canadian National Road Racing GT1 Class Championship in his Datsun 240Z coupe in 1979.

He continued to compete at many levels, winning dozens of Solo/AutoSlalom competitions and Ice Racing championships.

He also founded Contact Patch, a mobile tire service company which supported events ranging from media and corporate tire testing for companies like Bridgestone and Yokohama, to private clients who wanted to try out their high-performance cars at race tracks and who wanted no worries about their tires standing up to the challenge.

His friend of 40 years standing, Jud Buchanan, invited him to try his hand at navigating again in the Ontario Winter Rally, with the promise that if he didn’t enjoy it, Peter would pay for half the cost and it would never be mentioned again.

That led to him navigating for Buchanan in four Targa Newfoundland rallies in Buchanan’s Acadian Canso coupe, which resulted in the team earning the coveted ‘Gold Plate’ for completing three consecutive Targas while meeting or exceeding the ‘bogey’ times for every stage in the week-long event.

When Porsche Canada initiated its Advanced Driving Program in 1986 – for some years, every purchaser of a new Porsche received a driver training program to make sure (s)he knew how to best handle their new car – Peter was signed on as one of the instructors. It was there that he discovered his true calling.

“He just loved to help people learn how to drive!” said Buchanan. “He’d be the most cheerful guy every morning, and couldn’t wait to get out on the track to impart his knowledge to others.”

Peter was also the track manager for the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada Test Fest for 21 years, first at Shannonville Motorsport Park near Belleville, subsequently at the Niagara Regional Airport. Wind, rain, shine, even snow, he would be out there making sure every car was allowed onto the high-speed test track in a safe manner.

His ever-present grin and equally-ever-present pipe will not be forgotten.

Billy Joel sang, “Only the Good Die Young.”

He sure got that right.
***

A Celebration of Peter’s life will be held at:
Mount Albert Lions Club (Main Hall)
5057 Mount Albert Road
Mount Albert Ontario
L0G 1M0
Friday, April 26, 2013, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friends are invited to share their personal remembrances and tributes starting at 2:00 p.m.

By the late Leighton Irwin, originally published in The Garage Blog in 2010.

Mosport was a different place in the beginning. To start with it was 10 feet narrower. The top of 7 was ten feet higher and back flips were a real danger. Only run off, if you could call it that, was bottom of 2 where you might get stuck in the swamp. Single row guardrail was at the tunnels at 1 and 9 and at bottom of 4. Tunnels were shorter and no room for error. Jim Hall at 9 and John Surtees at 1 both went over. Both Paul Cooke and Jack Boxstrom went for a swim at 4. Earth banks surrounded the track as protection and cars surmounting them was not unknown. Race Control was the bottom floor of the tower on the inside just past 10. Those working in the pits were well protected from errant cars by a white line painted on the track. All Starts were standing.

At the pro races, spring and fall CRCA would have about 300 marshalls on raceday which was Sat. Fri. practice was another matter but still about 60 to 70 people. Club races would have in excess of a 100 marshalls on Sat. and about 40 on Fri. No Sunday racing back then.

There were marshall platforms at 4 and 8 but no cover. Otherwise you stood on the ground sometimes on less than level ground. All stations had lights controlled from the phone position. Green, Yellow, Flashing Yellow and Red controlled from the tower. More on that later.

Other positions were in flux and often, to a limited extent, controlled by the corner senior. The flag and safety people had no protection from the cars. At one point the control position at 4 was moved to the outside of the track, inside of the corner. I was, by that time one of the most experienced Mosport Marshalls. Most of the powers that be had more expeience but mostly at the airport tracks. I was very vocal in my opposition to the move so I promptly was the senior at 4. In that one day we had 3 close calls, including a car right through the phone position. We were lucky no one got hurt. It was moved back to the other side of the track quickly.

There were ill feelings quite often as marshalls who had worked all year at Mosport, quite often as corner seniors were relegated to ordinary marshalls, at the big races by people who had been marshalls for years but practically no Mosport experience. One BEMC weekend I was the senior at 5 including 5B and C. For the next race, the Cdn. GP (sports cars) I was a safety marshall at 2. Oh, I had been a senior on the Friday.

CRCA had 3 vehicles supplied by BMC. One van served as Equipment transport and one as the ambulance. There was no truth to the rumour that a snail could outdrag it up the back straight. A turtle maybe. The crash truck was an Austin Gipsy (sort of a jeep) with a 150 lb dry chem bolted in the back. Usually driven by Dick (Sonny) Rogers , later a FV champ, he would 4 wheel drift it down 2!! On one memorable occasion Paul Cooke was hanging on to the the extinguisher screaming as Sonny did his usual 4 wheel drift..

Days usually started with a 7am callout and quite often finished at dusk.

Reds were a real rareity and there was no such thing as full course yellows or safety cars. Marshalls went out onto live tracks to deal with situations. At the first Cdn GP for sports cars Bob Holbert flipped in turn 1 on lap one and landed upside down crosswise dead center in the middle of the track. There were 7 Ferraris and a couple of other cars strewen all over. By the time the cars got around again the racing surface was basically clear. In a couple of laps all was clear. We did have more time as lap speeds were about 1.35. I was one of the idiots standing on the bridge between the guardrails as the cars raced by.

