Earlier this year the current competitors’ representative, Andrew Comrie-Picard, informed the CARS board that he could no-longer serve in the position. Over the past several years Andrew has served the competitors and the board well, providing valuable and important feedback to the association. Keith Morision has been asked to manage the election of the replacement in consultation with Andrew and the CARS Board of Directors.
The process to replace Andrew has involved and email to the license holder mailing list, posting on internet forums,, a handout at the Rally of the Tall Pines and asking the region directors to send out requests for people to indicate their interest in the position. From that effort we have had four people commit to letting their names stand for election, each of them offering valuable input and unique perspectives to the role.
The election process will be a virtual ‘show of hands.’ There is an email address that has been created for each candidate and to vote for them just send an email with your name and license number to one of the following addresses. The votes will be audited by me to ensure that people voting have been an active and licensed in the past three seasons. Only votes received before Midnight EST on Sunday January 9, 2011 will be counted.
Following this note you will find some statements from each of the candidates. Please read them before casting your votes and be sure to vote for the person who you think will best represent the competitors as a whole. The statements are listed in Alphabetical order according to surname.
If you have any questions about the process, don’t hesitate to contact either your region director or Keith directly at Keith@Morison.ca or 403-510-5689
Voting addresses:
To vote for your preferred candidate send ONE email, with your name and license number in the subject line, to:
Bruno Carré – Bruno@CARSRally.ca
Jeff Dowell – Jeff@CARSRally.ca
Chris Martin – Chris@CARSRally.ca
Nick Narini – Nick@CARSRally.ca
Bruno Carre
I started rallying in the early nineties and have been in and out of competition from time to time. I remember the old days where we used to use our rally cars as daily drivers and had only minimal information about the roads and could use winter tires for gravel events without being afraid of punctures. In those days we dreamed about recce, 300hp, and affordable 4WD. Having seen all this evolution gives me a better understanding and a bigger picture of our discipline here in Canada.
The CARS board has done a great job in the past to keep our sport safe and attractive for the public and the sponsors as well. I think they need our input as to help them assure the sport grows in the right direction. This is the reason there is a competitor’s representative that as access to the board to be the voice of the competitors.
To my point we need someone who can represent all competitors from all across the country, east to west, and north to south and I am committed to doing that on behalf of all competitors.
J’ai débuté en rallye au début des années 90. J’ai été impliqué au niveau compétitif de temps en temps dépendamment des périodes. Je me souviens encore des débuts ou nous utilisions nos voitures de rallye pour aller au travail, ou nous n’avions pas de notes, ou nous pouvions faire un événement de gravel avec des pneus d’hivers sans trop s’inquiéter des crevaisons……. C’était le temps ou nous rêvions de reconnaissances, de 300 hp, de véhicules 4wd abordables. Ayant vue toute cette évolution, j’ai une meilleure compréhension et une vue d’ensemble de notre discipline au Canada.
Le comité de CARS a fait un travail exceptionnel dans le passé pour garder notre sport sécuritaire et attrayant autant pour le public que pour les commanditaires. Je crois qu’ils ont besoin de notre opinion pour les aider à assurer l’évolution future dans la bonne direction. C’est la raison pour laquelle il y a un représentant des compétiteurs qui a accès au comité pour être la voix des compétiteurs.
A mon point de vue nous avons besoins de quelqu’un qui pourra représenter les compétiteurs aussi bien de l’ouest que de l’est, du nord que du sud.
Jeff Dowell
I first became an active participant of Rallying in 1973 while attending Carleton University Ottawa studying Engineering. I joined the Outaouais Valley Autosport Club (OVAC) and my first introduction to Performance Rallying was the 1973 Rally of the Rideau Lakes. I was hooked!
I started competing at the National Level as a Co-driver for Yavor Klostranec with my first event being the 1974 Rallye de Neige run out of Montreal, followed shortly thereafter by the 1974 Canadian Winter Rally both 2-day events. I co-drove for Yavor for the next 5 years. We competed in virtually every National and Regional Event that we could afford to enter. One of our major thrills was competing in the FIA World Manufacturer’s Championship Event the 1977 Criterium du Quebec.
As a member of OVAC, it was Club policy that there was a place for virtually everyone’s interests and skills, but, everyone had to give back to the Sport. Being a Competitor was great but being an Organizer/Worker was equally important and required. As a result, I have been the Organizer of Record for Local, Regional and National Level Events. I have been responsible for the Route and Route Book, Arrowing, Service Park, Control Marshalls, Fundraising, Community Relations, Ham Radio Support and, explaining to the Department of Natural Resources why their roads were no-longer “passable” to local traffic and that, “Yes” we would fix them!
Raising a Family meant a 25 year hiatus from Rallying as an active Competitor. However, we (my wife Barb and I – whom I really got to know when Barb was responsible for Registration at the OVAC Forest Rally) have never been far from Rallying. With our kids, we have been spectators at the Tall Pines and the Pierce Neige many many times. We have watched the progress of the Canadian “scene” through web-sites, TSN and the A-Channel. We are keen followers of the WRC having been to Wales twice to take-in the Rally Great Britain.
