Saving Canada's Gran Prix

"Friends of Ferrari" launches nationwide petition to the Feds

Canadian Ferrari fans are mobilizing to save the Grand Prix of Canada. The Toronto group of the "Friends of Ferrari" has launched a nationwide petition to the Federal Government. They ask for a revision of the laws that ban cigarette advertising, like some European countries already did, thus allowing the GP to take place.
"Belgians amended their laws granting an exception to their Formula One race. The same was done in France and Germany. We ask Canada to follow suit. If an exception can be made elsewhere, it should be possible to make it here as well," remarked the founder and driving force of the Friends of Ferrari, Franco Corona.
"We believe we can collect hundreds of thousands of signatures. I would even guess we could get a million of them."
"Does it sound as too many? No, we can do it. The Friends of Ferrari of Toronto, Hamilton, Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, and Edmonton have already mobilized. I know that those in Montreal will do the same, as they are at the core of the issue. We shall also raise awareness in the U.S., at least in the areas not too far from Canada. In short, we could, should, and certainly shall have an army of supporters. The petition forms, available on our website (www.friends-offerrari.com), will start circulating all over the country," said Corona.
"I'm sure that we shall be supported not only by fans of the Prancing Pony," continued the top Friend of Ferrari, "but also of every follower of the Great Circus, regardless of their nationality. The Montreal race is one of the two Formula One GPs [the other is in Detroit] held in America. If we lose it, we lose half our chances to see our beloved Ferrari in action."
"When we have a sufficient number of signatures, we will officially present them to Maurizio Bevilacqua, whom we hope will be our reference for the Government."
The Italian-Canadian Secretary of State for International Financial Institutions, also known as an avid sports fan, expressed his availability to represent this issue to the Government, when the time comes.
"The Friends of Ferrari and Franco Corona," Bevilacqua told us , "are doing a world of good assisting people in need. As a sports fan, I would be truly sorry if such an important race should disappear from the world map of Formula One racing. As a member of the Government I cannot but support the law banning cigarette advertising, but I will surely present my constituents' petition to the Government."
The deadly threat against the Grand Prix of Canada became known earlier this month. Norman Legault, who organizes the Montreal race, said that he had received a letter explaining that the GP of Canada would not be included in the 2004 calendar. Formula One godfather Bernie Ecclestone, supposedly the signatory of that letter, promptly denied it and declared: "I can't understand how this story originated."
A few days later, however, came another coup de theatre, when Montreal's daily La Presse published the famous letter. The newspaper published a photocopy of the letter, addressed to Legault and sent from the legal department of Formula One. Two paragraphs read like this: "We are writing to inform you that the Grand Prix of Canada will not be included in the 2004 calendar, pending resolution of several issues. Should the race be cancelled, clause 26.2 of our contract will apply."
No clarification was offered as to the contents of clause 26.2.
The smoking advertising ban, which comes into force in Canada October 1, 2003, forbids any kind of advertising for the tobacco industry during sports events. The organizers had known that this specific issue would sooner or later come to a head for the past seven years.

Publication Date: 2003-08-24
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3084