Bertrand Godin was inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in Toronto on Saturday. Not only was his racing career highlighted, but also his desire to give back.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
Bertrand Godin was far from suspecting that he would one day receive this kind of tribute when he started in the world of karting at 18 years old. Even less when he left for Europe in 1992, with $200 in his pocket to live off his passion. “I went to Europe with no money, but I was the richest guy in the world, because I was doing what I loved. I realized my dream,” he recalls.
The following two years, he became vice-champion of France in Formula Ford with the Mygale team. The rest of his career is now history.
What is all the more fascinating about Bertrand Godin’s career is that he didn’t just stand out behind the wheel. The 54-year-old is also a speaker, author, instructor and columnist. He lived his passion in different ways, at different times.
It is also this longevity that convinced the members of the Hall of Fame to induct the Quebecer.
In 2018, he made his big comeback at the Grand Prix du Canada and the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières in Formula 1600, where he also took the top step of the podium.
Bertrand Godin is still active in the automotive industry, which is why he was surprised to receive the call telling him the good news. It was last September, while he was grocery shopping. Initially, he thought it was some random poll or a wrong number, since the caller ID was showing a number from Toronto. He picked up and a man told him that we were going to pay tribute to his career which spans more than 35 years.
When he hung up, he immediately had a thought for all the people who have been beneficial to him. Who have been essential to its success, from yesterday to today.
Above all, he looked to the sky to thank his idol, the great Gilles Villeneuve. “When I saw Gilles Villeneuve win in Montreal in 1978 and take the lap of honor with the checkered flag, the little guy of 10 that I was said to himself that he would like that, to live moments like that. He didn’t do this to show he was the best. It was to share something with people,” Godin explained.
A lesson that he understood well and that he transposed throughout his career. He did it by taking the time to share his passion and his knowledge, both with followers and neophytes.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GROUPE À L’INFINITE
Bertrand Godin
Well beyond the victories, I am not someone who rewrote the book of records, far from it. […] but I am a guy who likes to share his happiness and his passion.
Bertrand Godin
Godin speaks of this enthronement as the “trophy of all honors”. Even if the road was winding, the game was worth the candle: “It brings together all the small victories and even the more difficult moments thanks to which I learned. Sometimes you have to learn to lose in order to win better. »
For police relief
In this perpetual quest for learning, Godin set himself another challenge 11 years ago when he agreed to become an emergency vehicle driving instructor for the École nationale de police du Québec (ENPQ ), in Nicolet.
It teaches the police officers of tomorrow to properly manage and anticipate the dangers that may arise at the wheel of these unique vehicles.
For him, being with young people and sharing his experience in the service of public safety is priceless.
It’s all well and good, winning races, but it’s even more important to be able to bring an aspect of safety into our society.
Bertrand Godin
He points out that this aspect, which is an integral part of the training of these future peace officers, is perhaps underestimated, but extremely important. There is a clear difference between regulatory driving and emergency driving. Hence the importance of planning, understanding and controlling each of your emergency trips.
“What I teach in school is more about safety and awareness. Self-control above all, because you can’t be in control of a car if you aren’t in control of yourself. Yes, there is technique, but it is above all a whole mechanism so that the police can drive in an emergency in complete safety. When we travel to save lives, we cannot afford to put the lives of others in danger. »
Godin speaks out of passion, but also out of experience. An experience that has been hailed and honored and which places the pilot among the immortals of the automotive world in Canada.