{"id":3545,"date":"2021-03-24T16:11:59","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T16:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/?p=3545"},"modified":"2021-03-24T17:22:23","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T17:22:23","slug":"the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/","title":{"rendered":"The Start of the FIM as told by Marcel Perreault"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; specialty=&#8221;on&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Header mobile&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(0,0,0,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-10px||false|false&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; specialty_columns=&#8221;2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_row_inner disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||30px|false|false&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243; border_width_left=&#8221;2px&#8221;][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;content&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Oswald|600|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#4D4C4D&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;36px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;42px&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Oswald|500||on|||||&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#C52032&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;140px&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;Merriweather||||||||&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#e94558&#8243; header_4_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;80px&#8221; header_font_size_phone=&#8221;40px&#8221; header_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;16px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221;]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;content&#8221; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#C52032&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;28px&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_font_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221;]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;http:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/parade.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;parade&#8221; show_in_lightbox=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; specialty=&#8221;on&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|off|off&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Header desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(0,0,0,0)&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;content&#8221; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#C52032&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;28px&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_font_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221;]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;content&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Oswald|600|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#4D4C4D&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;36px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;42px&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Oswald|500||on|||||&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#C52032&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;140px&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;Merriweather||||||||&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#e94558&#8243; header_4_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;80px&#8221; header_font_size_phone=&#8221;40px&#8221; header_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;16px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221;]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; specialty_columns=&#8221;2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||30px|false|false&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243; border_width_left=&#8221;2px&#8221;][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.0.6&#8243;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;http:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/parade.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;parade&#8221; show_in_lightbox=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Storie&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Texte de la storie&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; text_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.8em&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Marcel Perreault was the President of the Festival International de la Motoneige (International Festival of Snowmobiling), from 1986-1990, however, well before that, since the beginning, a good friend of mine, Lawrence Langevin, was by my side, as the first President of the Festival in 1983. Along these lines, Marcel Perreault tells us about the beginning of the FIM.<\/p>\n<p>It all began in 1980, Marcel Perreault was the President of the Club de motoneige les Pionniers de Valcourt. Close by was Lawrence Langevin, a man with a large imagination and with his help, the event was put into place quickly. However, it was missing one thing: snow, and in large quantities. It was said that in 1980-1981, there was little snow present. According to Marcel, Lawrence searched for a common motivator for the clubs, to organize a very large assembly of snowmobilers in Quebec. It was the autumn of 1981, with the help of Laurent Beaudoin, that the President of Bombardier, had the idea to put in place a snowmobilers convention! Everyone was very excited about the gathering! It was now time to find a place for the first large gathering in January of 1982.<\/p>\n<p>Marcel Perreault proposed to his good friend, Clement Robitaille to do the event at Sherbrooke and Valcourt. Clement was at the time the Vice-President de la F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des clubs de motoneige du Qu\u00e9bec, (FCMQ). It was the Club des Pionniers de Valcourt that put in place the first event, in collaboration with Lawrence Langevin, who was evaluating the importance of the clubs. So, it was the winter of 1982, that Lawrence Langevin decided to assmely the event only in Valcourt, the birthplace of the snowmobile, the following year.