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.caTracy Walker Lions Jersey . -- David Ortiz saved his only hit for a key moment for the Boston Red Sox. Levine Toilolo Lions Jersey . The third-seeded Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., was coming off a semifinal appearance at the French Open. She took the opening set before the unseeded American came back for the 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. http://www.shopdetroitlionsnfl.com/customized/.com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Kerryon Johnson Jersey . Leave it to Matt Niskanen, the newly proclaimed Eddie Haskell of the Washington Capitals. Luke Willson Lions Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to complete a sweep of the Washington Capitals when the clubs cap a quick home-and-home series Tuesday night in the Steel City.The two best teams in the Canadian Football League are the Calgary Stampeders and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They are the two best not because of any perimeter player but due to the offensive line of scrimmage players, the lineman. To date Calgary has only given up a league-best 12 quarterback sacks and the next best, Saskatchewan, has allowed only 22. It is true that quarterbacks limit sacks by getting rid of the football quickly. Running backs who block blitzing linebackers help too, and receivers who adjust to open areas are the first two elements, but to pass protect you need very good guards, tackles and a smart centre. Saskatchewan and Calgary have the best. In the run game no one can run the football better than Saskatchewan. They are No. 1 and use three backs to get it done - Anthony Allen, Will Ford and Jerome Messam. The second-best running team? Calgary. They at one time depended on five running backs but now that Jon Cornish is back they only need one, Jon Cornish. Dave Dickenson for Calgary and George Cortez for Saskatchewan do the play calling and if not for that commitment to that element of football you cant perform in the run game but they dont create the collisions. You can also make an argument that the Stamps and Riders have the best two defensive lines, but I will wait for a little later in the season before I make that statement. Week 11 started with BC and Ottawa and 7 to 5 was the final score. You gotta be kidding. Football is only entertaining when certain aspects of the game are present or avoided. It is a great game when there are a limited amount of penalties, very few two-and-outs for both offences and some drama as to who is going to win throughout the fourth quarter, especially in the last three minutes. But more than anything the more the lead changes, the better. When one team takes the lead in points, then the other, then the other again the game is great. But at 7-5, not so great. Last Friday was the lowest scoring game since 1979 and I hope it never happens again. The fan response in Ottawa has been very good and I hope it continues. And hopefully the fans in the stands can watch a 41-34 game and see the Redblacks win as Calgary did against Edmonton on Saturday night. Three times now this year the Stampeders have beaten Edmonton. In Week 5, Calgary 26, Edmonton 22 in Edmonton. Week 11, Calgary 28, Edmonton 13 in Calgary and last Saturday in Edmonton again, Calgary won 41-34.dddddddddddd Now Edmonton can rationalize the losses away by saying in the first one we self imploded with six turnovers and in the other two we did not have our starting quarterback Mike Reilly. That is what I would do, rationalize. But truth is these two teams will most likely meet in the playoffs at some point and Calgary has the psychological edge of confidence over Edmonton and confidence is critical in winning football. Yes by the time November rolls around what happens in September means very little, or does it? This is the first real adversity to hit Edmonton all year as in the first half of the season all fell into place very smoothly. Now with two straight losses the invincibility attitude is no longer present. In Montreal they played two different games. The first one only lasted 30 minutes and Hamilton won 21-7. In the second one Montreal won 31-10. And that made the final 38-31 Montreal. I thought both quarterbacks took steps forward to become "the guy" for their respective organizations. Zack Collaros had some great moments, mainly in the first half, and Jonathan Crompton had some great moments, mainly in the second half. This situation in the East is bizarre, humorous and disturbing. The best team in the East has three wins in Toronto, the worst team in the East has one win in Ottawa and were about to start Week 12. Do I have an explanation? Yes, but it is not anything you have not heard before. I have followed CFL football closely my entire life and I have never witnessed a set of circumstances like this in East/West relationship before. Bizarre. And finally, here is hoping both Darian Durant and Travis Lulay are going to be okay. For Lulay, it is his fourth direct shoulder injury as his first goes back to 2007. You could tell it was serious business as the arm could not support itself and needed support from others just to walk off the football field. With Durant you could tell right away due to the expression of pain in his face and in his body. Yes both are needed back as "on field" players as they are the leaders of their teams. But of greater significance the injuries as they mount up limit or extinguish careers. Both of these CFL players are great people and you can never get enough great people in association with great players. Football is brutal. 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