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#1 Doug Nye

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 12:34

OK - if our Canadian friends might assist.  Le Circuit Mont Tremblant, formerly (AND PROPERLY?) known as St Jovite (American-English?) or Ste Jovite (Canadian-French)?  As in honouring Saint Jovite - or Sainte Jovite?

 

I need to settle another argument with myself.

 

DCN

 

 



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#2 P.Dron

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 13:17

I am neither Canadian nor French as you know, Doug, but it is "Saint-Jovite". The unfortunate brothers Faustin and Jovite were born in Brescia. They were apparently tortured in various Italian cities and then taken back to Brescia to have their heads cut off, to discourage others. I have no idea why the name was used for a part of Mont-Tremblant.


Edited by P.Dron, 07 April 2021 - 11:14.


#3 Vitesse2

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 13:45

Well, as I'm 'sort of Canadian' because my late mother was born there, here's what Wikipedia says about it ...

 

The name of the village of Saint-Jovite was often included in the name of the circuit, but since the village was amalgamated into Mont-Tremblant in the year 2000, it is no longer considered or functions as an independent entity.

As Peter says, the village was named after the unfortunate Saint Jovite - according to French Wikipedia a French-Canadian Catholic missionary called Antoine Labelle undertook an expedition in 1870, planting 'numerous crosses along the route, symbolically representing the sites of future parishes.' Two of these later became the villages (and churches) of Saint-Jovite and Saint-Faustin, which is just 10km east of St Jovite.



#4 Ray Bell

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 14:18

The name came up earlier in the day for me...

 

This circuit gets a good mention in this video:

 

https://youtu.be/W0tB-FfMs1A



#5 BRG

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 15:16

There isn't really a right answer.  It is all about marketing.  Mont Tremblant is the 875m high mountain (or large hill) to the north of St Jovite village.  As the ski and leisure industry became increasingly important, the whole area was called Mont Tremblant after the resort.  The race track lies a little closer to the mountain than to the village so take your choice which was the more appropriate name.



#6 D28

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 15:17

https://varac.ca/doc...nals-201404.pdf

 

You could use this VARAC document as a guide. The story on Le Circuit refers to it as Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant St. Jovite. Also see a race poster for Players Quebec race with the name on it.



#7 john winfield

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 16:58

This 2020 French language piece from Radio-Canada, celebrating 50 years since Jacky Ickx's win for Ferrari, also confirms 'Saint-Jovite'.

 

https://ici.radio-ca...-mont-tremblant

 

"Il y a 50 ans, Jacky Ickx remportait le Grand Prix du Canada à Saint-Jovite"



#8 Ardmore

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 21:43

This is from the programme for the 1970 Can-Am raceimg343-2.jpg



#9 LionelB

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 23:39

As I was born in Montreal, Canada, and became a racing photo-journalist in the late 1950's, I witnessed the birth of Le Circuit Mont Tremblant - some 90 miles north of Montreal - up close and personal in those days. As the track was being constructed, I drove up almost every week to watch this dream come true, and photograph the progress of the construction. In fact, I devoted a full chapter to it in my recently published book, "The Golden Years of Motorsport" (please visit my website = www.lionelbirnbom.com).

The track soon became an international racing favorite, and hosted everything from F1 to Can-Am, and everything between.

The name derives from what used to be its location adjacent to the Village of Mont Tremblant (previously best known as an internationally famous winter ski resort), which in turn is about a dozen miles from the City/Town of St. Jovite. While enormously popular for its first few decades as an international race track, questionable management and financial woes did the track in around the turn of the century.

Canadian multi billionaire Lawrence Stroll (currently a major owner of the Aston Martin F1 Team, with his son, Lance Stroll as one of its drivers) bought "Le Circuit" (as which it is affectionately known), did many track improvements, and operated the track for low-key vintage races, Ferrari races, etc.

Unfortunately for racing enthusiasts, it was recently announced that the track is up for sale (due in part to the "locals" rebelling against the noise, lawsuits, etc,), and may not survive as a race track - to become a major housing development in the idealic setting of the beautiful Mont Tremblant resort.

What a tragedy!



#10 FLB

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 00:16

I'm Québecois. *Nobody* calls it Saint-Jovite, at least in my lifetime. It's 'Tremblant' or 'le Mont-Tremblant' J'ai vu une Jaguar Type D à Tremblant y'a deux ans.

 

 

And it's the next one in line to be turned into something else:

 

https://www.guideaut...t-est-a-vendre/ (en francais)
 

https://www.autoauba...re_9002542.html (en francais)


Edited by FLB, 07 April 2021 - 00:16.


#11 Automobiliart

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 02:01

Hi Doug
I'm French Canadian, but it still doesn't make me any more an expert. I make a fabulous Sugar Pie though, recipe available ...

Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant is between the ski resort Mont-Tremblant and the village of Saint-Jovite ... Mont-Tremblant (trembling mountain) has a better ring to it ... no beheading associations ...

Sad to hear that it's being sold for development. James Hunt discovered Gilles there, and ran back to tell McLaren ... lots of history.