<\/p>\n<h3>The birth of a tradition<\/h3>\n<p>In 1983, the first Festival International de la Motoneige was taking place! Adelard Ratel, once the General Director of the Grand Prix Saint-Laurent de Montr\u00e9al, was responsible for running the races. On the other side, Peter Horth, representing Bombardier, and John Goodwin, named as the director of the Festival, took charge over various activities for the races. It\u2019s Laurent Beaudoin, Bombardier Executive from 1966-2008, who supported the event from the beginning, and spoke with Jean-Paul Groulx, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales, to have the event supported by Bombardier.<\/p>\n<p>Jean-Paul Groulx delegated Peter Horth as the one to ensure that the event has strong longevity and good continuity. Laurent Beaudoin was named the honorary president of the first ever Festival International de la Motoneige. Thus the first event, with the support of the Federation Quebecoise of snowmobilers, Rejean Beaudoin, once the director of the tourism association, de Club des Pionniers, the Government of Quebec, tourism organisations of Quebec, and Bombardier, agreed to have the event each year.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_4,3_4&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Saviez-vous&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#efefef&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#4D4C4D&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;2px&#8221; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#1A1517&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;25px||25px||false|false&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\" style=\"font-size: 33px;\">\ue007<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">DID YOU KNOW ?<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(0,0,0,0)&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; text_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;19px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(0,0,0,0)&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|15px||15px|false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><b>At the Bombardier Plant<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The first assembly of the snowmobilers was a spectacular dinner at the Bombardier plant in 1983. Every detail of the event was taken seriously, even using porcelain plates. The suppers were then moved to the arena in Valcourt for the following years.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_module=&#8221;3669&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Navigation entre les post anglais&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_text=&#8221;Previous story&#8221; next_text=&#8221;Next story&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font=&#8221;Oswald|||on|||||&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; title_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_color_all=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; specialty=&#8221;on&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Header mobile&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(0,0,0,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-10px||false|false&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; specialty_columns=&#8221;2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_row_inner disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||30px|false|false&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243; border_width_left=&#8221;2px&#8221;][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;content&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Oswald|600|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#4D4C4D&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;36px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;42px&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Oswald|500||on|||||&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#C52032&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;140px&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;Merriweather||||||||&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#e94558&#8243; header_4_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;80px&#8221; header_font_size_phone=&#8221;40px&#8221; header_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;16px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221;]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;content&#8221; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#C52032&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;28px&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" specialty=\"on\" disabled_on=\"off|on|on\" admin_label=\"Header mobile\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" background_color=\"RGBA(0,0,0,0)\" custom_margin=\"||-10px||false|false\" border_color_all=\"#FFC425\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"3.25\" custom_padding=\"|||\" custom_padding__hover=\"|||\"][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"2_3\" specialty_columns=\"2\" _builder_version=\"3.25\" custom_padding=\"|||\" custom_padding__hover=\"|||\"][et_pb_row_inner disabled_on=\"off|on|on\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" custom_padding=\"|||30px|false|false\" border_color_all=\"#FFC425\" border_width_left=\"2px\"][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=\"2_3\" disabled_on=\"off|on|on\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _dynamic_attributes=\"content\" text_font=\"Oswald|600|||||||\" text_text_color=\"#4D4C4D\" text_font_size=\"36px\" text_line_height=\"42px\" header_font=\"Oswald|500||on|||||\" header_text_color=\"#C52032\" header_font_size=\"140px\" header_4_font=\"Merriweather||||||||\" header_4_text_color=\"#e94558\" header_4_font_size=\"24px\" text_font_size_tablet=\"\" text_font_size_phone=\"24px\" text_font_size_last_edited=\"on|phone\" header_font_size_tablet=\"80px\" header_font_size_phone=\"40px\" header_font_size_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" header_4_font_size_tablet=\"20px\" header_4_font_size_phone=\"16px\" header_4_font_size_last_edited=\"on|phone\"]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _dynamic_attributes=\"content\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_text_color=\"#C52032\" text_font_size=\"24px\" text_line_height=\"28px\" background_layout=\"dark\" text_font_tablet=\"\" text_font_phone=\"\" text_font_last_edited=\"on|phone\"]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=\"http:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/parade.jpg\" title_text=\"parade\" show_in_lightbox=\"on\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" specialty=\"on\" disabled_on=\"on|off|off\" admin_label=\"Header