Joe's Photos - blast from the past continue

Fresh Joe and I used to cover a lot of territory around Ontario and especially around the City of Toronto. Some of our favourite things to photograph were racing, airshows, the Toronto Roller Derby and atmosphere.

You can see the atmosphere after the jump.

Toronto Importfest 2019

After-market competitions in the massive Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building makes the Saturday, July 27 Canada's Biggest and Baddest car show. Hundreds of modified cars competing in over 100 award categories for big money prizes and trophies while DJs pumped out the jams.

The one day show runs from 11am to 10pm and includes feature attractions, stage performances and some celebrity models.

See more cars after the jump.

Meet the media at Motorama 2019

The last day of the weekend Motorama Custom Car and Motorsports Expo has always been my favourite because of the media panel full of Hall of Fame journalists that discuss various issues affecting the state of racing in Canada and Internationally. Eight professional media personnel met on the Rust-Oleum stage in Hall 2 on Sunday, March 10th between 11:30am and 1:00pm - Bryce Turner, Erik Tomas (Raceline Radio Network), Norris McDonald (Toronto Star), Todd Lewis (broadcaster), Mike Garrow (MAVTV Canada), James Neilson and Wally Nesbit (Inside Track Motorsport News) along with Tim Miller (Hamilton Spectator). Todd looks on as Norris takes to the microphone in the photo at top.

Left to right; Bryce, Erik (Hall of Fame), Norris (Hall of Fame), Todd, Mike, James, Tim (Hall of Fame) and Wally

Usually every year the various media members bemoan the declining state of newspaper and magazines, suggesting that companies need to sponsor all manner of racing teams or series to spread success onto new generations of fans. The accelerating loss of mainstream media continues but it did not take up much time with the panel, they instead talked about the move to streaming on every manner of platforms - away from major networks or standard cable tv packages. A lot of sports, motorsports included, have a niche market where viewers will have to seek out viewing options and pay extra for the pleasure of watching their favourite series - if they are even available. Wally Nesbitt acknowledge that Inside Track Motorsports News is also available online as a digital copy and some of their features, like race standings, are only posted online.

Senior member of the panel - Norris McDonald, who was the former editor of Toronto Star Wheels and the associated online presence, brought up the latest burning issue, that of the almost loss of IndyCar broadcasting in Canada for 2019. Apparently the television coverage ended in 2018 and IndyCar wasn't the party that typically looked after renewals. IndyCar had to setup their own media branch to sell the broadcast rights in Canada and did not find a suitor that wanted to take on the whole 2019 season for television. They decided on Sportsnet whom would show only the Indy 500 and the Honda Indy Toronto on tv, the balance of the season would be pushed online to a premium streaming service; Sportsnet NOW+. The concern is that without free television, or really just part of your paid cable subscription service, that the interest in IndyCar could drop in the barely visible land north of the United States of America (as in we are not very important to America in the general scheme of things).

Todd Lewis noted that broadcasters have to know of a demand and suggests that people provide feedback about their viewing requirements to their carriers. Due to these type of contacts Sportsnet has agreed to stream the first IndyCar race for free (Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg which Josef Newgarden won followed by Scott Dixon and Will Power).

The future of television really is the future of streaming. Costs will increase as the bulk purchasing power through many eyeballs is diluted by the power of the internet and we have to buy more niche programming. While it seems that sports is a sure bet for niche marketing, it will also fall to normal television programming as markets are fragmented. Time to use Neflix, Apple TV, Crave TV, etc in place of a single cable tv package. It will be interesting to see if we will get into pay-per-view for each race, or series we want to watch as opposed to a yearly or monthly subscription fee. But we will be able to watch what we want, when we want and on the devices we want.

Bryce Turner pointed out that several drivers are coming back to full time racing due to sponsors stepping up to get the teams back on the track. Two recent examples are Jason Hathaway and Mark Dilley who will join the field in the upcoming NASCAR Pinty's Series stockcar 2019 racing season.

Some other topics of interest included the following.

1. Importance of eSports and virtual racing. Viewers will be able to see actual races from the drivers viewpoint and through online gaming.
2. Canada now has an F1 team with driver Lance Stroll.
3. NASCAR Pinty's Series will have a new tire starting this year from General Tire replacing Goodyear tires.
4. The move to hybrid and electric race cars away from the combustion engines (20 plus years).