Inspired by the Mitsubishi Contingency Program we decided that the time was right to become active in a sport that we really loved and missed. It was time to get back out onto the Stages! We built our Lancer in early 2009 with our first event the Lanark Highland’s Forest Rally in May 2009 with the remainder of 2009 being “shakedown”. I reconnected with Yavor Klostranec for 2010 with the goal of winning the CARS 2010 Production Sport Championship but this time I was the Driver. We achieved this goal with a “win” at the 2010 Defi. For 2011, we intend to compete in 5 of the 6 CARS National Events with the hope of doing more Regional Events in Quebec and Ontario.
What will I do as the Competitor Representative to the CARS board? I believe that I have a sound understanding of Rallying as a Sport and as a Business. This understanding is based upon first-hand experience. If elected by my fellow Competitors to this important Position I will;
· Bring a wealth of experience accompanied by a BALANCED view of the realities surrounding and affecting our Sport.
· Work hard to represent not only the “Big Teams” but also the small, unsponsored Teams who make-up the vast majority of Entry Lists – people who participate solely for the love of the Sport financed largely by their own resources.
· Be accessible and available to all Competitors and to solicit comments and input about items/issues that are affecting us as Competitors – both the good and the not-so-good!
· Work hard to get know as many people as possible through e-mails, phone conversations and personal contacts at pre and post-rally Events, and learning your thoughts first-hand and face-to-face when possible.
· Be an active effective participant at CARS Board Meetings by;
o Setting as a priority attendance at the meetings.
o Using my experiences that I have gained as a Senior Engineering Executive for a major Detroit-based Vehicle Manufacturer working on Industry Boards and Committees to act in a responsible, constructive fashion.
o Presenting the Competitor’s “position” with the goal of arriving at “win-win-win” solutions for Competitors, Organizers/Workers and Sponsors.
· Provide feed-back to Competitors on matters/issues that are of concern to them/us.
· To be a responsible Steward of our Sport so that it will continue to be viable and available for the next-generation of Rallyists – Organizers, Workers, and Competitors alike.
Chris Martin
Chris Martin, a performance rally competitor since 2005 promises to bring the most unique approach and opinions to the position of CARS Competitor Representative. Immersed in the rally culture from a young age, Chris always knew he was destined to be a successful rally driver. When the opportunity arose to enter the Canadian Rally Championship, Chris successfully built his first car with his own blood, sweat and tears. After several rallies, Chris felt that Canada needed a car that could not only be fast but also good for the environment. With his challenge set, he built the first ever eco-friendly open class rally car in the Canadian Rally Championships.
As the CARS Competitor Representative, Chris promises to bring his unique approach to represent all competitors to the fullest. Having filled many roles within the championship, from service crew chief, to novice driver to top-level competitor; Chris is able to represent all competitors in a way no one else can. Chris pledges to be an advocate for competitors. He promises to bring all the issues, concerns and opinions of the entire competitor base forward to the CARS Board. He will work hard to create cohesive communication between the CARS Board and the competitors as well as make several recommendations to streamline information from the CARS Board to the competitors.
As an engineering technologist by trade, Chris has always looked for innovative ways to improve his car, as well as the sport itself. With his logic, ability to understand new competitor’s needs as well as veteran needs and his clear passion for the sport, Chris is the choice for CARS Competitor Representative.
Nick (Nicola) Narini
I started kart racing in 2001. I progressed through the ranks and I finally won a championship in 2006. I started ice racing in 2004 but 2006 was my first full year and I finished 2nd in the highly competitive street stud 4wd class.
I quickly decided to turn my ice racer into a full P4 rally car and proceeded to run the full Canadian championship in 2007. I was fortunate enough to finish 10th overall that year. Even with my success, I just could not justify the cost of running the western rallies in recent years. I did find the funds to run Targa Newfoundland in 2006 and 2007 though and that was an amazing experience. My crew and I were noticed not only because we were running fast times but we helped anyone and everyone that needed a hand. We were directly responsible for repairing or helping to repair 6 cars so they could finish the rally. We made friends with everyone involved with Targa and we still keep in touch with the organizers.
Another amazing opportunity arose in 2007 in the form or The Challenge Sur Glace ice race in Sherbrooke Quebec. Once again my crew and I performed above and beyond what was expected of us. We made a lasting impression on many professional ice racers from Europe. We went back for what remains the last year the event was run in 2008 and we finished 2nd overall.
Finally, this year I am proud to be able to say that I can run with the top competitors in Canadian rally. I’m even more thankful for the experiences I have had and the lessons I learned that have led to the 2010 OPRC overall championship.
I feel that I have experienced both ends of the spectrum of rallying in Canada. I still spend all my extra time and money on my car and I still drive my own tow rig to the rallies. When I’m unable to compete I still attend as a service crew member so I experience the rally from all perspectives. Unfortunately, I have not experienced first hand what it is like to have such crews and rigs as Richard and L’estage but I have seen it from every other perspective.
