Inside Montreal, journalist Louis-Philippe Messier travels mainly on the run, his office in his backpack, on the lookout for fascinating subjects and people. He speaks to everyone and is interested in all walks of life in this urban chronicle.
As with the Olympics, which have been postponed due to the pandemic, the famous Hochelaga scooter race returns this summer, after 4 years of absence, and promises captivating feats.
The scooter competition includes all kinds of tests such as tricks of skill, cones to be circumvented or balls to be thrown, among others. It will take place on Saturday around Place Simon-Valois on the pedestrianized Promenade Ontario.
It is on this square, precisely, that the old regulars equipped with scooters stand together almost every day.
As for the most recent edition in 2019, we expect a large number of spectators… because the initial event was a great success.
“It’s crazy, there were people on each side of the street, and it was yelling: we were having fun!” recalls Mireille Godard.
The 71-year-old former sewing machine operator won in 2019.
This smiling great-grandmother, who has lived in Hochelaga for 60 years, intends to keep her title.
“Bof! Mireille won because she cheated!” laughs Roger Legault, 75, one of his friends.
“No, she won because I let her win! I came second”, retorts André Périard, 80, also sitting on his “quadri”.
In 2019, the atmosphere was joyful and boosted. People were chanting the names of the participants.
Jimmy Vigneux
Old friends
Mme Godard and Messrs. Legault and Périard spend their sunny afternoons on Place Valois teasing each other.
Difficult for me to interview them because, no matter who I ask the question, everyone answers and talks at the same time in a joyous cacophony.
“She’s just 71, she’s a young girl, and she wore cleavage to bribe the judges, that’s why she won! launches an “uncle” in the group.
“In fact, she is so popular in the neighborhood that the crowd chanted her name Mireille! Mireille! Mireille! It influenced the judges, ”boasts Mr. Legault.
“Everyone knows me and I’m a great-grandmother, so it’s true that I have a lot of supporters,” boasts Mme Godard.
Racing involves tests of skill.
Jimmy Vigneux
In 2019, the winner tells me that she was entitled to $250 in gift cards.
Out of a competitive spirit, will some “four-wheelers” have their mounts modified to go faster?
wow! This is not Formula 1, there! cried M. Periard.
However, when I try out Mireille’s mobility scooter, Romuald Ouellette’s happily overtakes me!
“I got it boosted! It’s a four-battery motor, but I added two,” he explains.
That’s why the race is not just a race, but a series of skill tests to prevent the best performing model from winning.
Given the success of 2019, this year’s race will take place in two parts, the first this Saturday, July 22 and Saturday, August 19 at 1 p.m.
Each race will have eight participants. Each time, the first place will win $200, the 2th $150 and the 3e $100.
Roger Legault, Lucie Brisson and Romuald Ouellette came to taunt me when I was going to try out champion Mireille Godard’s machine on Ontario Street. I had to race against them.
Louis-Philippe Messier