THE ALMAGUIN CUP • A SUPPLEMENT TO THE ALMAGUIN NEWS WEDNESDAY, January 30, 2008 PAGE 3 JACQUESWHO’SS VILLENEUVE BEHIND ND THETH HOWARD VIS VISOR? GIFFORD THE NAME VILLENVILLENEUVE was already well- qualifying a RAM for the 1983 Canadian HAILINGLING FROM OTOTTAWA, ONT., involved in mod-stock, super-stock and known on many racingrac circuits, but in 2007 Grand Prix. Mixed in here Jacques was also Howardoward GifforGifford is a vveteran Champ modified classes, moving to Formula One Jacqueses VilleneuveV – also known as Jacquo or active on his snowmobile, and brought 440 racerrace – and was the SCM and Champ 440 classes in the 90s. TUnclecle JJacues (L’onc(L’oncle Jacques to the French home some prestigious titles. He also HChampionam for 2007. Howard has some impressive wins in crowd)wd) – became a bigger bi name in Burk’s Falls: geared up for a sports car drive at A SnoJeSnoJet Thunderjet Champ-Lite and Semi-Pro Champ classes in he won the inaugural Almaguin Cup. the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans. marked the start of the EPT. His best results in the championship Jacques – the brother of Gilles Villeneuve, Jacques returned to CART Gifford’s racing career in points race included a first place finish in and uncle to Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 in 1984 where he ranked 1974, and he’s been a Semi-Pro Champ in 2003. He also found World Champion – was inducted into the 15th overall and took dominant force ever himself one point out of third place in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2001. the pole position at the since. Pro Champ class. Born Nov. 4, 1953 in Berthierville, Phoenix round. In In the 80s, In 2007 he finished in second place in the Quebec, this Canadian racer has had a 1985 he became the Howard and Semi-Pro class just points behind the Arctic varied motorsport career including Formula first Canadian to win his brother were Cat sled of Carl Lessard. Atlantic, CART, Can-Am, snowmobile racing a CART race, taking and Formula One. A much-revered figure in victory in the wet/ Canadian motorsport circles, Jacques was dry race at Road the first three-time winner of the World America on his JASON LAVALLÉE Championship Snowmobile Derby. way to eighth IN 1999,999 AT THE AGE OF 20, Jason Lavallée found Jacques got his start racing on snowmobiles, overall in the himselfims in Eagle River, Wisconsin. It was his first time in and moved into saloon racing where he took standings. theth arearea, and in his first competition. home many wins from 1976 to 1978. From In 1986 I He would return home as the world champion of there he then stepped up to the open-wheeler he the Vintage Open 800 class. The next year, Lavallée Formula Ford category, and then Formula became realized a dream: he raced in the Champ class. As Atlantic, where he took Rookie of the Year the only part of the Samson Racing team, Lavallée finds in 1979, then consecutive titles in 1980 and person himself racing alongside his idols Dave and Terry 1981. He also won the World Championship to win Wahl. It was also in 2000 that he grabbed his first Snowmobile Derby in 1980. At the end of a third position in Vintage Open 800. A fourth position 1981, he took a pair of drives for the Arrows World Cham- finish in the class Vintage Open 800 happened in Formula One team, but failed to qualify for pionship derby. 2001. The next few years Lavallee would concentrate on the Canadian Grand Prix, or the United States After spending experimenting and developing new techniques and ideas. Grand Prix East. Jump to 1982 and the World the season off CART and Championship Snowmobile Derby. Some with his only appearance bitter cold and exceptionally hard track made in the Indianapolis 500, he for a tricky course, but Jacques’ team set up scaled back his motor racing NOTABLE RACERS his sled well for the conditions. Jacques won, activities. YOU MIGHTMIGH CATCHC SIGHT of these notable SCM racers at the netting $11,300 for the effort and taking cash Jacques is still active in 2008 AlAlmaguin Cup: and prizes of over $50,000. snowmobiling and you JimJi Adams, Brian Bewcyk, Larry Day, Aaron Fellows, Dan Jacques’ brother Gilles died in May of 1982, can catch him in action at Fenhaus,F HermaHerman Gehrke, Howard Gifford, Chris Hortness, Mike YHoule, Jason LaLavallée, Carl Lessard, Jason Looker, Dale Loritz, Jeff making it a difficult year for the Canadian this year’s Almaguin Cup. driver. Most of the year was spent in the Can- If you think he’s slowing LdLudwig, i MMark kM Mondous, Philip Mouton, Jeff Moyle, Gary Moyle, Am, but Jacques did enter one CART race. down, think again: he’s also Scot Nicoson, Jim Schmidt, Matt Schultz, Jason Smith, Jacques He would take the Can-Am title in 1983, branching out to powerboat Villeneuve, Dustin and Terry Wahl and P.J. Wanderscheid. and a Formula One drive, but he just missed racing. Keep your eyes peeled! Come North and Experience White Gold RICKWARD From Skiing to snowmobiling, dogsledding to ice fishing whether SMALL MOTORS INC. your getaway is activity-filled or just a relaxing break, Comfort Inns are just what you need at the end of the day! 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