Gilles Villeneuve Museum Visit | November 25th 2016

This coming Sunday, we re-create the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix -- the race that saw Gilles Villeneuve's first Grand Prix win.  As luck would have it, I am currently on holiday in Montreal. And I took time today to visit the Gilles Villeneuve Museum in Berthierville, Quebec (Gilles' hometown, which is about one hour's drive east of Montreal).  Here are some pics from my visit; the entire collection can be viewed here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskPkyaDA


The exterior of the museum; quite tranquil compared to its contents.


An unmistakable memento from Gilles' career at Ferrari.


Gilles first made a name for himself racing snowmobiles. Here is a snowmobile he raced in 1973.


A photo taken after Gilles won the 1978 Canadian GP. His son Jacques and wife Joann are with him.


This is a 1/3 scale model of the SnoPro oval track racer, a snowmobile which Gilles designed and built himself!  He won one race with it in Peterborough, Ontario.


Gilles accepting the checkered flag in Peterborough after his win.


Gilles' Magnum MKI Formula Ford from 1973.



Two of the Direct Film-sponsored Marches that Gilles drove in Formula Atlantic.  I saw one of these in action at Mont-Tremblant a few years back.


Son Jacques Villeneuve's championship-winning car from the 1995 Indycar Series.


A memento from the infamous time when Gilles drove with no front wing.


A diorama depicting the controversial 1982 San Marino Grand Prix, Gilles Villeneuve's last Grand Prix.  His teammate Didier Pironi passed him for the win, allegedly violating team orders, which infuriated Gilles.


The actual second place trophy from that controversial race.


A statue of Gilles with his trademark helmet, standing outside the museum.


My steed for the trip, a rental Dodge Challenger R/T 

Beautifull stuff!

Merci, Jason, pour cette visite !

Very nice statue.

Great post Jason, even if it shows these useless cars without roof.

nice report

I'm reaaaaally jealous now  

My son Alberto sends you greetings Jason, he just said "aaaaawwwwww I want that carrrrrr"

It's just a matter of renting it, isn't it

Nice photos there Jason

congrats to interesting visit

Very nice Jason thank-you

Fantastic!!!!

Très bon Jason

félicitations

Marcus

Beutiful photos Jason, thank you very much.
I may share with you all, if you like it to, some photos I took some years ago at the J.M. Fangio museum at Balcarce, his hometown.

Go ahead Sebastian 

Well, here are a few, enjoy!

This Ford "A" 1929 was the very first car driven by Fangio in race in 25-oct-36; the car being actually a cab, borrowed by a Fangio's workshop client, with the condiction of being returned 'in mint condition'. Fangio raced under the nickname of 'Rivadavia' (for his parents not to notice) and forfeited in lap 23 out of 25.

First appearance ever of Fangio in a race was as co-driver of this Chevrolet 1928, in 1929

Baptised 'La Negrita', when bought by Fangio & brother this Ford T baquet carried a 4 cylinder Chevrolet, replaced later by a Chevrolet 'Guerrero' 6 cylinder truck engine, a longer block which forced Fangio to change pedals run, downward instead, 'like playing an organ'! Fangio drove this car in 4 races, facing for the first time european aces such as Achille Varzi.

Fangio's first appearance in Turismo Carretera, as a co-driver of this Ford Cupé 37, at the 'Gran Premio Argentino de Carreteras' covering 7343 km. in 1938. Fangio drove the car almost half race, arriving finally 7th, taking 93h.50'50'' 3/5......

Fangio raced this Chevrolet cupé '39 (engine '46) several open road races in 1947-1949; at the 'G.P. de la América del Sur', a 9575 km race, he capsized this car while in Peru, an incident that took the life of his co-driver and friend Daniel Urrutia. The car was rebuilt and participated 2 more races in 1949,last two in Turismo Carretera.

As a replacement of 'La Negrita', Fangio bought this Volpi chassis equiped with a Rickembacker engine, later replaced by a 6-in-line Chevrolet, racing in Mecánica Nacional series many times in '47-'49, with 7 wins. In cars like these, Fangio raised his talent as a single-seaters ace.

This 1938's 8-in-line 3822cc Alfa Romeo 308 was raced by Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, wining an intl race in Buenos Aires Palermo street circuit. Undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful cars shown.

A sight of Alfa Romeo 308 cockpit; long after his retirement, Fangio bought this car for his own collection. Such a beautiful wheel! check the rear view mirrors inside the car's body, and the naked cardan running between the driver's feet....

Fangio drove this Talbot Lago 4500 at “500 Millas de Rafaela” (which he won) in 1950, and a sport version of this car in 1951's 24 heures du Le Mans

Three sport cars driven by Fangio: Maserati 450S, Maserati 300S & Lancia D24.

When I see this photo, I think that cars like this were the inspiration for many cars seen in the original Speed Racer cartoon series...

Hope you like'em!

Thx for sharing the photo's guys! @Jason in the museum...did you found the loose wheel Gilles dragged behind him at Zandvoort?

Peter Blom wrote:

Thx for sharing the photo's guys! @Jason in the museum...did you found the loose wheel Gilles dragged behind him at Zandvoort?

The museum was conspicuously low on actual F1 items.  I guess they are hard to come by.