Galerie » side this week. She will be joined by Cassie Hawrys

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 Kyle Lauletta Giants Jersey .Mihajlovic was sent off minutes from the end of Thursdays 2-0 win over Brescia and has been punished for using a disrespectful expression toward the fourth official and throwing the contents of a bottle of water at him, thus assuming an intimidating attitude. Saquon Barkley Jersey . -- Hal Steinbrenner says Alex Rodriguez is "a great player" and "obviously an asset," but the New York Yankees managing general partner wouldnt discuss the third basemans possible return to the team following a season-long suspension. http://www.nygiantsfanatic.com/c-88-giants-will-hernandez-jersey.aspx . At 11:06 of the first period, Neal struck Marchand with his knee when Marchand was down on the ice. Marchand remained in the game. Neal was assessed a kneeing penalty for his hit on Marchand. Alec Ogletree Giants Jersey . Although head coach Randy Carlyle jokingly wondered how much actual training Bolland got done while in London. "I dont know how much training goes on when you go back to the junior team that you played for so I wouldnt read too much into that," laughed Carlyle after the Maple Leafs were put through an up-tempo practice that concluded with a 10-minute bag skate on Thursday. Ray-Ray Armstrong Jersey . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List.CALGARY -- The defending Olympic womens bobsled champions are back in the same sled once again. Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse will reunite at this weekends season-opening World Cup at Canada Olympic Park as they begin their buildup to the Winter Games in Sochi. Humphries won a world title last year and has reached the podium at 13 straight events. Moyse, who competed in track cycling and rugby while taking a break from bobsled, has returned in top form after undergoing hip surgery a year ago. The veteran brakeman from Summerside, P.E.I., has set personal-best start times since coming back and won a push challenge event last weekend. She also set a new start record during selection races in Whistler, B.C.. "That just made me excited about what I can possibly contribute and what I can give back to this team this year," Moyse said in a recent interview. "Because of that excitement and being named to the team as Canada 1 and being put into Kaillies sled, I think that excitement is just transcending. "Kaillie and I are both really excited about what we can do and what we can possibly experience this year." Humphries and Moyse first started sliding together in January 2009 and won Olympic gold a year later. Off and on, they have spent about 2 1/2 years together as a duo. Humphries, from Calgary, won the overall World Cup title last season with Chelsea Valois of Zenon Park, Sask. Valois will team with Edmontons Jenny Ciochetti in the Canada 2 sled for the season opener. Moyse suffered a serious ankle injury at the 2010 Rugby World Cup. She later took up track cycling before deciding about a year and a half ago to concentrate on both bobsled and rugby. She underwent hip surgery last fall and now feels as strong as ever entering the Olympic season. Her performance at testing made the decision to return to the Canada 1 sled with Humphries an easy one. "Based on the results, it was a no-brainer in terms of teaming us up together," Moyse said. There will be some changes in the mens sleds as well.dddddddddddd Pilot Chris Spring of Calgary will team with Jesse Lumsden of Burlington, Ont., in the two-man and four-man sleds. Lumsden won the World Cup title with pilot Lyndon Rush of Humboldt, Sask., last season. Spring and Lumsden will be joined by Ottawas Cody Sorensen and Ben Coakwell of Saskatoon in the four-man sled. Rush will team with Calgary brakeman Lascelles Brown in the two-man and four-man sleds. David Bissett and Neville Wright, both of Edmonton, will join them in the four-man. The other Canadian sled will feature Justin Kripps of Summerland, B.C., who will drive Torontos Tim Randall, James MacNaughton of Newmarket, Ont., and Graeme Rinholm of Medicine Hat, Alta. The Canadian skeleton team is also looking strong this season. Calgarys Sarah Reid, who won bronze at the 2013 world championship, leads the womens side this week. She will be joined by Cassie Hawrysh of Brandon, Man., and Calgarys Robynne Thompson. The mens lineup for the season opener includes Eric Neilson of Kelowna, B.C., and Calgary-based racers John Fairbairn and Dave Greszczyszyn. "We have a really strong team," Neilson said. "We came out in selections, thats always the most stressful part. So the team is ready to go." Mellisa Hollingsworth of Eckville, Alta., and 2010 Olympic champion Jon Montgomery of Russell, Man., will open the season on the Intercontinental Cup circuit. Athletes can qualify for Sochi while competing on that circuit or at the World Cup level. Some 350 skeleton and bobsled competitors from 30 countries are expected to participate this week, including World Cup four-man champ Alexsandr Zubkov of Russia and World Cup skeleton champions Martins Dukurs of Latvia and Marion Thees of Germany. Competition kicks off Friday afternoon with the skeleton races. The two-man bobsled follows in the evening. On Saturday, the four-man bobsled is set for the morning with the womens bobsled scheduled for the afternoon. ' ' '