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MMR Community Newsletter
As I write this, it is Monday morning and many of you in the Northeast are either on your way back from Montreal or dragging yourselves to work after having driven back last night. Either way, though I wasn’t there, I am certain that the City of Montreal and the Canadian Grand Prix, two entirely separate things, fulfilled your expectations. The F1 race was a good race. Like all good races, it had its surprises and its disappointments; Vettel shows a mastery of his vehicle that is total and almost casual in application. Webber reminds me of the Al Capp cartoon character with the black cloud perpetually over his head. Alonso works harder for results than anybody there, and Kimi… is Kimi.
In the 1950s, Montreal was by North American standards a naughty city and by Canada’s puritanical norms, wild. Bars closed at 3:00 AM, or not at all, strip clubs abounded and action of all sorts was readily available. It also had a reputation for good music and fine restaurants. It was an anything goes place and what made all this possible was the warmth and energy of the people and the casual enforcement of whatever laws existed. Las Vegas changed everything; the players left the island with a mountain and a European flavor for the desert, flashing lights, and polyester. Today, only the energy of the people and the abundance of fine dining and drinking establishments remain. Perfect venue for a party and for an F1 race.
The track location is ideal. Access and egress are excellent, site lines are fine and large, strategically placed screens insure that patrons see all the action, all the time. The track itself has few distinguishing features and overall is mundane. Though it has produced some memorable moments, it is, when all is said and done, a park road on an island in the middle of a river. It suffers poorly in comparison with Le Circuit, a purpose-built racetrack 70 miles to its north in the scenic Laurentian Mountains. But that is a story for another time.
This week’s issue is all about the Greenwich Concours and Editor Dom Miliano was there and has written the story and shot the pictures. Enjoy.
In the same vein, Sandy Cotterman reports on her recent bout with judging school, and Michael Keyser sent us another excerpt from his forthcoming book entitled Racing Demons.
We continue to resolve issues on the WASRED 308 and will write again when all is completed. Meanwhile, this Sunday is Father’s Day, so either treat yourself or insist that someone else treat you to a good book.
Enjoy! And don’t forget to share this with a friend. Because that’s what friends do.
Peter Bourassa
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