This article originally appeared in CANADIENS magazine, Vol. 23.4 (April/May 2009)
Fully enjoying his second honeymoon with the Habs, veteran defenseman Patrice Brisebois has another love outside the Canadiens - cars. Fast ones. As a longtime Formula 1 fan, it was only natural that "Breezer" would one day find himself behind the wheel of a race car in one form or another, something that has now come to pass on multiple occasions. We caught up with Patrice to get the skinny on his need for speed.
So when did you start taking your racing seriously?
It was the summer we won the Stanley Cup in 1993. Brian Bellows invited me to take a spin and take a course with racing guru Jim Russell. That was it; I was instantly hooked.
Is this something you've always dreamed of doing?
Yeah, I've always loved cars. Even as a kid I remember begging my mom to buy me Dinky cars whenever we went shopping together. I must have had at least 250 Matchbox cars. There was also a car dealership near my house and I'd ride my bike there everyday to press my nose against the glass just to look at all the sports cars.
How deep and how far back does you allegiance to Ferrari go?
I went to school with Gino Rosato of Ferrari, so we've been buddies for years. As a big Ferrari fan, I studied all about their rich history, something I appreciate each time I get behind the wheel of one of their cars.
What type of race car have you driven exactly?
I race challenge series cars and I own a Ferrari F430 Challenge. It's got 490 horsepower, a roll cage, you name it. Let's just say it's far from street legal.
What's the fastest you've gone?
It was in a straight line, but I've hit 265 km/h. But the real thrill for me is in the turns and the handling of cars in a racing situation; that's when you really feel the power of them.
Are you any good?
I'm getting there, but it's like anything else, it all comes down to one thing - practice. It's always just been a hobby, but I some took courses this summer from local racer Louis-Philippe Dumoulin that have paid off.
How so?
I've raced about 10 times so far, but I won twice last summer. They were both Ferrari Challenge races. There were about 35 racers in each race. I had the pole in the first one and even though it rained I ended up winning with a 14-second cushion. In the second one, I was second on the starting grid and I took over the lead late in that race and pulled away once the pole-sitter spun out. It was pretty exciting.
Word has it you took a few teammates out for a spin last summer?
I organized a day during training camp and took Mike Komisarek, Alex Kovalev, Andrei Kostitsyn, and Roman Hamrlik to a racing course. They got to drive sports cars like Ferraris and Porsches on a private track.
Who had the most potential?
They all did great, but I would say Kovy. I think his experience as a pilot came in handy. The sensations you feel in a car going at those speeds is something I'm sure didn't faze him.
Have you been around the world to see Grand Prix races? Do you have a favorite?
Yeah, I've been all over. The Belgian Grand Prix is in a class of its own. That's where you really get to see who's the best driver in the world.
How many speeding tickets do you get in an average month?
I don't want to jinx it, but I haven't gotten any kind of ticket in about five years. (laughs)
What's your dream car?
It would be the Ferrari P4, it's one of the most expensive cars made by Ferrari. It's worth over 20 million. I've seen it for myself once, and it was amazing.
Be honest, what smell do you prefer: your wife's perfume, or the aroma of burned rubber on a race track?
(laughs) Don't get me wrong, I love my wife's perfume, but when I walk into Formula 1 garage and I smell that gas and the rubber, nothing beats that. (laughs)