desktop\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" background_color=\"RGBA(0,0,0,0)\" border_color_all=\"#FFC425\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"3.25\" custom_padding=\"|||\" custom_padding__hover=\"|||\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _dynamic_attributes=\"content\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_text_color=\"#C52032\" text_font_size=\"24px\" text_line_height=\"28px\" background_layout=\"dark\" text_font_tablet=\"\" text_font_phone=\"\" text_font_last_edited=\"on|phone\"]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _dynamic_attributes=\"content\" text_font=\"Oswald|600|||||||\" text_text_color=\"#4D4C4D\" text_font_size=\"36px\" text_line_height=\"42px\" header_font=\"Oswald|500||on|||||\" header_text_color=\"#C52032\" header_font_size=\"140px\" header_4_font=\"Merriweather||||||||\" header_4_text_color=\"#e94558\" header_4_font_size=\"24px\" text_font_size_tablet=\"\" text_font_size_phone=\"24px\" text_font_size_last_edited=\"on|phone\" header_font_size_tablet=\"80px\" header_font_size_phone=\"40px\" header_font_size_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" header_4_font_size_tablet=\"20px\" header_4_font_size_phone=\"16px\" header_4_font_size_last_edited=\"on|phone\"]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"2_3\" specialty_columns=\"2\" _builder_version=\"3.25\" custom_padding=\"|||\" custom_padding__hover=\"|||\"][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" custom_padding=\"|||30px|false|false\" border_color_all=\"#FFC425\" border_width_left=\"2px\"][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=\"2_3\" _builder_version=\"4.0.6\"][et_pb_image src=\"http:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/parade.jpg\" title_text=\"parade\" show_in_lightbox=\"on\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" admin_label=\"Storie\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Texte de la storie\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" text_font=\"|600|||||||\" text_line_height=\"1.8em\" locked=\"off\"]<\/p><p>Marcel Perreault a \u00e9t\u00e9 pr\u00e9sident du Festival international de la motoneige (FIM) de 1986 \u00e0 1990, mais bien avant cela, depuis le tout d\u00e9but, il \u00e9tait au c\u00f4t\u00e9 de son bon ami Lawrence Langevin, le tout premier pr\u00e9sident du Festival en 1983. Dans ces lignes, Marcel Perreault nous raconte les d\u00e9buts du FIM.<\/p><p>Tout a commenc\u00e9 en 1980, Marcel Perreault \u00e9tait pr\u00e9sident du Club de motoneige les Pionniers de Valcourt. Aupr\u00e8s de Lawrence Langevin, homme d\u2019une grande imagination et d\u2019une grande aide, l\u2019\u00e9v\u00e9nement initiateur allait \u00eatre mis en place assez rapidement. Cependant, il manquait une chose importante : de la neige en grande quantit\u00e9\u2009! Il faut dire qu\u2019en 1980-1981, la neige \u00e9tait peu pr\u00e9sente. Selon les dires de Marcel, Lawrence Langevin cherchait un moyen de motiver les clubs en organisant le plus grand rassemblement de motoneigistes au Qu\u00e9bec. C\u2019est \u00e0 l\u2019automne 1981, avec l\u2019aide de Laurent Beaudoin, le pr\u00e9sident de Bombardier \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9poque, que l\u2019id\u00e9e avait fait sa place lors d\u2019un congr\u00e8s de motoneigistes. Tout le monde \u00e9tait d\u2019avis que ce rassemblement serait g\u00e9nial. Il fallait d\u00e9sormais trouver \u00e0 quel endroit aurait lieu ce premier grand rassemblement l\u2019ann\u00e9e suivante, en janvier 1982.<\/p><p>Marcel Perreault proposa \u00e0 son bon ami Cl\u00e9ment Robitaille de faire des \u00e9v\u00e9nements \u00e0 Sherbrooke et Valcourt. Cl\u00e9ment Robitaille \u00e9tait \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9poque le Vice-Pr\u00e9sident de la F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des clubs de motoneige du Qu\u00e9bec (FCMQ). C\u2019est donc le Club des Pionners de Valcourt qui a mis en place le tout premier \u00e9v\u00e9nement en \u00e9troite collaboration avec Lawrence Langevin qui \u00e9tait \u00e9valuait l\u2019implication des clubs. C\u2019est lors de l\u2019hiver 1982 que Lawrence Langevin d\u00e9cida que le rassemblement aurait lieu uniquement \u00e0 Valcourt, berceau de la motoneige, l\u2019ann\u00e9e suivante.<\/p><h3>La naissance d\u2019une tradition<\/h3><p>En 1983, le premier Festival international de la motoneige a lieu. Ad\u00e9lard Ratel - autrefois directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral du Grand Prix Saint-Laurent de Montr\u00e9al \u00e9tait responsable du volet course. De leur c\u00f4t\u00e9, Peter Horth, repr\u00e9sentant chez Bombardier et John Goodwin, nomm\u00e9 directeur du festival, s\u2019occupaient des diff\u00e9rentes activit\u00e9s du volet festival. C\u2019est Laurent Beaudoin, dirigeant de Bombardier de 1966 \u00e0 2008 qui a soutenu l\u2019\u00e9v\u00e9nement d\u00e8s le d\u00e9part en discutant avec Jean-Paul Groulx, Vice-Pr\u00e9sident marketing et ventes \u00e0 cette \u00e9poque pour que l\u2019\u00e9v\u00e9nement puisse \u00eatre soutenu par Bombardier. Jean-Paul Groulx a d\u2019ailleurs d\u00e9l\u00e9gu\u00e9 Peter Horth comme celui qui s\u2019assurera que l\u2019\u00e9v\u00e9nement connaisse une belle continuit\u00e9. Laurent Beaudoin a quant \u00e0 lui \u00e9t\u00e9 nomm\u00e9 pr\u00e9sident d\u2019honneur de la premi\u00e8re \u00e9dition du Festival International de la Motoneige. Lors de ce premier \u00e9v\u00e9nement, le soutien de la F\u00e9d\u00e9ration qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise des clubs de motoneiges, de R\u00e9jean Beaudoin ( autrefois directeur de l\u2019association touristique), du club des Pionniers, du Gouvernement du Qu\u00e9bec, des organisations touristiques du Qu\u00e9bec et de Bombardier ont permis de faire de cet \u00e9v\u00e9nement un rendez-vous annuel.