Solving Mosport’s name game
Canadian Tire Motorsport change rankled many fans, but a quick fix is possible
Ever since Mosport International Raceway became Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, there has been controversy about the name change. Many people — me included — wondered why they couldn’t have kept “Mosport” as part of the new name.
Today, I am pleased to announce that my good friend, Gary Morton, has come up with a solution.
“When they were trying to invent a name for the place back in 1960-’61,” he said, “is it not true that the name they agreed upon — Mosport — is, in fact, a contraction of the words ‘motor’ and ‘sport?’ ”
(You can see where he’s going with this, can’t you . . .)
“So, because ‘motor’ and ‘sport’ became Mosport back then,” continued Mr. Morton, “why not do it again and call Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, ‘Canadian Tire Mosport Park?’ ” I think he’s got a point. In fact, I think it’s brilliant. Comments, please. Speaking of Mosport, Reg Wesson, president of the Oakville Trafalgar Light Car Club for many years, died on Tuesday. Those of us of a certain age will remember that it was the Oakville club that organized the very first race meet at Mosport when it opened back in 1961. James Hinchcliffe of Oakville has been voted Most Popular Driver by fans of the IZOD IndyCar Series. As the racing season is now over, our popular feature George’s TV Listings for Race Fans, that’s prepared for us each week by George Webster of (where else?) Oakville, is going on hiatus. However, George — always on the job — filed a last-second update this week about some of the “winter filler” that will be shown on SPEED Channel, including rounds of the DTM (German Touring Car Championship).
George will be back on the job in early February when the first big races of the year, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the Daytona 500, will be just around the corner. Good news. Honda of Canada announced this week that it had built its six-millionth vehicle in Canada at its Alliston plant. Honda was the first Japanese automaker to manufacture cars in Canada, starting in 1986.
The Alliston plant currently builds the CR-V, Canada’s top-selling import SUV, as well as the Acura MDX and ZDX models.
Alliston also produces the Honda Civic, Canada’s bestselling passenger car for 14 consecutive years. Also on the good news side of the ledger, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. said this week that strong demand for Canadian-built vehicles pushed the total value of assemblysector shipments to $5.05 billion in August, the first time the industry has hit the $5 billion mark since November 2007.
DesRosiers added that while structural changes within the industry mean the “heady volumes” seen during the first half of the 2000s may not be seen again, 13 consecutive months of shipments growth (as of September) bodes well for a recovering industry in need of certainty and stability. Finally, Wheels correspondent Gary Grant (his Insider Report on wheels.ca is must reading every morning) report- ed this week that, for the past 19 years, the Thornhill Cruisers Car Club has been hosting a weekly cruise to support local charities.
In all, it has raised — get this! — $200,000! As Gary says, all from a bunch of car folks hanging out in a church parking lot once a week.
Now, due to circumstances beyond their control, the club members have lost their location for the 2013 cruise season and are looking for a new place to show off their rides.
Gary (and I) are hoping that Wheels readers can help the group find a new spot. Organizers are looking for a location in southern York Region that offers space for show cars, along with additional parking for spectators and a place to buy food nearby.
If you know of a spot that fits the bill, contact Nate Salter by phone at 905881-6700 or by email at thornhillcruisers@sympatico.ca. nmcdonald@thestar.ca
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