SANDY LOVELACE AWARD 2014 NOMINEE GERRY FRECHETTE By Gerry Frechette and Tom Johnston Nominated by Tom Johnston Gerry moved to Vancouver in 1979. Quarter Midgets at Langley and With no local drag strip at the time, and throughout the Northwest. Karting at other things going on in his life, his race Chilliwack. Sprint cars at Skagit and spectating was sporadic for several Deming. Stock cars at Calgary, Vernon, years. But then, he decided to pursue Prince George and Cranbrook. The race photography and journalism more Knox Mountain Hillclimb in Kelowna. seriously. Engagements with magazines Solo racing on innumerable parking lots covering the racing action out here soon in B.C. Drag boats at Mission and Lake followed, one of which was Motorsport Cowichan. Unlimited Hydroplanes at West Magazine published by GVMPS Kelowna. Even motocross and Legends Pioneer Doug Harder. Cars inside B.C. Place Stadium. And, he It was an amazing era in Canadian took photos of all of them. road racing, with several sponsored Although Gerry is well known for series, and lots of major events in which being a photographer, he is an to see them. Gerry travelled to experienced and effective journalist as Montreal, Toronto and Calgary, well, writing for most Canadian covering the exploits of all the local motorsport publications over the years. driving stars, and when they raced in the In the mainstream automotive field, United States, he was in Portland, Gerry has been a member of the Monterey, Long Beach, Phoenix and Automobile Journalists Association of Miami, watching them win races. Along Canada (AJAC) since 1992, and the way, he was fortunate to have had participates in their annual Canadian the chance to attend the Daytona 500, Car of the Year award. Gerry at Work the Indy 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, The Lovelace award is for a person Gerry Frechette, Vancouver-based and the 12 Hours of Sebring, leaving who preserves the motorsport history of motorsport photographer and journalist, few big events on his personal bucket British Columbia. Gerry Frechette, with has been recording the history of list. his photos and articles, has clearly done Gerry's serious involvement with exactly that. motorsport in the Greater Vancouver area for many years. local racing began in 1988 when he Special appointments over the years Born and raised in the Montreal began covering the road racing at include: area, Gerry took his early automobile Westwood for Canada's racing magazines, here and in Toronto. Sadly, Official photographer for GVMPS and photography interest to the race tracks of the area. When he got his first that involvement only lasted a few years Official photographer for Canon/ SLR camera as a young lad, he was until Westwood closed, but soon, there Yokohama F1600 Series (1989-1992) determined to take the kind of photos he was the Molson Indy Vancouver, and then the new track at Mission emerged, Official photographer, Western Grand saw in the Road & Track and Hot Rod Nationals Quarter Midgets, Langley magazines he read, and got his father to and Gerry has been a regular at both the take him to races. drags and road races there for 20 years. Official photographer, ASN Canadian The first race he attended was the The local racers, of course, travel National Karting Championship, south to race, and Gerry crosses the Chilliwack (2004) very first Can-Am race at St. Jovite in 1966, not a bad way to start! Three border several times per year to record Official photographer for the Sports Car more Can-Am races followed at that their successes. He has been to every Club of British Columbia (SCCBC) track, as did USAC Indy Cars in '68 and NHRA National race at Seattle since Formula1 in '70, while his drag racing 1979, shooting beside fellow Lovelace Historian for the International interest saw him a regular at the Award winner Rich Carlson, and, as the Conference of Sports Car Clubs numerous nitro funny car match races at Historian for the International Napierville from '67 until '78, as well as Conference of Sports Car Clubs for the first eight NHRA National races at some 16 years, to every track that group Sanair from '71-'78. The last big event races on in the Northwest, at least once he saw while a Montreal resident was each. the first Canadian Grand Prix to be held Of course, there is more to at Ile Notre-Dame in 1978, which Gilles motorsport than road racing and drag Villeneuve won, the greatest day in racing, and over the years, Gerry has Canadian racing history. seen just about every form of racing But the West Coast beckoned, and there is in this corner of the continent. Sports Cars at Mission (Frechette) 2013 - Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society Shawn Cowie of BC in Top Alcohol Dragster, Seattle 2013 (Gerry Frechette photo) Young Vancouver Area Driver Michael Valiante In Cart Indy Car Portland 2005 (Gerry Frechette photo) Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society - 2013 .