You were on your own as far as food and drinks went. Rarely was there a lunch break and even more rare would an organizer send around some pop. No bottled water in those days. Extraction equipment on a station was crowbars and marshalls ‘ own knives. The crash truck had bolt cutters and a hacksaw.

Now back to the Phone stations. The phones were a little problematic if it rained. It didn’t always need lightning for people to get a shock! Remember no covered stations. The light usually worked well and were mostly well placed. The one at 3 was not where a driver would normally look. Talking as a driver here.

The phones were always operated by female marshalls . Men were not trained on then and were not expected to do so. Minor detail that often on a Fri. there would be no women at some stations. Female marshalls were only allowed as phone operators and could only relay the senior’s instructions not make reports on her own. They were not allowed to operate the lights.. That was supposed to be the senior’s job or another experienced marshall .. The phone operator had to pass on to the senior what the female control tower phone operator was told to say or ask by the Clerk of the Course. Lost in translation did occur. Very much the old boys school.

This, of course, left the senior tied to the phone when his experience would have been more use trackside.

Quite few of the younger marshalls sort of ignored these rules (me included) and if we had a good phone operator (like Dawn Robinson) had her operate the lights and do her own reports. She was sharper than most of the men! Once in a while a couple of experienced seniors on adjecent corners would want to discuss something when there were no cars on track. Again in theory everything had to go through the phone operators and be relayed through control back and forth. Naturally the girl at the next station heard what was being said to control but was supposed to wait until control relayed the question and then pass it on to her senior. A few of us just took the phone from the operator and asked for the senior at the next corner to come on. Again it was mostly the younger marshalls who did this. Rockets usually came from on high and an adverse report filed. I kid you not!

The ruling caste was mostly older English marshalls in those days. It did create some real animosity and led to some good people quitting. I soon started racing but probably would have quit anyway. Mind you CRCA was pretty darn efficient despite the problems. The reasons for their decline are numerous and I do not know a lot of the details.

Editor’s note: the photo above was taken at the 1962 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport. Notice how unprotected the marshals were. Courtesy of Dailu Racing Cars Archive, well worth a visit to see more period Dailu shots.

Welcome to the new look for the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame’s website.

We believe you will find this site easy to navigate as you go through the history of the past in Canadian Motorsport including the stories behind all of our honourable inductees.

Thanks to the development efforts of highly respected freelance journalist, Gary Grant, we are able to bring you this new look. Gary is also responsible for the creation of our Facebook page.

As in any new project, our website is a work in progress as we will continue to improve various aspects with your feedback

This is a fluid archive type of project that will allow CMHF to present Canadian racing history online . Digital submissions will be uploaded and shared with our followers in a timely fashion . It is our aim to keep the site informative and current.

We look forward to your feedback . Just click on contact and submit your comments /questions.

Thanks for joining us in this new initiative.

Inducted 2011

He was born into one of the most prominent racing families, and he continued with his family’s tradition of success, both on and off the track in motorsport.

And for this success, Michael Andretti has been inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame as the 2012 International Category recipient.

A Pennsylvania native, Andretti never lived in the shadow of his iconic racing father Mario, proving he could drive his own race, and was a dominate racer in the PPG/CART IndyCar era. He won a record-setting 42 races in the open-wheel series, including a seven at the former Molson Indy between 1989 and 2001, another record he still maintains.

Starting in Formula Vee and Atlantic cars, the younger Andretti also competed at Le Mans before joining up with Kraco Racing in 1983. The next year he found racing in Canada to his liking, placing third at Sanair in Quebec.

He raced in the first three Molson Indy events in Toronto, starting in 1986 and with limited success, but after signing on with Newman/Hass, the team was a strong contender, placing in the top five all but three times from 1989 to 2000. He also had a stint at Formula One racing in a McLaren, which did not enhance his career at all.

After retiring from behind the wheel in 2003, Andretti became the major shareholder in the former Green Team, and changed the name to Andretti Green. As a team owner with drivers such as Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, and Danica Patrick, he was successful, winning the IZOD IndyCar championship in 2004 and 2005, including the famous Indianapolis 500 in 2005.

Not content to stay behind the wall watching his team race, Andretti donned the driving gloves once again to compete, and drove in 2006 and 2007 with a third at Indy before taking up his place as team leader once again. He also watched the budding career of his son Marco, who has become an IndyCar star in his own right for the past several years under the tutelage of his father.

In 2009 the team’s name was changed again to Andretti Autosport, a year after he purchased the assets of the Toronto Indy, keeping this important race on the IndyCar schedule.

Andretti, who is Chairman, President, and CEO of Andretti Autosport, has property in Indianapolis and Florida, but retains a fondness for Canada.

“I’m extremely honoured to be inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame,” he said recently. “Throughout my career, I’ve always considered Canada to be almost like my second home. The Canadian race fans have been some of the most supportive I’ve ever seen and I’m thrilled that almost a quarter of my career wins came on Canadian soil and in front of such enthusiastic fans.”

And in keeping with the Canadian theme, Andretti signed one of the series’ rising stars, James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, to drive one of the team Chevy Dallaras in the IZOD IndyCar Series this season.

Image courtesy of Gary Grant.