The annual awards banquet is a night every racer looks forward to. Coming home with a sterling silver cup to weigh down the trophy case even more. Trying to find room for another award. Such great problems.
The Canadian Formula 1200 Drivers Association headed out to the Texas Lone Star grill in Toronto’s west end on Saturday night. All the drivers attended, even if they only raced a partial season, plus representatives from VARAC and CASC sanctioning organizations.
The Vallis-Watrall Award for innovative promotion of F1200 went to Eugene who set up a F1200 sim-racing league, attracting new competitors. Sheppard got ‘rookie of the year’ plus a third in the overall championship. Daniel Demaras received the runner-up trophy for finishing second in this year’s Championship, despite a tough season.
Overall champion was teammate at Vallis Motor Sport Jason, who posed with Sheppard and Daniel for the Top-3 drivers’ picture.
Chris Demaras took the stage to say a few words about the success of this year’s Gearheads Giving Back fundraiser for Sick Kids Hospital, and the acknowledge the help and co-operation of Bill Vallis who was instrumental in allowing three rookies to drive his race car at Cayuga at the conclusion of the season.
Next year, many racers will return, rookies will join the series, and some drivers will look for new disciplines to compete in. But the awards banquet is a special night to put aside on-track rivalries, forget about tomorrow’s plans, and just enjoy one simply lovely evening together.
Congratulations to all. It looked like a fun evening.
It’s fun getting drunk with people you normally compete against all year. Almost makes you hate your rivals a little less.
Makes sense.