Honouring Ontario Champion Gary Vessair
Honouring Ontario Champion Gary Vessair
1994

Everyone remembers this Ontarian who, at the age of 17, followed in the footsteps of his older brother Keith. In short, he ,in turn, became a very famous pilot. Thus in 1974, in Peterborough, he obtained his first victory. Then, his admirers had the chance to see him win his first Grand Prix Saint-Laurent championship in Valcourt in 1985. He had narrowly edged his rival, the American from River Falls, Dave Wahl.

Three victories at Valcourt

We will remember the three victories he won at Valcourt from 1990 to 1992. Gary Vessair had managed in this first victory to beat the winner of this event of the last two years, Dave Wahl. Not to mention that he had had a difficult weekend in 1991. On Saturday he collided with American Scott Mondus in the first corner of the reverse start race. Unconscious, we doubted his return to the track the next day. Despite some kidney bruises, Vessair won his second consecutive victory at Valcourt. This victory allowed him to climb to first place in the general classification. Thus, he obtained a priority of 16 points over the current world snowmobile champion in 1991, Greg Goodwin. In short, Gary Vessair won his third victory at Valcourt in 1992. He became the champion of the three Quebec events of the season, namely Thetford Mines, Saint-Gabriel and Valcourt.

To conclude, all the honors go to him during the presentation of the 13th Grand Prix de Valcourt. On Sunday afternoon, the organizers proceeded with the special ceremony for the withdrawal of bib number 15 from GaryVessair, three-time winner of the Grand Prix de Valcourt and the Formula 1 snowmobile season championship. In 1995 Gary Vessair retired from competition and became the organizer of the Camoplast (now CAMSO) Formula One Championship.

1994 winner

DID YOU KNOW THAT …

Gary Vessair retired from racing as a driver in 1995, but is still fully involved in Formula 1 as he became representative of the Camoplast series in order to breathe new life into the F1 series.