May 8th. 44 years.
On this day, life always grants a quiet, heavy pause.
Once, long ago, it was a landscape of pain and confusion. The scars etched deep grooves of profound sadness into a young heart, lines carved without recourse, without markers to guide the way. A young girl looking for her father, astonished to realize he could never come home. Such finality. Such stark and cold disenchantment.
To survive, I had to forget. I did so for many years. But it has started to feel different of late. I am not afraid anymore; the ghosts that hid in the shadows have disappeared. Now when I dream, I see your face, your smile, your spark.
I can finally hear your voice.
Forty-four years have passed, yet I see it all now, and I see you, so clearly.
--
Le 8 mai. 44 ans.
En ce jour, la vie s’accorde toujours une pause silencieuse et pesante.
Autrefois, il y a bien longtemps, c’était un paysage de douleur et de confusion. Les cicatrices avaient creusé de profonds sillons de tristesse dans un jeune cœur, des lignes gravées sans issue, sans repères pour guider le chemin. Une jeune fille à la recherche de son père, stupéfaite de réaliser qu’il ne pourrait jamais rentrer à la maison. Quelle finalité. Quel désenchantement si brutal et si froid.
Pour survivre, j’ai dû oublier. Je l’ai fait pendant de nombreuses années. Mais ces derniers temps, les choses ont commencé à changer. Je n’ai plus peur ; les fantômes qui se cachaient dans l’ombre ont disparu. Maintenant, quand je rêve, je vois ton visage, ton sourire, ton éclat.
Je peux enfin entendre ta voix.
Quarante-quatre ans ont passé, et pourtant je vois tout cela maintenant, et je te vois, si clairement.
- Melanie Villeneuve
1981. Moto-Ski. Dad’s old snowmobile sponsor, the one that gave him his first big break as a full-time rider, some 7 years before he ever touched a Formula 1 car. Back in the day when he was ecstatic to have a couple of sleds, some basic team support and a bit of travel money. His job was to win races so he could win purses and have some money to provide for his family. His first real sponsor. Moto-ski. Bombardier. Dad was the loyal type. He would represent with pride years later.
1975 - Gilles with Jackie at Trois-Rivieres 🏁 Qualified 3rd behind F1s Depailler and Jarier. Fought fiercely in that bare-boned Skiroule March 75B Ford BDA. An accident at lap 46 ended his run but he impressed and left his mark on the field. The underdog from Quebec could run with the best!
EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, CANADA
A Grand Slam Opener for a Fairy Tale Season
May 16, 1976 - It was an amazing start that year: Win from pole & fastest lap to boot! 🏎️💨🏁 Gilles would go on to clinch 9 of 10 victories despite significant financial difficulties later on and win the 1976 IMSA & CASC Formula Atlantic Championships! 🎉🏆
He was our hero! ❤️
Many have said of this picture that Gilles was looking onto his son, but in fact, he was looking at his 4 year old daughter, making sure perhaps that she wasn’t about to get into trouble!
We lived on the track back then, travelling across Canada in our motorhome for the CASC Canadian Formula Atlantic Championship, which dad was about to win for the 2nd year in a row.
My mother has often said that those years were the best of her life. I would second that thought!
