DAC weekend @ SMP

[myronx19]

I wanted to thank DAC for hosting this event.

I race on the Sunday in the Sprints, and I found the racing to be clean, enjoyable and very competitive. It felt great to be out there again.

I also wanted to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the Formula Vee 1200 driver this past weekend. I was wondering if on behalf of the CASC, a card could be sent to his family.


Thank you,

[Mulldog]

I would also like to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the F1200 driver who lost his life Sunday at SMP. I hope that all the CASC-OR affiliated clubs will support his family at their time of need .

Steve Muller
St. LAC
Kingston

[jodz]

I would also like to express my deepest sympathies to the drivers family, however, nobody has mentioned the drivers name.

We all know racing is dangerous. We wouldn't do it if it wasn't. It's just such a shock when something like this happens at the club level. We're supposed to out there having good clean safe fun. Something like this makes you take a step back and look at all the things in your life a little differently.

A serious incident like this is not going to deter me from racing, and nor should it anyone else. But what it does do is make me appreciate the good things in my life, and forget about all the little day to day annoyances that we spend too much time worrying about.

Life is short and fragile. Appreciate it.

In sympathy,
Jody Trudeau

[Geoff Davies]

Hi Guys,

The driver was Paul Gubasta. Paul is a great guy who was very popular with all of the F1200 crowd. A bunch of us had dinner together the night before and Paul was in great spirits. His girlfriend, with whom he had just bought a new house, had arrived just prior to the start of the race with their puppy and it was clear to see that Paul was a happy guy at peace with life.

I just can't believe that he is suddenly gone.

Paul and I had a good dice for third place at the beginning of the race but, by the time of the accident, Paul had pulled ahead and joined the battle for first. I was the first to arrive after the incident and don't think that I'm going to forget the sight for a long time.

We shouldn't forget about the other guy who was involved. Young Mike Raekelboom has a big challenge ahead in dealing with this and everyone in the Road Racing community should offer their support where possible. He is a good kid who doesn't deserve to suffer further from this tragedy.

Geoff Davies

[BucketBoy]

Wow.. I am in shock! At Shannonville of all places?
My condolences to the family & to the fellow FV1200 drivers and anyone that was there this weekend.

Here's a photo of Paul at the BARC GP of Ontario in May this year
(photo by BARC's Scott Ellsworth):
http://www.pbase.com/image/28596215/medium.jpg

[Mulldog]

We didnt mention his name as we are waiting for CASC and Perry to release a statement . Us who were there know his name but sometimes mistakes can be made and I felt it was up to Perry to make the official release of his name .
Once again , we need to support his family any way we can.

Steve

[BucketBoy]

Um, is this accurate? :eek:
http://www.flyfmkingston.com/news/details.php?id=1128

[Geoff Davies]

No.

[Director]

Unfortunately at this time there is no official report to give of the accident this past weekend at Shannonville. We would ask that you keep the comments related to facts that have been released by accident investigation officials. We would also ask that no speculative comments be made until such time as we are notified by the authorities in charge.
Once we have been officially notified we will release a statement.

[c2p996]

My condolences to his family and friends.

I knew the driver briefly as I drove with Valismotorsports. He was a great guy. Quick with his support and helping me understand the FV.

As I recover I know the suddeness of it all is such a shock to everyone.

I pray for everyone to best be able to deal with these situations.

We are all sadden by this loss and will support the family and friends in anyway we can.

Mike

[BucketBoy]

There was a nice article in the Toronto Star's Sports section today about Paul, written by Nicole McIntyre.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1090275619530
The hard-copy newspaper included a good photo of him posing with his car.

I expected to find just a brief blurb, so this article was a pleasant surprise (that sounds strange in these circumstances, but you know what I mean).

[johnb]

We are saddened by the loss of Paul Gubasta this past weekend.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Ontario Region membership, our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

Yours in motorsport.

[johnb]

copied from the F1200 website.

Friends may call at the Turner and Porter York Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W. at Windermere on Wednesday from 3-5 and 7-9 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday July 22, 2004 at 11 am. from Our Lady of Sorrows Church 3055 Bloor St. W. Toronto. Cremation to follow. For those who wish, donations in Paul's memory may be made to Big Brothers of Canada.

[souchy]

Before Paul moved on to F1200 he learned his craft at the Mosport Kart Club. We will acknowledge his life and dedication to the sport at our drivers meeting this Sunday. I will also dedicate this weekends event to his memory. Paul was a great competitor who served as a role model to our junior drivers as to what is expected as they progress through the ranks. I would like to thank Paul for the enthusiasm and sportsmanship he displayed while competing at MKC events. Our hearts go out to you, your family and friends as they move forward beyond this tragic event. Peter Souch, Vice President, Mosport Kart Club.

[Baldy]

I never knew Paul as a racer. He was a competitor of mine in the business world, a real gentleman and someone that you knew you could trust. These are qualities you rarely find in the daily, dog eat dog, world of business.
Only last Wednesday, at the Airport Marriott Hotel, he stood in front of 70 Ontario Toyota dealers and updated all of us as the chairman of the Access sub-committee.
As I thanked him for volunteering his time to help his fellow Toyota dealers, who would have believed that 4 days later he would be gone.
His loss to his "Toyota" family is staggering - the loss to his Dad, Joe, his fiancee and his family must surely be unbearable.


-Ken Shaw

[ds7]

I just found this post while seaching around on Google.

I'd like to thank everyone that posted here for their kind words. In the passed month since the accident many of us are still recovering, and in many cases, still in a state of shock. Personally, I still can't believe something like this happened. This is the worst nightmare of anyone involved in motorsports, and to be involved in this first-hand is just unbelieveable. It still doesn't seem real.

I must apologize to everyone in the racing community, and anyone affected by this tragedy. I sent out a long e-mail a few weeks ago to the F1200 drivers explaining my feeling about this situation. I, again, want to say how sorry I am. Just returning from Mosport this weekend, looking back there seemed to be something missing. Although the smiles of the drivers didn't seem any less, there was just something fake about the whole thing to me. I know we are all trying to get through this in our own way, so keep the smiles coming, as they do make me feel better too.

Thanks to everyone, and once again, I'm sorry.

Michael Raekelboom
Formula 1200
#66

http://www.formula1200.com

[ds7]

Just an update here, for anyone that is interested:

Back in March I was nominated by Inside Track Magazine for the Up and Coming Road Racer of the Year award, voted on by the readers of Inside Track. I'm very happy to say that we just won this award.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me in this. Every one of you made a difference.

This passed weekend was the FTDA's first race since the Shannonville tragedy. It was strange again being back in the drivers seat, but we all got back into it quickly and had a great racing weekend. I'd like to send out a special congrats out to Chris Freeland, Nick Shaw, and Patrick Lee. You guys all did great this weekend! It was quite a surprise driving with these three who I had never had the pleasure of racing with. I think we are all looking forward to the next race at Mosport in 6 weeks.

Btw, I did end up winning all 3 races this weekend, but it was one of the tougher ones. Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a lot of fun.

Michael Raekelboom
Formula 1200
#66

http://www.formula1200.com