August 2000 - Nr. 8

Down On The Town

Another mega exciting weekend of CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) racing has come to a close. The 2000 version of the Molson Indy in Toronto, July 14 – 16, yielded one definitive winner, Newman/Haas Racing’s Michael Andretti.

The 37-year-old Toronto crowd favourite Andretti took the lead three-quarters of the way through the race and never gave it up. With this win he records his sixth (!) Toronto title since 1989, having also won 3 times at the Molson Indy Vancouver since its inception in 1990, and 40th career victory respectively.

Recognised as one of the premier racing events in North America, the Toronto Indy is the 10th stop on the FedEx Championship Series race schedule, which is comprised of 20 races and spans five countries on four continents as part of its historical millennium season.

Sharing the dais with the American Andretti (Ford/Lola) was 35-year-old Mexican Adrian Fernandez (Ford-Cosworth/Reynard), who finished 6.527 seconds behind Andretti, coming all the way from the No. 12 spot, and Toronto native Paul Tracy (Honda/Reynard), the third-place finisher, lagging another 2 1/2 seconds behind that.

CART’s leading winner in its 22-year history expressed special affection for the Toronto Exhibition Place circuit, identifying it as his most successful track. "Winning my 40th on a track like this is special because Toronto has been so special to me,’’ he said. "I just love the racetrack. It seems to fit my style." And, "I just love being here".

The record-breaking race day crowd of 72,976, setting a new three-day attendance high of 168,353 compared to 168,314 in 1999, couldn’t have agreed more.

Andretti started the race from the No. 3 position and cleverly allowed patience to get the better of him as cars began dropping out one-by-one. Only 11 of the 25 starters were running at the end, with 10 on the lead lap of the race that was lengthened from 97 to 112 laps this year to allow the television networks a longer show.

Amazingly, all the race finishers made just two pit stops, which was contrary to the prevailing thought-of-the-day, that drivers would have to make three pits stops in a 112-lap race.

When the leaders had made their final pit stops by the 80th lap, Andretti found himself in first place, ahead of Fernandez, Tracy, Cristiano da Matta of Brazil, Roberto Moreno of Brazil and rookie Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Que.

That situation bode good prospects for a very tight or even wild finish. But the anticipated showdown never transpired, as Fernandez and the rest of the field were unable to catch a seemingly cruising Andretti.

For a well-known aggressive driver like Andretti being patient made all the difference. After all, early in the race, Andretti trailed pole-winner Helio Castoneves. Later he was behind Cristiano da Matta, who led a race-high 72 laps. In both cases, the second-generation racer (son of the great Mario Andretti) waited for quick pit stops to get him past instead of risking his race.
"You learn," he said after beating Adrian Fernandez to the finish line nearly the length of the front straightaway on the 1.755-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit.
"Probably a few years ago, I would have taken some chances," Andretti said. "A few times, I had a little go and thought, ‘No, I’m not going to do that.’ Notch one up for experience."
In the end, and six years after winning last in Toronto, Andretti’s patience and some great pit work by his Newman-Haas Racing crew did indeed pay off.
Regardless, for Michael Andretti the bottom line is as follows, he has re-established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the remaining 2000 CART FedEx Championship - in his own mind as well as everyone else’s.

For Canada’s Tracy, who had struggled in the previous five races, it was his second consecutive podium finish at the Molson Indy. Last year he was second to first-place Team KOOL Green teammate Dario Franchitti, who didn’t even manage to complete the first lap this year.

Franchitti lost traction as he hit the brakes for the tight turn 3 hairpins.

As he spun he T-boned defending series champion Juan Montoya, knocking them both out of the race.

In a very touching tribute to the late, eternal Greg Moore, who died tragically October 31, 1999, Paul Tracy wore Greg’s helmet design during the Toronto Indy race in honour of his friend. "We love you Greg," said Tracy.

Already previous to Tracy’s individual gesture, during the choice 15^th Annual Molson Indy Black & White Gala Dinner (July 13), did CART hold a most special commemoration to the memory of the promising CART racing superstar, Greg Moore, inclusive of a most touching presentation to Greg’s attending father, Ric Moore.

Rest in Peace, Greg.

Lastly, if you’re willing and able, don’t forget about the Molson Indy Vancouver, September 1 – 3, 2000!

See you next year in Toronto, Indy racing fans.

An Ovation of Jazz

My favourite event of the year, The Annual Beaches International Jazz Festival (BIJF, July 27 – 30, 2000), lasts never ever long enough. But that’s the way the cookie crumbles and besides, it wouldn’t feel so special if it were going on and on.

This years’ StreetFest was as amazing and party-like as ever. Pray tell, only the Montreal Jazz Festival can compete with this feeling Queen Street East in Toronto’s Beaches conveys when being filled to capacity with 100,000’s of spectators all there to listen to the creative and versatile sounds the dozens of street performers have to offer.

