Late 1977. Allan Houston Jersey . 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 Willis Reed Jersey . Jonathan Crompton led the team to a 40-9 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Crompton threw three touchdown passes - two to Duron Carter and one to Brandon London - and Sean Whyte connected on four field goals to power the Alouettes to the win. New York Knicks Jerseys . The kind he has every so often. The kind he has when Dwyane Wade sits. James scored 43 points -- 25 in a bewildering first-quarter shooting display -- and Chris Bosh added 21, leading the Miami Heat to a 100-96 win Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played their first game without injured All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. http://www.nbaknicksauthority.com/tim-hardaway-jr-knicks-jersey-c-23/ . MacArthur scored two goals, and the Senators outlasted Detroit in a testy third period to beat the Red Wings 4-2 on Saturday night.RENTON, Wash. -- Apparently Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman got all their talking about one another out of the way during the off-season. On Thursday, neither had a disparaging word to say about the other despite their much-publicized jawing session on Twitter earlier this year. So much for any good trash talk before the Buccaneers face the Seahawks, the first time the elite cornerbacks have played against each other. While they are widely regarded as two of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, good luck getting a unified opinion on which is better. Especially when both are watching what they say heading into Sundays game. "I havent really studied film on him to really make an assumption on him being the top guy," Revis said. "He can play. I love his game. He makes plays. I like how he presses. Hes a great corner in this league." Thats a far different tone than the one both Revis and Sherman took in February, which led to a short, but memorable Twitter argument about who was better. Revis fired the first shot, "I never seen a man before run his mouth so much like girl. This dude just steady putting my name in his mouth to get notoriety (at)r--sherman25," then brought up Roddy Whites 47-yard TD reception for Atlanta against Sherman and the Seahawks in the NFC divisional playoffs. Sherman responded about an hour later, relying on statistics to make a point: "Got off my flight to this hilarious convo. So I have 8 picks 3 ff and a sack. My season stats looking like Revis career stats." Thats when the words appeared to get more personal. Revis pointed out Shermans lower number of followers and ended his tweet with, "Sit down young pup & wait your turn." Sherman responded directly to Revis, "one season u will get 8 picks.... But it wont happen anytime soon... I did it in my 2nd season... So u have something to chase." That could have ended the tussle, but Sherman continued. "For the QB not throwing his way argument. In his 2nd year they were throwing his way. I still doubled his picks," Sherman wrote. Finally Revis ended the converrsation with four successive tweets saying Shermans responses were his way of getting attention and drawing followers. Tracy McGrady Jersey. "Hey everyone (at)rsherman--25 wants to be a lockdown corner. He wants to be in the talks of a lockdown corner. So follow him so he can become 1!" Revis wrote. Sherman said Thursday hes never met Revis in person. Asked if he had any regrets about the Twitter argument, Sherman stood behind what he said then threw a little praise in the direction of Revis. "No I dont have any regrets about anything. Hes a good player and hes having a good year," Sherman said. "I dont think hes very happy with the way theyre using him in the scheme making him play a lot of Cover 2 and making him play off. I think hes much, much better when hes man-to-man. I think any corner that has any pride about himself wants to be in man-to-man situations and want to do his job. Cant help how youre being used." From a numbers perspective, Sherman is having the better season. Hes tied for the league lead with four interceptions and has eight passes defenced. According to STATS Inc., Sherman has been targeted 37 times and given up 19 completions. Revis is being targeted less, but percentage wise has allowed more completions. Revis has been targeted 30 times, allowing 16 receptions with one interception and six passes defenced. The numbers are similar and so is the talent. "Hes a great player. Hes one of the best in the NFL but Ive been going against, in my opinion, two of the best cornerbacks all season every day in practice," Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate said. "So I think if I handle my business, do my job right, hes just going to be a guy. Im excited for the challenge. Have tons of respect and its going to be fun to go against one of the best in the league and maybe even a Hall of Famer." Notes: Seattle coach Pete Carroll told Sirius XM NFL Radio on Thursday that WR Percy Harvin will not play against the Buccaneers. "Hes getting close but not close enough," Carroll said. Carroll does not speak with local media on Thursdays. Cheap Heat Jerseys Cheap Bucks Jerseys Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Spurs Jerseys Cheap Raptors Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Cheap Wizards Jerseys ' ' '