1/15/2013
Wayne Helliwell Jr
ACTcolades
The culmination of a career defining racing season came to close this past Saturday night as Wayne Helliwell Jr. and his entire Bruce Bernhardt Motorsport's Team capped their 2012 campaign with the American Canadian Tour Banquet of Champions.
Championship hardware including a 6' tall trophy, plaques and a check for $10,000 dollars was handed out to both the American and the Canadian series. Quebec's resident comedian and popular personality Patrick Laperle (who stole the show) shared the spotlight with Helliwell and his Bruce Bernhardt Motorsport's Team as the Castrol series Champion for the third time.
In a night of celebration the two series championship teams enjoyed an entertaining back and forth jab-o-thon. At one point Bernhardt offered Laperle a dollar to get off the stage so they could have their turn. As Laperle fired back, "start the music… let’s dance" during Bernhardt's speech. Bernhardt may have left with the line of the night as he congratulated his own driver on winning the title; he told Laperle "his driver did it without hitting anything." As Laperle is known as the aggressor most of the time.
Helliwell took to the stage to thank his sponsors, car owner, team and family; getting emotional when addressing his three daughters in attendance. He also took time to praise the series he’s come to call family.
Notably absent and missing his first banquet in series history was President Tom Curley. Curley had been admitted to the hospital with a severe case of pneumonia. Motorsport’s legend Ken Squier took the opening and closing remarks portion of the evening in his place.
In addition to the championship hardware Helliwell and Bernhardt also took top honors in the Ford Blue Oval Challenge for the third straight year. A check for $5,000 dollars and a plaque from Ford's director of short track racing Mike Delahanty were presented. Delahanty received a plaque of his own as he was presented with an award from Bernhardt Motorsport's Team for the support of Ford Racing in their championship season.
Car owner Bruce Bernhardt was awarded Crew Chief of the year for the second straight season with his work on 27NH. The award marked the first time in ACT series competition that the same person won it in consecutive years.
The Bernhardt Team honored longtime primary sponsor Jim Broadhurst and his business EKeys4Cars with a commemorative plaque for his outstanding contribution during the season.
Reflecting at the conclusion of the ceremony Helliwell was at a loss of his achievements. "Even being here and accepting these awards it doesn't seem real. It doesn't seem like we actually did this. I look at this series and the history of it and to have my name included as a champion of it is unbelievable. I can remember 10 years ago I thought about running this tour and thinking I can't be competitive with them... Now we are here, it's incredible."
Leif Tillotson Photo: Helliwell and Bernhardt accept their awards.
Article Credit: Jason Lubin
Submitted By: Jason Lubin
