Jamie Britnell, Brian Stewart and the Rashleighs – father and son – were honoured Saturday night for their successes and contributions to Ontario motosport during the 45th annual Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs-Ontario Region gala awards dinner at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel.
Britnell, a Formula Ford competitor, was presented the Spirit of Gord Lowe Award by Lowe’s widow, Karen Brodie, for being the grassroots racer who best exemplified everything that her late husband stood for – dedication to the sport, fairness and – above all – a sense of fun.
Stewart, who started racing in Formula Vees and has since gone on to become one of Canada’s most successful professional team owners (Indy Lights) and mentors (Paul Tracy, Shane Jantzi), was presented the Wayne Kelly Memorial Trophy for bringing special recognition and prestige to Ontario motorsport.
Bryan Rashleigh was awarded the winner’s trophy for finishing first overall in the CASC-OR Mobil 1 RaceOntario Provincial Championship. He’d finished first in the GT6 class but was declared overall champion because he scored more points than any other competitor.
Rashleigh was one of approximately 110 racers to receive trophies in classes ranging from SoloSprint time trials to open-wheel vintage racing cars. Among them was Rashleigh’s son Jonathan, who was awarded the Wilson Trophy (first presented in 1959 by then-CASC President Harold A. Wilson) for being the most active competitor.
Jonathan Rashleigh competed the entire season in three ice-racing classes, ran several Touring Car races and finished second in his class (GT3) in the championship that his father won.
Other notable presentations:
The Jonathan DeHaas Trophy, which honours the RaceOntario open wheel champion, went to Robert Long, who was first in Formula Libre.
The Competitor of the Year Award went to Richard Foegele.
The Muriel Knapp Award, normally handed to a circuit racer, went this year to novice SoloSprint competitor Katie Ewald.
The President’s Cup, awarded to the Sportsperson of the Year, was handed to Paul Myers.
The Media Award went to Mosport announcer and Canadian Motorsports Expo promoter Glenn Butt and Formula Ford driver Stefan Rzadinski was named Novice of the Year.
It took the CASC this long to give the Wayne Kelly Trophy to Brian Stewart? These guys were best bud's .....
Posted by: dj | 11/16/2009 at 05:00 PM