It’s been nearly 50 years since Billy Foster died at age 29 during qualifying runs for a big race in Riverside, California, but the Victoria-born race car driver’s spirit was alive and well in the Cowichan Valley on Monday afternoon.
The morning after headlining a concert at the Hollywood Bowl with Andrea Bocelli, Grammy Award-winning musician David Foster flew in from Los Angeles to pay tribute to his legendary cousin, who in 1965 became the first Canadian ever to race in the Indianapolis 500. It was all part of the day-long grand opening celebrations for Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit at 4063 Cowichan Valley Hwy.
“I certainly wasn’t the most famous Foster. He has that distinction for sure,” said Foster, who was helicoptered to GAIN Dealer Group's private motorsports resort from Victoria International Airport after jetting in with his daughter Erin, stepsons Brandon and Brody Jenner, and longtime friend Danny Sullivan, the NASCAR and Formula One race-car driver.
Several other Foster family members were there for the unveiling of a plaque honouring Billy Foster, who began racing at Western Speedway in 1954. They included David Foster’s sisters Ruth, Jeanie, Maureen and their spouses, as well as the auto racing legend’s widow and two grown-up children and their partners.
The late race-car driver’s son Bill Foster, 58, said he never tires of hearing people talk about his father’s accomplishments, including being named Rookie of the Year in the U.S. Auto Club stock car division.
“It’s fabulous,” said the retired Victoria police officer, who drove a Mercedes SUV around the track just for fun. “It’s nice that people remember and honour what he did.”
The high-octane event, presided over by GAIN president Peter Trzewik and attended by a crowd of more than 300, also attracted celebrity race drivers including Max Papis and Kevin Schwantz, and Canadian businessman and venture capitalist Jim Treliving of Dragon’s Den fame.
Construction of GAIN’s 19-hectare automotive resort began last March by Nanaimo’s SupErb Construction. Billed as Canada’s first motorsport-themed country club, the Victoria-based car dealer group’s year-round resort boasts a 15,000-square-foot, two-storey building that houses a clubhouse, presentation centre, observation deck and four pit garages.
The expandable, sloped 2.3-kilometre track designed by Germany’s Tilke Engineers and Architects was put to the test under sunny skies on a scorching Monday afternoon as several high-performance luxury automobiles, including a cobalt-blue Porsche and Lola, a fire-engine red Can-Am sports car once driven by Mario Andretti, roared and screeched their way around the challenging circuit.
Guests at the launch of the 499-member club were treated to facility tours, on-track experiences, gourmet food and beverages, the opportunity to view a showcase of classic and modern motorcycles and automobiles and the screening of a documentary chronicling the resort’s progress.
GAIN’s dealerships represent nine high-performance and luxury brands, and include Three Point Motors, BMW Victoria, Porsche Centre Victoria, Audi Autohaus and Nanaimo’s BMW, Mini and Subaru dealerships.
