SPORTS & LEISURE Racer LeFeuvre inducted into Motorsport Hall of Fame Veteran racer now gets behind the wheel of a school bus By EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Limehouse resident Bill LeFeuvre has been actively out of auto racing for over a decade, but that hasn't dulled his desire to be behind the wheel. In fact, most of his daily passengers are thrilled to know that their driver was recently inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame for his 35-year racing career, which included a lengthy list of victories on ice, offroad and stock-car tracks across North America. "A couple of years went by after I retired from racing and I was so itchy to drive, I thought, `Well, may as well take up school bus driving in Georgetown," he chuckled about his current part-time employment. "You do miss it because I've always loved racing since I can remember. Anything to do with wheels and a motor. As a kid, I couldn't get enough of watching it on TV, and on the day I turned 16, I had my licence." LeFeuvre, 67, began competitive rally and solo racing during the 1960s go dirt track. The facilities got better and the stadiums came along to the point where we ran in places like the Silverdome in Detroit and the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis." Joan served as his rally car navigator, crew chief and business manager, making arrangements for a travel schedule that wound through many U.S. states and left few open weekends on the calendar. In 1978, LeFeuvre entered Class 1 unlimited open-wheel off-road races featuring 2.2- to 3.0-litre engines, often ending up in the winner's circle in the Ontario and Quebec circuits, while still maintaining his run of success after moving up to the more-competitive Super 1600 category. With BF Goodrich tires as his main sponsor, LeFeuvre tore up off-road tracks on the Mickey Thompson Eastern Stadium Series in the U.S., as well as posting race wins at Toronto's SkyDome and a memorable second-place finish in 1996 at Montreal's Olympic Stadium in front of capacity crowds. "The most unique prize in off-road was in Montreal at the `Big O' when George Dodge was the promoter, and for about seven or eight years, he offered for first prize a pound of gold," LeFeuvre recalled. "You'd get the top stars from California and they came out of the woodSee LEFEUVRE, pg. 28 25 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, June 17, 2010 In the early to mid-1990s, longtime Limehouse resident Bill LeFeuvre was considered one of the top North American competitors in open-wheel off-road races, often filling large venus such as Montreal's Olympic Stadium with spectators. For over three decades, the 67-year-old LeFeuvre collected race wins on a number of circuits, including ice racing and stock cars. Submitted photo in a Formula Vee at Toronto-area tracks such as Harewood Acres and Mosport, before catching on with the Ontario Ice Racing series, collecting several provincial championships in both rubber-to-ice and studded classes at winter carnivals in towns such as Orillia, Midland, Barrie and several more in Quebec. The Sault Ste. Marie native moved to Halton Hills in 1968 with wife Joan and went on to win four off-road Ontario Class 5 sedan titles from 1974-78 with his Baja Bug. He was also involved in the Volkswagen Owners Club as treasurer and competition director, organizing ice racing events and club rallies. "I really enjoyed the ice racing because of all the preparations that went into it. It was extremely competitive and still is, but if I had to choose, I'd Klutt 11th in NASCAR debut Making his debut in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series last weekend, Halton Hills teen Gary Klutt finished 11th after running with the pro drivers for a good portion of the 90-minute race. The 17-year-old has been a go-kart racer for the past 10 years and was Canadian champion in 2009. When one driver was unable to compete at last Sunday's Mosport event in Bowmanville, Klutt jumped at the invitation to race with the big boys. "I did some testing in a couple of regional races last fall and I feel very comfortable in the NASCAR," he remarked. He qualified 16th out of a field of 26 drivers and worked his way up to fifth place until an incident amongst some other cars pushed him almost to the back of the pack. Driving the #86 car sponsored by Hornby Glen Golf Course, the Grade 12 Georgetown District High School student said the big step up from his 6.5 horsepower, 200-pound go kart to the 500 horsepower, 3,100-pound NASCAR vehicle has been a smooth transition. Local resident Gary Klutt was the youngest driver at the start line for Sunday's NASCAR Last weekend's race will be re- Canadian Tire Series race in Bowmanville and turned a few heads by working his way up broadcast this Saturday on TSN start- from 16th to fifth at one point, eventually finishing 11th. Submitted photo FREE DELIVERY SEPARATION & DIVORCE MEDIATION EFFECTIVE · EFFICIENT · LESS CONFLICT · LESS STRESS · LOW COST · ACCREDITED MEDIATORS · GEORGETOWN OR MISSISSAUGA · FLEXIBLE HOURS · CONFIDENTIAL On "How to Divorce and Not Wreck Your Kids" (CBC Doc Zone), mediation cost $2400 compared to collaborative at $20,000. Mediation is still the least costly method to resolving your marital separation. 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