http://www.torontosun.ca/News/Canada/2006/07/07/1672534-sun.html
Fri, July 7, 2006
Troops revved up
Canuck soldiers in Kandahar kick off Sunday's Grand Prix with videotaped 'Drivers, start your engines'
By SHARON HO, TORONTO SUN
Molson Grand Prix drivers are going to get the command on Sunday to start their engines straight from Afghanistan.
A videotape of about 20 Canadian soldiers on an armoured vehicle at the Kandahar airfield giving the command will get the race rolling.
"It's a unique thing we've done this year," said Charlie Johnstone, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Toronto.
"I think it's an opportunity for us to show our nationalism, stand up and be proud of our Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan," he said yesterday.
Maj. John St. Dennis said the video will help underline the similarity between the race and the type of work the Canadian Forces offers.
"The Molson Grand Prix is a hi-tech, high-energy exciting event," St. Dennis said.
"Our view in the recruiting centres is that those are some of the career options we're offering Canadians.
"There seems to be a perfect match between the two," he said.
The armed forces will be recruiting at Sunday's race.
"We're trying to get the message out to Canadians that we are hiring," St. Dennis said.
The armed forces wouldn't reveal the identities of the soldiers in the video.
"When people are overseas we generally don't give out their names for operational security," St. Dennis said.