Having been fired from my job as VW Canada's assistant public relations director (for bringing wife and child along on a p.r. gig to the Maritimes and in spite of the local dealer's praise for such a "bold" move... those were different times) I landed a temporary job with Simca, the French manufacturer who was about to launch a new model in Canada. I recommended using the number "4" as an advertising catchword. The Simca 1000 had four doors, a four-cylinder 1000 c.c rear-mounted engine, four-speed all-syncro manual transmission, and four-wheel-independent suspension. No big deal today but impressive in those times. Having had some success with modified sedans in road racing events I also proposed that Simca should sponsor a factory car with myself at the wheel. The company made a half-hearted attempt, modifying the suspension and brakes but failing to add the necessary horses. In our one-and-only race I had the pleasure of contesting last place with a BMW. I won that lonely battle but Simca lacked the budget for further adventures.