Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame facts for kids
The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (CMHF) is a special place that celebrates people and groups who have done amazing things in Canadian motorsport. It's like a museum that honors drivers, team members, builders, sponsors, and even media people who have made a big difference. It was started in 1992 by Gary Magwood and Lee Abrahamson, with help from motorsport reporter Len Coates. The CMHF wants to show off the great achievements in all kinds of Canadian racing. Over the years, the CMHF has moved its home several times. Since 2010, it has been located at The Canadian Motorsport Heritage Museum in Toronto's Downsview Park.
Contents
What is the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame?
The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization. Its main goal is to recognize and honor individuals and groups. These are people who have made huge contributions to motorsport in Canada. This includes everything from driving fast cars to building them, managing teams, sponsoring events, and reporting on the races.
How Do People Get Chosen?
A group of motorsport experts, called the CMHF Nomination Committee, chooses who gets into the Hall of Fame. Usually, people need to have stopped competing for at least three years. Or, they must have been involved in motorsports for about 25 years. The public can suggest names to the committee. Then, an independent Selection Committee reviews these suggestions. They use a special scoring system to decide who should be inducted. The names are then approved by the CMHF board. Before their names are announced, the board's leader contacts each person chosen.
Who Can Be Inducted?
There are five main groups that people can be inducted into:
- Competitors: These are the drivers and racers.
- Motorsport Builders: People who design and build race cars or tracks.
- Team Members: Those who work behind the scenes on race teams.
- Significant Contributors: People who support motorsport in other important ways.
- Media: Journalists, photographers, and broadcasters who share the stories of motorsport.
In 2009, the CMHF added an international category. This is for famous people from other countries who have helped Canadian motorsport. Each person inducted gets a special plaque with the CMHF logo. Another plaque with their name is placed inside the Hall of Fame. There are also displays with articles and photos about their achievements. The first induction ceremony was held in Toronto in 1993. Since 2019, the ceremony has been part of the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto. There was no induction ceremony in 2009 because of money problems during a tough economic time.
Interesting Facts and Figures
Since 1993, 294 people from the world of motorsport have been inducted. Each year, between five and fifteen new people are added. Most of the inductees are men, but eight women have also been chosen. Kay Petre was the first woman racing driver to be inducted in 1995. The most recent women added were Nathalie Richard and Anne Roy in 2020. The first doctor to be inducted was Hugh E. Scully in 2000. Brothers Robert Theoret and Jean Theoret, who were hydroplane drivers, were inducted separately in 2006 and 2010. The 2018 group was special because it was made up entirely of motorsport journalists. The CMHF also includes nine organizations. On seven occasions, two or more people have been inducted together for their shared work. Famous international inductees include Carroll Shelby (2009), Bobby Rahal (2010), Sid Watkins (2010), Michael Andretti (2011), Mario Andretti (2012), Nigel Mansell (2013), Jackie Stewart (2014), Multimatic Motorsports (2015), Legendary Motorcar (2016), Honda (2017), and McLaren (2019).