Preceding this year’s festival was an amazing fundraiser. It was called An Ovation of Jazz and was held to celebrate the Best of the Beach, and all that at the Alliance Atlantis Cinema "The Beach". With all proceeds going to the worthy Toronto East General Hospital Foundation, guests were treated to a silent auction, a chef’s showcase of menus from the finest restaurants in the Beach and neighbouring communities, and a special screening of "Buena Vista Social Club".

But what made the evening even more special was it also acted as a forum to salute the Beach Top 100, a list of the 100 most influential East Enders as determined by a contest held by the Beach Metro News.

Well, guess who I saw being honoured there – very deservedly might I add? - one of our very own, no one else but Fred Koops. Fred is a member of my parish, the German United Church, and a showpiece for Generation X-er’s achieving success by hard work and innovation. It is a pleasure to identify him as someone who hails from within our oh-so assimilated cultural ranks.

Fred owns a company called Overkill, whose products are now being sold in over 100 stores nation wide. He’s not only a generous sponsor of his local Beaches community, where he works and lives might I add, he’s also been a stellar, long-time supporter of Canada’s Olympic Beach Volleyball teams. I thought that it was kind of cool seeing him being honoured.

Closing on the BIJF then, I realized that I was more than correct when making you aware that Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas would be more than getting the crowd grooving and moving. I’m telling you Zydeco has something that no-one can, albeit should resist (Recommendation: check out their CD titled "Let’s Go!", listen to it and you’ll know what I mean).

And lastly, there was one unexpected musical gem and to be considered the absolute highlight of the 2000 edition of the BIJF. Namely, Sisters Euclid featuring, remember his name, Kevin Breit. I think, nay, I believe we could have a new musical innovator here. Hopefully we will hear more from him, but suffice it to say that this man’s way of playing the guitar is fresh, exciting and a real joy to listen to. And that was it for the main concert venue, the Alex Christie Bandshell @ Kew Gardens.

I’ve no doubt, just like this time around, see you all next year.

And they’re off!

It was "glad-hand city" at the Annual Nick Nicolaides’ Liberal Party Barbecue and Festival, Saturday, July 29.

Held for a successful 9^th time in the quiet Wilson Heights neighbourhood of Toronto’s former City of North York, and anybody that is somebody within the Liberal universe was present.

Among those (to name just a few) were Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman, the Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, Dalton McGuinty, Federal Ministers David Collonette (representing the Prime Minister), Art Eggleton, Allan Rock, and Senator Jerry Grafstein.

Food came in form of 40 lambs roasted on spits over hot coals, two oven roasted 600-pound porcettas, Greek roasted potatoes, shrimps, scallop shish kebabs plus many other ethnic dishes, and was, so the Liberal press release, "in recognition of our multicultural diversity".

That aim was also evident in the entertainment department. Stage presentations reflected dance- and musical traditions as widespread as Celtic, Argentinean, Cypriot, Greek, and Ukrainian, featuring a variety of recording artists.

And then of course there were the many speeches, which consistently stressed diversity, diversity, diversity.

Now you might be wondering why the Liberals are beginning to hone in on this issue? Well, first of all it’s no secret, that between now and the spring of 2001 there will be a federal election called. This was consistently emphasized by the speech making Liberal bigwigs to their assembled GTA troops.

Secondly, and just as important for the Liberals, they need to start to clearly distinguish themselves from the realigned Canadian Alliance, especially since we are witnessing a trend toward uniformity in key issues (among all major parties) like law & order, or tax cutting.

And when looking at the latest Angus Reid poll result (Liberals 45 %), showing the Alliance with 24 % of public support, up six points since May and 11 points since the party was founded in March, it suggests for the first time that a Stockwell Day led Alliance could win - albeit likely only rural - seats in Ontario!

And since that has not gone by the Liberals it was no wonder to hear all kinds of campaignesque rhetoric at Nick’s Liberal BBQ (Nick Nicolaides is a committed Liberal supporter; the originator of such Liberal Roasts was the late great Joe Foti, who was a class act all the way, notwithstanding his party affiliation).

Essentially, from where the Liberals sit, the issue of diversity is the issue where the Alliance appears to be most vulnerable. And so, you heard it here first folks, you can bank on the next federal election to be most mud slinging on record.

In a nutshell, the Liberals will attempt to depict the Alliance as a party out of touch with the people, not diverse, and will save its most vivid attacks for Stockwell’s electioneering days. I believe the Grits will JoergHaiderize him, or, as the Globe & Mail puts it, "to demonize the new Alliance Leader as a right-wing zealot".

Still don’t believe it? Well, guess what the motto of this year’s BBQ and Festival was: Celebrating our Multicultural Diversity in Liberal Harmony. Over.

For ongoing information on this venue, call (416) 363-3232.

Perfect Lunch-time Escape

Until August 30, from noon to 2 p.m., Sounds in the City, a summer long series of sensational world roots concerts is running every Wednesday at Toronto’s (City Hall) Nathan Phillips Square. Presented by Scotiabank, this awesome line-up of free performances is complemented by the famous outdoor Farmers’ Market laden with fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and more.

Basically it’s shop, eat, listen, dance and enjoy!

For complete concert listings call the City’s Event Hotline at (416) 395-7350 or browse www.city.toronto.on.ca .

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