Today, Heart of a Champion proudly recognizes Nova Scotia’s Gerald Tanner as this week’s ‘Saturday Salute’ recipient! Gerald Tanner is one of those unique individuals who has spent a lifetime dedicating himself to the sport we all love. His endless contributions and pioneering spirit is woven into the fabric of Maritime stock car racing. A true ‘unsung’ hero, who helped foster the growth of the sport through its formidable years during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Gerald started his motorsports career behind the wheel of a drag car at Maitland Dragway and Scoudouc Dragway in the mid-1960s. Drag racing soon gave way to his true love, oval track stock car racing. He used his keen-eye and mechanical abilities as a well-respected technician with Scotia Chev & Peterson Pontiac to field some of the fastest and most innovative stock cars in the Maritimes. To say Gerald did a lot with a little would be an understatement. Gerald built and prepared cars for John Bears in the #0 ‘Tijuana Taxi’ at Atlantic Speedway and Fred Schofield’s #6 at Onslow Speedway. For 20 years Gerald found great success fielding cars for both his sons, Jack and Jody, who ran the wheels off the Street Stocks and Sportsman cars he built! Gerald was also a dedicated crew member on many championship-winning race teams such as Scott Fraser, Brian Northrup, Frank Fraser, and Dave Pierce. Traveling to the tracks – for over 40 years – was always a family affair with his wife Sheila and his boys by his side. Gerald’s love of racing has now been passed down to the third generation of Tanner’s as Jack’s two sons are now carrying the torch proudly on the Maritime oval tracks. Gerald, on behalf of the Maritime Motorsports community, we thank you and salute you for the years of dedication to the sport we love. You have the Heart of a Champion. Photo’s: Tanner Family Archive