Long-time Ski-Doo snocross star Tim Tremblay announced last week that he has officially retired from snowmobile racing. Tremblay has been a fixture on the ISOC starting line and podium for ten years with two of the highest profile teams, Warnert Racing and Scheuring Speed Sports.
We had the privilege of working with Tremblay at both of his teams and quickly grew to respect his deep, deep desire to win. His stature, on and off the track, made him intimidating to many, but he was always a true professional to work with in good times and bad.
In fact, in 2017, when he was in a serious pressure cooker to hold onto a Championship point lead as the wheels were falling off at the three day finale in Lake Geneva, Tremblay almost welcomed the opportunity to document each day. At that point he knew that all he could do was his best each time he went on the track and we were either going to have a great story or a tragic heartbreak. Either way, it wasn’t going to be without drama.
Following that season, racing became more of a chore for Tremblay, feeling the effects of age and having to constantly leave his family behind in Quebec. There was even a temporary hiatus in 2018, when many questioned if that was it. However, Tim came back to finish the season and just like this year in his return to the Warnert team, gave it 100% any time he was on the track.
The following are a couple of our favorite pics from over the years to accompany the official press release that BRP put out last week.
Tim leaves the sport having collected 17 wins and 90 podiums in national snocross competition and three overall points championships over the course of his career.
“The last 2 seasons have been hard on my body and I feel now is a good time for me to retire. I’m happy to leave the sport in good health to spend more time with my two kids and beautiful wife at home writing our next chapter. I accomplished more than I thought in this sport with a very late start (20 years old). I had a lot of success in this sport and worked really hard to make it happen,” said Tremblay. “I also had great people in my corner to help me achieving my goals. Thanks to my family who let me travel around the world without asking anything back and letting me live my dream. Thanks to BRP for believing in me since Day 1, and the two teams I worked with: Warnert Racing and Scheuring Speed Sports. I met a lot of amazing people throughout my career and I feel blessed I could realize my dreams and be a professional racer as a job,” he added.
With the size and strength to manhandle a sled, complimented by the finesse and focus he learned from motocross, Tremblay was always in the fight for wins and podiums. A competitor who was always considered a threat from any starting position, Tremblay has always raced right up to the checkered flag, making more last lap passes for position than anyone can recount. It was that determination and professionalism he will be most remembered for.
Tremblay has been racing at the highest levels in the sport since 2008 when he signed with Ski-Doo snowmobiles after only four races in the smaller Quebec based SCM circuit. He didn’t set his sights on being a snocross star, it just kind of worked out that way when he was chasing a motocross dream where the off-season training was long and expensive, having to move to Florida for months. So, he and his father thought snocross would be a good alternative, and that’s when he was “discovered.”
“Marcel Imbeault called me and said, ‘Get to the Valcourt Grand Prix a couple days early, we need to sign a new racer– he’s going be a star,’” stated Steve Cowing, Ski-Doo Race Manager at the time. “So after only hearing about him two weeks prior, then meeting him and his father in Valcourt where you could sense the purpose and dedication they had – we took a leap and signed him to a contract that seemed out of proportion. But we’ve never looked back or had any regrets. Tim has been a class act all the way, and race fans will miss him” added Cowing.
“Tim’s determination and drive are what always stood out for me. On the track, his never quit attitude would show in the latter stages of the race. He was a threat every time he lined up,” said Sebastien Thibault, Ski-Doo Race Manager. “He will be missed on the race weekends by his fans and friends he has amassed over the 10 years on the National ISOC Circuit. He can rest assured he retired as one of the toughest and most competitive riders to ever race a sled.”