We don't talk much about them, yet they are indispensable, whatever the series or the track that hosts the competition, race or rally. I'm talking here about the hundreds of volunteers who work around a circuit: signallers, firemen, communication representatives, or any other function necessary to ensure the success and security of an on-track event.
Yours truly knows what he's talking about, because I'm one of the maniacs who gets up before dawn and be ready for action on the track starting at 6:30 am. It's been that way since 1978, in regards to the
Grand Prix of Canada, and longer than that for the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres. So long in fact, that I can't even remember if it was in 1974 or 1975, but a certain Gilles Villeneuve dazzled more than a few on this little city circuit, during his seasons in Formula Atlantic.
I'm 100% sure, however, that I'm not the only volunteer that Gilles amazed, and comes back every year close to the track to work voluntarily, a reason among several being to see the cars narrowly miss the Duplessis door. The "Piccolo Canadese" got a very large gang hooked; certain are still there, with more white hair or less hair period, their bare foreheads hidden underneath a cap showing the colours of their favourite driver, of the event, or of the main sponsor.
The girls are also there
A phenomenon to highlight during the last twenty years, and the last ten in particular, is the massive arrival of the women and young girls who work at any post. Today, they're everywhere around the track, and they're having as much fun as the boys. Some have been there for a long time--I know, I see them on a regular basis--and it seems to me as
though they are more numerous and more visible. That's a good thing for everybody, because they're perfect for creating an atmosphere and to discipline certain "Macho Men" who, at a certain time, thought that they could do anything they wanted.
We must realize that the eighties were probably the least interesting for the volunteers that we are. I'll spare you the negative aspect or the loss of privileges during those grey years, thanks to Bernie Ecclestone. It would be useless to rub it in; Bernie the tsar has every right and power, and he damn well knows that the thousands of volunteers will come back, whatever the new rules he will apply on his subjects, those poor little volunteers.
A renewed and renewable passion
Here, I'm speaking for myself! I cannot generalize, but I think that I'm an example among many others who pass on their passion from father to son. In the case of my buddy Denis Laferrière, the starting-line attendant of several races in Trois-Rivieres, Tremblant or at the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in Montreal, it's even greater: with his father and his daughter, there's three generations in the starting-line group--the signallers that work on the catwalk and in pit lane.
As far as me and my son Dany are concerned, he got his first taste of the circuits in 1980, during a visit of pit lane where I presented him several
drivers of the time, including Gilles Villeneuve. He still has his precious official program with the autographs of those celebrities, and he'll never forget that first experience. That's the moment his passion struck him, I think...
As soon as he reached the age to be accredited as a volunteer track worker, he joined the starting-line group, and he's still there. That's what I call renewable passion, from father to son!
In conclusion, if this article should ever get you hooked, there exists in Quebec an organisation that is very well structured and that recruits volunteer signallers. You can reach them or get information on the official site of the Quebec Region Signallers' Association at www.asrq.com. Welcome onto the tracks.
Yours truly knows what he's talking about, because I'm one of the maniacs who gets up before dawn and be ready for action on the track starting at 6:30 am. It's been that way since 1978, in regards to the
 |
I'm 100% sure, however, that I'm not the only volunteer that Gilles amazed, and comes back every year close to the track to work voluntarily, a reason among several being to see the cars narrowly miss the Duplessis door. The "Piccolo Canadese" got a very large gang hooked; certain are still there, with more white hair or less hair period, their bare foreheads hidden underneath a cap showing the colours of their favourite driver, of the event, or of the main sponsor.
The girls are also there
A phenomenon to highlight during the last twenty years, and the last ten in particular, is the massive arrival of the women and young girls who work at any post. Today, they're everywhere around the track, and they're having as much fun as the boys. Some have been there for a long time--I know, I see them on a regular basis--and it seems to me as
 |
We must realize that the eighties were probably the least interesting for the volunteers that we are. I'll spare you the negative aspect or the loss of privileges during those grey years, thanks to Bernie Ecclestone. It would be useless to rub it in; Bernie the tsar has every right and power, and he damn well knows that the thousands of volunteers will come back, whatever the new rules he will apply on his subjects, those poor little volunteers.
A renewed and renewable passion
Here, I'm speaking for myself! I cannot generalize, but I think that I'm an example among many others who pass on their passion from father to son. In the case of my buddy Denis Laferrière, the starting-line attendant of several races in Trois-Rivieres, Tremblant or at the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in Montreal, it's even greater: with his father and his daughter, there's three generations in the starting-line group--the signallers that work on the catwalk and in pit lane.
As far as me and my son Dany are concerned, he got his first taste of the circuits in 1980, during a visit of pit lane where I presented him several
 |
As soon as he reached the age to be accredited as a volunteer track worker, he joined the starting-line group, and he's still there. That's what I call renewable passion, from father to son!
In conclusion, if this article should ever get you hooked, there exists in Quebec an organisation that is very well structured and that recruits volunteer signallers. You can reach them or get information on the official site of the Quebec Region Signallers' Association at www.asrq.com. Welcome onto the tracks.
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