On a happier note, my Vic Elford "Reflections of a Golden Era of Motorsports" book has just arrived ... YES!!

Cheers!
Paul

PS I have a few of your books, Doug, please keep writing!!



#12 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 05:13

As I was born in Montreal, Canada, and became a racing photo-journalist in the late 1950's, I witnessed the birth of Le Circuit Mont Tremblant - some 90 miles north of Montreal - up close and personal in those days. As the track was being constructed, I drove up almost every week to watch this dream come true, and photograph the progress of the construction. In fact, I devoted a full chapter to it in my recently published book, "The Golden Years of Motorsport" (please visit my website = www.lionelbirnbom.com).

The track soon became an international racing favorite, and hosted everything from F1 to Can-Am, and everything between.

The name derives from what used to be its location adjacent to the Village of Mont Tremblant (previously best known as an internationally famous winter ski resort), which in turn is about a dozen miles from the City/Town of St. Jovite. While enormously popular for its first few decades as an international race track, questionable management and financial woes did the track in around the turn of the century.

Canadian multi billionaire Lawrence Stroll (currently a major owner of the Aston Martin F1 Team, with his son, Lance Stroll as one of its drivers) bought "Le Circuit" (as which it is affectionately known), did many track improvements, and operated the track for low-key vintage races, Ferrari races, etc.

Unfortunately for racing enthusiasts, it was recently announced that the track is up for sale (due in part to the "locals" rebelling against the noise, lawsuits, etc,), and may not survive as a race track - to become a major housing development in the idealic setting of the beautiful Mont Tremblant resort.

What a tragedy!

 

Hi Lionel...

 

The Competition Press article on the first race at Le Circuit Mont Tremblant was written by...Lionel.

 

I was told that Lawrence Stroll would hop in his helicopter in Montreal in his lunch break, fly to Le Circuit, do and few laps in one of his Ferraris, and fly back to Montreal.  Probably too busy for that now.

 

Interesting parallel, I think, to Lawrence and Lance Stroll was that founder of the Mont Tremblant winter ski resort was Joseph Ryan, father of racer Peter Ryan.  Here is a link to a related article:

 

https://dustinabbott...ag/joseph-ryan/

 

Vince H.



#13 Doug Nye

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 08:10

Thanks everybody - so it is 'definitely' St Jovite then - and not Ste Jovite.  The unfortunate person thus sanctified was a bloke, right?

 

DCN



#14 Vitesse2

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 08:49

Thanks everybody - so it is 'definitely' St Jovite then - and not Ste Jovite.  The unfortunate person thus sanctified was a bloke, right?

 

DCN

Absolument! Looking at that programme scan, I wonder if this simply arises from the name of the corporation set up to run it? Maybe 'St Jovite' was included to avoid confusion with another similarly-named enterprise - a Mont Tremblant Inc perhaps? Today, most of the ski facilities and associated businesses appear to be under an umbrella company called Station Mont Tremblant Inc, originally formed as Mont Tremblant Resorts (1991) Inc, which seems to suggest the existence of a previous company ...

 

The current ownership seems to rest with Circuit Mont Tremblant Events 2002 Inc.



#15 zoff2005

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Posted 09 April 2021 - 10:22

Thanks everybody - so it is 'definitely' St Jovite then - and not Ste Jovite.  The unfortunate person thus sanctified was a bloke, right?

 

DCN

A quick bloke! Actually I started racing there, back in 1967. The Mont Tremblant ski resort was mostly developed by the Ryan family, whose son Peter was a very promising driver, sadly killed in 1962. And my club in Montreal (MMRC) was very much involved as well with building and developing the track. I went to the first Can Am event there in 1966, also the GP in 1968. There were also USAC and Trans Am races - a great place. The town of St Jovite is actually quite far



#16 zoff2005

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Posted 09 April 2021 - 13:49

A quick bloke! Actually I started racing there, back in 1967. The Mont Tremblant ski resort was mostly developed by the Ryan family, whose son Peter was a very promising driver, sadly killed in 1962. And my club in Montreal (MMRC) was very much involved as well with building and developing the track. I went to the first Can Am event there in 1966, also the GP in 1968. There were also USAC and Trans Am races - a great place. The town of St Jovite is actually quite far

This is quite interesting with a lot of background information about St Jovite. Ross de St Croix is one of the participants - he was president of MMRC when I was a member and was Canadian Champion in 1967, driving the ex-Amon McLaren Mk2 which is now owned by Chris Goodwin.

https://youtu.be/TrZYEtNuJyc



#17 Radoye

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Posted 09 April 2021 - 15:43

The current ownership seems to rest with Circuit Mont Tremblant Events 2002 Inc.

Behind which is one Lawrence Sheldon Strulovich, a.k.a. Lawrence Stroll, father of current F1 driver Lance Stroll and owner of Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team.



#18 helioseism2

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Posted 11 April 2021 - 15:45

And now Stroll is selling the circuit. Link



#19 74shadow

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Posted 10 May 2021 - 11:23

@Doug Nye

 

You might be interested in this?!!