After three years of design, fabrication and assembly, the Duster is finally ready. For Jessica Parent, Editor-in-Chief of Auto-Gestion, and her partner Alexandre Bouthillier, co-owners of PAB Mécanique, this first season on the track marks the culmination of a project brought to life entirely through passion, patience and expertise.
A Project Built from the Ground Up
Much more than just a race car, this 1971 Duster is the result of thousands of hours of work, completed evening after evening, on weekends and during rare moments of free time. Every component was carefully considered, adapted and fabricated with one clear objective: to build a high-performance, reliable and safe race car.
Experience in Pursuit of Performance
This is not Alexandre’s first project. Over the years, he has built several stock car and rally cars, developing extensive expertise in fabrication and race vehicle preparation. For this new challenge, he chose to start almost entirely from a blank slate.
Inspired in part by Serge Forget’s car, he designed the entire project himself: the roll cage, suspension geometry, chassis design and integration of the various mechanical systems. Every detail was carefully considered to optimize performance while meeting the requirements of competition.
A Shared Passion
A trained automotive mechanic, Jessica Parent also played an active role in bringing the project to life. In addition to participating in the vehicle’s overall assembly, she assembled and welded the roll cage, a critical step in the car’s construction. Her involvement reflects a passion that extends well beyond her role in communications and highlights her background in the automotive repair industry.
The bodywork was completed by Pierre Bossé, whose craftsmanship gave the vehicle its distinctive appearance.
A Showcase of PAB Mécanique and PAB Motorsport Expertise
Beyond the sporting challenge, this project is a tangible demonstration of the expertise developed by Alexandre and Jessica through PAB Mécanique and its PAB Motorsport division. From design and construction to assembly and mechanical adjustments, the Duster showcases the team’s skills in performance mechanics, custom building and specialized vehicle development.
The Duster also serves as a concrete example of the craftsmanship developed at PAB Mécanique, where a passion for mechanics, fabrication and performance is transformed into unique projects.
An Adventure That Is Just Beginning
For Jessica and Alexandre, however, the primary goal remains the same: to enjoy their time on the track and continue learning. As with any race car project, development never truly stops. The first test runs will provide opportunities to make the necessary adjustments and continue refining the car throughout the season.
The starting line, therefore, marks the end of a long build—but also the beginning of a new adventure.
Pictures credit : Pierre Henry, Antoine Bouthillier, Alexandre Bouthillier et Jessica Parent.
