Help us all “Save the Canadian Grand Prix”.....

[Jo Bonnier]

Everybody, I need your help in trying to save the this wonderful Montreal venue as a permanent fixture on the Formula One calendar, but there is just so much that one small man can do.

This is why I look to all of you to help out in this cause in signing a petition to “Save the Canadian Grand Prix” which was launched today.

I admit, I am an old man, and I don’t go on F1 forums or chats of any kind, (if so, I think my wife would kill me!) but the only way that I figured that I could grow this concept was to join some F1 forums on the net to tell people about what we are trying to accomplish.

Thus, I ask you as a “Gesture of Goodwill” to sign an online petition to “Save the Canadian Grand Prix” and to spread the word of this cause amongst your peer networks. Hopefully as we amass a great number of participants, we will forge ahead in trying to get this petition into all the right hands of the powers that deem fit.

You can sign the petition at the following URL;

http://www.savethecanadiangrandprix.com

With all of the other countries lining up to take any available spot on the Formula One calendar, the loss of the Montreal race could become permanent as a 20 race maximum has been decided amongst the teams and countries such as Abu Dhabi, Russia, India, South Korea have all started construction on their own Formula One circuit projects.

And if this happens, then it surely would be a great loss to global race fans, nationwide businesses, North America, and the everyone associated with Formula One as a whole.

I thank you for your time, consideration and cooperation.

Best Regards…


Jack Bohica

[Steven]

That's all very nice, and I want the Canadian GP back too, but what are the organisers going to do about the ridiculous condition of the track (as in the famous hairpin) ?

Canada is always good for an interesting GP, but this year, half of the news stories were about everyone giving his idea on the track conditions, how it should be improved. I remember there were even talks by some drivers to not race if the situation would have remained the same as it was on Friday.

I feel that has been one of the reasons why it was voted off the calendar...

[Chaparral]

It wasnt voted off the calendar Tomba and Im (reasonably) sure it will be reinstated soonish this is just a game to see if Legault will come up with the greenbacks - and manufacturer pressure will help to keep at least one North American race on the schedule. The track surface is an entirely different situation and hopefully will be addressed.

[Carlos]

The appropriation of the legendary Formula 1 privateer driver/team owner Jo Bonnier as a nick discourages me from any consideration of supporting this petition - just seems like capitalizing on merit and reputation in an unscrupulous manner to prejudice opinion, as well as being a commercial branding exercise for an F1 website.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Bonnier

[Chaparral]

Thanks Carlos I didnt bother even clicking on the link to be honest - the things people do to promote a site

[Jo Bonnier]

Carlos, Chaparral....the reason why I chose Jo Bonnier's name is because when I was growing up he and the likes of Chris Amon, Dan Gurney, and Bruce McLaren, etc., etc. were my heroes. A time when Formula One was truly great. And because my birth name is Joseph.

The reason why the petition is at an F1 website is because I emailed the same letter to about 7 or 8 websites asking them to help me construct this petition and that particular website said "Yes". Any of the other ones could have done the same.

And also a forum or an F1 website is obviously a logical choice in getting the word out. So it all makes sense, yes? Last night I had Bob Varsha plug the petition www.savethecanadiangrandprix.com during the Q2 qualifying session, and after his mention on air it helped the cause out tremendously.

This effort isn't about diverting traffic to another website, this isn't about playing favorites, what this concern is truly about is one goal...to "Save the Canadian Grand Prix" which I'm sure everyone wants to do.

If you both want the same result, then do your part and sign the petition yourselves and spread the good word.

Best Regards....


-Jack

[Carlos]

Jack - Quite reasonable. My best Regards: Rand Gibbons

[oj1983]

While the Canadian GP has given us some good races, often they have been cause by people sticking it the wall - Kubica 07 and the year that 'Wall of Champions' arose (Can't remember the year). There is no reason why this type of racing couldn't be created anywhere else in the world - but with a climate better suited to not needing to relay the track every year.

Yes it would be a shame to lose another old track but they are just that - old tracks, and need to be improved to a modern standard. I'm not just getting at Canada - I've been to several GPs in Britain recently and they also need to pick their game up too.

[Jo Bonnier]

Everybody, we need more help with this cause to make it grow! The first week has been fabulous with over 7000 signatures, but for the past 3 days the growth pattern has hit a wall.

Only 500 signatures over the weekend and that is simply not the type of growth which is going to raise some eyebrows. We need to get this petition over 10,000 signatures and we have to do it rather quickly! Idealistically, I would like 50,000 as a milestone goal!

www.savethecanadiangrandprix.com

I would like to get this 10,000++ Petition list into the hands of the Office of the Canadian Prime Minister, Quebec Ministry Cabinet, Grand Prix du Canada race promoters, (GPC), ASN Canada FIA, FOTA and the FOM by the time of their meeting coming up in a week’s time.

But we need a much larger number where we currently are at the moment. Now there are thousands of people signing onto all areas of this forum that are racing fans, let us all reach out to our networks as the time has come where we all need to give something back to this great Canadian spectacle which we have enjoyed so much over the last 3rd of a century.

I thank everyone for their participation thus far.

Best Regards…


-Jack

[Ciro Pabón]

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20846.html and emphasis mine:

"It was voted on by the FIA and that's really the end of it," Roger Peart, a Canadian FIA official told the Montreal Gazette. "It's a done deal. It's sad news for Montreal. It's sad for racing in Canada but I don't think anyone can do anything about it."

Peart, who designed the original track on the Ile de Notre Dame, said that the problem was entirely commercial.

...

It is now very unlikely that the race will be on the calendar in 2009 but the locals will be trying to find a solution to get the race back in 2010.

That will almost certainly mean that public money will be needed. The locals are hoping that the government, which makes considerable money in taxation relating to the event, will now decide to help out Legault with money going towards the fees.

So, maybe the petition shouldn't be addressed to FOM and FIA. I really mean it: I'm not trying to undercut your petition in any way (altough I'm probably doing that ).

[Scuderia_Russ]

Great, another petition. Why was the G.P. scrapped exactly?