And don't forget all the great vehicles taking part in Motorama 2019! See more of the cars (and the model) after the jump.

North American International Motorcycle Supershow 2018

The big one by the airport is back once again to make Toronto forget all about winter. It's time to buy a new bike and plan your tours - or just dream about your perfect motorcycle if you did actually ride. The North American International Motorcycle Supershow is full of biking enthusiasts checking out over 1,000 motorcycles and 500 exhibitors contained within 425,000 square feet of Halls 1 to 5 of the International Centre.

"A true shopping extravaganza, the Motorcycle SUPERSHOW hosts hundreds of exhibits. In addition to the unveiling of the new Motorcycles the Motorcycle SUPERSHOW has the largest display of Motorcycles, Non-current and Pre-owned Bikes, Aftermarket Parts and Accessories, Rider Apparel and Helmets, Performance Equipment, Trailers, Travel Destinations, Custom Bike Builders, and a full range of Leather Fashions. The Motorcycle SUPERSHOW offers the largest marketplace in North America for Everything in Motorcycling."

The Purrfect Angelz perform in Hall 5

Special guest stars including Danielle Colby, live music from Freedom Train and the Bayou Boys along with live stunt shows and the Purrfect Angelz bring great entertainment to the Centre. The Angelz are based in Hollywood, the finalists on 'America's Got Talent' and are accomplished dancers, gymnasts, aerial artists and fire performers. Shows are on the Hall 5 stage and they will also be there on Sunday at 11am, 1:30pm and 3pm.

There is everything you could desire relating to motorcycles at the show and it runs from January 4 to 6, 2019 at the International Centre.

You also have time to meet Danielle Colby, the real star behind the hit TV series American Pickers. Her last appearance is at 5pm on Saturday.

It's busy in the International Centre so enjoy the free parking with additional parking at the nearby GO Transit parking lot. They are open until 9pm tonight and from 10am till 5pm on Sunday.

See more photos after the jump.

#Importfest Bikini Contest 2018

Bikini competitors took to the stage for the BMW True North contest happening at Importfest on Saturday, July 28, 2018. The contest started a little after 6:00pm and with the help of the audience the ladies were narrowed down to the top three finalists. See the rest of the show on my post here.

See more of the bikini competition after the jump.

Importfest 2018

Music is blasting in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre during Canada's largest after-market automotive trade show. The annual, one-day only car show is on Saturday, July 28, 2018 from 11:00am to 10:00pm in the north building. From the Importfest website "Come see hundreds of modified vehicles from “Top Tuners” across Canada and the USA as they go head to head in a competition of style, cool design and engineering. Over $5000 in cash and awards to be won!"

It's got plenty of tuner cars and girls, girls, girls with a bikini contest starting at 6:00pm on the main stage. DJ Ritz is spinning records as car judging is ongoing in the hall until the BMW True North bikini contest takes over the stage. See my photos of the bikini contest on my post here.

Importfest 2018 Bikini Contest

Fans are lined up to meet Dannie

There are a few celebrities here for fan meet and greets and photo opportunities, including cover model Dannie Riel at the Importfest performance booth.

Come back as I add more photos to this post.

Formula 1 drops Grid Girls

FIA Formula One World Championship series has decided to remove the ladies who hold the signs for driver teams during the pre-race ceremonies and change to Grid Kids for 2018. This will also apply to other races during the Grands Prix weekends. Formula 1 is an open wheel, single-seat racing series that takes place mostly outside of North America and will start its current season on March 25, 2018 in Australia.

The Tilted Kilt ladies weren't Grid Girls but you could find them on Thunder Alley

Pre-race celebrations and also trophy presentations often featured ladies that added to the 'glamour and spectacle' of the race events and for many people were highlights of the off track entertainment. In Toronto we often had the Toronto Sun Grid Girls and the Budweiser Pit Crew contestants.

“Over the last year we have looked at a number of areas which we felt needed updating so as to be more in tune with our vision for this great sport," said Sean Bratches, Managing Director, Commercial Operations at Formula 1. While the practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of Formula 1 Grands Prix for decades, we feel this custom does not resonate with our brand values and clearly is at odds with modern day societal norms. We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world.”

Certainly the use of Grid Girls is something that people may have strong opinions both for and against, I know that I would miss them if they were dropped from participating in the racing scene. They really are promotional models helping to advertise the race and its associated events.

Budweiser Pit Crew photos by Joe Hamilton