<\/p><p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" admin_label=\"Saviez-vous\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_color=\"#efefef\" border_color_all=\"#4D4C4D\" border_width_top=\"2px\" border_width_bottom=\"2px\" saved_tabs=\"all\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_color=\"#FFC425\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_text_color=\"#1A1517\" text_font_size=\"18px\" background_color=\"#FFC425\" text_orientation=\"center\" custom_padding=\"25px||25px||false|false\"]<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\" style=\"font-size: 33px;\">\ue007<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">SAVIEZ-VOUS QUE ...<\/p><p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"3_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_color=\"RGBA(0,0,0,0)\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" text_font=\"|600|||||||\" text_line_height=\"19px\" background_color=\"RGBA(0,0,0,0)\" custom_margin_tablet=\"\" custom_margin_phone=\"\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"|15px||15px|false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" locked=\"off\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<\/p><p>Le premier rassemblement de motoneigistes pour un souper spectacle a eu lieu en 1983 dans l\u2019usine de Bombardier. Rien n\u2019avait \u00e9t\u00e9 pris \u00e0 la l\u00e9g\u00e8re, m\u00eame les assiettes qui ornaient les tables \u00e9taient en porcelaine. Les rassemblements suivants ont ensuite \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9plac\u00e9s \u00e0 l\u2019ar\u00e9na de Valcourt pour les ann\u00e9es suivantes.<\/p><p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=\"on\" prev_text=\"Histoire pr\u00e9c\u00e9dente\" next_text=\"Histoire suivante\" _builder_version=\"4.9.1\" _module_preset=\"default\" title_font=\"Oswald|||on|||||\" title_text_color=\"#000000\" title_font_size=\"16px\" background_color=\"#FFC425\" custom_padding=\"10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false\" border_color_all=\"#FFC425\"][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[141],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.0.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Start of the FIM as told by Marcel Perreault - 40e &eacute;dition Grand Prix Ski-Doo de valcourt<\/title>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Start of the FIM as told by Marcel Perreault - 40e &eacute;dition Grand Prix Ski-Doo de valcourt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; specialty=&#8221;on&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Header mobile&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(0,0,0,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-10px||false|false&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; specialty_columns=&#8221;2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_row_inner disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||30px|false|false&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#FFC425&#8243; border_width_left=&#8221;2px&#8221;][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;content&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Oswald|600|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#4D4C4D&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;36px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;42px&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Oswald|500||on|||||&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#C52032&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;140px&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;Merriweather||||||||&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#e94558&#8243; header_4_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;80px&#8221; header_font_size_phone=&#8221;40px&#8221; header_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;16px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221;]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.1&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;content&#8221; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#C52032&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;28px&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"40e &eacute;dition Grand Prix Ski-Doo de valcourt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-24T16:11:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-03-24T17:22:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/162541685_3915784478484198_6914100841504392884_n.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1075\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/\",\"name\":\"40e &eacute;dition Grand Prix Ski-Doo de valcourt\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/\",\"name\":\"The Start of the FIM as told by Marcel Perreault - 40e &eacute;dition Grand Prix Ski-Doo de valcourt\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-24T16:11:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-03-24T17:22:23+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/#\/schema\/person\/271e400febc43499d377a399fe831ffa\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Accueil\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/the-start-of-the-fim-as-told-by-marcel-perreault\/\",\"name\":\"The Start of the FIM as told by Marcel Perreault\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/#\/schema\/person\/271e400febc43499d377a399fe831ffa\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e2be3150cebb35ceffd8314aa3d483c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3545"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3545"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3545\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3672,"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3545\/revisions\/3672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3545"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3545"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/40.grandprixvalcourt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}