Gording, Babcock, Team Ontario honored as Canada’s top drivers

LONDON, Ont. (Sept. 21,1999) — Harvey Gording of Reimer Express Lines and Team Saskatchewan was named Grand Champion while Team Ontario took top team honors at the Canadian Professional Truck Driving Championships Sept. 18 in London, Ont.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Team Manitoba’s Glen Babcock, also of Reimer for earning the highest overall points for a first-time competitor.

Drivers from every province west of, and including, Quebec competed in five separate classes; Straight Truck, Single-Axle Tractor-Single-Axle Trailer, Single-Tandem, Tandem-Tandem, and B-Trains.

Manitoba boasted the first ever father-son team members, Jules and Pat Balcaen, both from the Winnipeg area. Father Jules is a 29-year veteran company driver with Bulk Milk Haulers in Steinbach, Man., while son Pat works over the road for Kleyson Transport. Pat is also a member of Kleyson’s Knights of the Road team.

The annual competition tests drivers skills at the wheel, during a pre-trip inspection exam, and on a written test. Thirty competitors qualified at regional and provincial driving competitions staged during the summer.

The 1999 Canadian National truck Driving Championship Winners

Straight Truck:
1st: Hans Wettstein, B.C. – Hans J. Trucking
2nd: Larry Radons, Sask. – Reimer Express Lines
3rd: Gerry Morgan, Ont. – Toronto Ambulance Service

Single-Single:
1st: Michel Roy, Que. – Con-Way Central Express
2nd: Jack Stanton, Ont. – SLH Transport Inc.
3rd: Warren Rogalsky, Alta. – Cascade Carriers Inc.

Single-Tandem:
1st: Harvey Gording, Sask. – Reimer Express Lines
2nd: Daniel Black, Alta. – Cascade Carriers Inc.
3rd: Bruce Leonard, Ont. – J.D. Smith and Sons

Tandem-Tandem:
1st: Ed Connors, Ont. – Molson Breweries
2nd: Neil Stevens, Alta. – Sokil Express Lines
3rd: Jocelyn Levasseur, Que. – Transport Jacques Auger

Trains Class:
1st: Marlen Peterson, Sask. – Northern Resource Trucking
2nd: Glen Babcock, Man. – Reimer Express Lines
3rd: Francois Payette, Que. – Transport Belmire

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation award for high score in the pre-trip and written test went to Saskatchewan’s Harvey Gording, who was named Grand Champion. The team trophy for highest overall score went to the 1999 home team, Ontario.

Quebec hosts the Canadian National Truck Driving Championships next year, which be staged in Laval on the weekend of Sept. 23, 2000.