Inductees
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Indicates posthumous induction (meaning they were inducted after they passed away) |
---|---|
* | Denotes international inductee (meaning they are from outside Canada) |
Year | Inductee | Occupation | Category | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Bill Brack | Competitor | Road racing | |
John Cannon | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Billy Foster![]() |
Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Imperial Tobacco | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Bob McLean![]() |
Competitor | Road racing | ||
Chuck Ratheb | Motorsport builder | Road racing | ||
Peter Ryan![]() |
Competitor | Road racing | ||
Bill Sadler | Motorsport builder | Road racing | ||
Gilles Villeneuve![]() |
Competitor | Road racing | ||
Eppie Wietzes | Competitor | Road racing | ||
1994 | Dave Billes | Motorsport builder | Road racing | |
George Chapman | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Ross de St. Croix | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Mike Duff | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
George Eaton | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Bob Hanna | Motorsport builder | Road racing | ||
Jimmy Howard | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Horst Kroll | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Norm Namerow | Competitor | Road racing | ||
John Ross | Motorsport builder | Road racing | ||
1995 | Dale Armstrong | Competitor | Drag racing | |
Francis Bradley | N/A | Road racing | ||
Trevor Deeley | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Brad Francis | Motorsport builder | N/A | ||
Frank Hawley | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Ted Hogan![]() |
Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Norm Lelliott![]() |
Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Harvey Lennox | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Dean Murray | Motorsport builder | Stock car racing | ||
Derek Oland | Competitor Motorsport builder |
Grand Prix | ||
Kay Petre![]() |
Competitor | Road racing | ||
Ron and Eve White | Motorsport builder | Motorcycle racing | ||
1996 | Warren Coniam | Competitor | Stock car racing | |
Doug Duncan![]() |
Motorsport builder | Stock car racing | ||
Bernie Fedderly | Motorsport builder | Drag racing | ||
Craig Hill | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Harvey Hudes![]() |
Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Graham Light | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
Molson Brewery | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Ted Strugess | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
John Williams | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Walter Wolf | Motorsport builder | Road racing | ||
1997 | Wallie Branston | Competitor | Stock car racing | |
Craig Fisher | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Jim Gunn | Motorsport builder | Rally racing | ||
Billy Kydd | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
Ed Leavens | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Roger McCaig | Competitor | Road racing | ||
The Mehlenbacher Family | Significant contributor | Drag racing | ||
David Wildman | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Scott Wilson | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
1998 | Tom Burgess | Competitor | Rally racing | |
Sandy Elliot | Motorsport builder | Drag racing | ||
Ron Farmer | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
David Greenblatt | Motorsport builder | Road racing | ||
Tom Johnston | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Tom Jones | Competitor | Rally racing | ||
Jim Kelly | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
David T. Morris | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Al Pease | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Ross Pederson | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
1999 | Gary Beck | Competitor | Drag racing | |
Maurice Carter | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Castrol North America | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Yvon Duhamel | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Grant King | Motorsport builder | Stock car racing | ||
Ray Peets | Motorsport builder | Drag racing | ||
2000 | Gordie Bonin | Competitor | Drag racing | |
Jacques Couture | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Junior Hanley | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Bob Hayward![]() |
Competitor | Powerboat racing | ||
Ludwig Heimrath | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Ron Hodgson | N/A | Drag racing | ||
Gordon Jenner | Motorsport builder | Drag racing | ||
Ernie McLean | Significant contributor | Stock car racing | ||
Greg Moore![]() |
Competitor | Road racing | ||
Earl Ross | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Hugh E. Scully | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
2001 | Art Asbury | Competitor | Powerboat racing | |
Don Biederman![]() |
Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Jean-Paul Cabana | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Terry Capp | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
Eldon Rasmussen | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
David Sehl | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Bill Sharpless | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Richard Spenard | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Jacques Villeneuve | Competitor | Snowmobile racing | ||
2002 | Ken Achs | Competitor | Drag racing | |
Dick Baker | Competitor/Significant contributor | Road racing | ||
Pete Bicknell | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Jake DeRosier![]() |
Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Scott Goodyear | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Jim Hallahan | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Guy Lombardo | Competitor | Powerboat racing | ||
Barry Paton | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
Bob & Leone Stack | Significant contributor | Stock car racing | ||
Roy Smith | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
2003 | Walter Boyce | Competitor | Rally racing | |
British Empire Motor Club | Significant contributor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Jack Canfield![]() |
Competitor | Motorcycle racing/Road racing | ||
John Cordts | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Harry Greening ![]() |
Significant contributor | Powerboat racing | ||
Taisto Heinonen | Competitor | Rally racing | ||
Bert Straus | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
2004 | Larry Bastedo | Competitor/Significant contributor | Motorcycle racing | |
Alice and Jim Fergusson![]() |
Competitor/Significant contributor | Motorcycle racing/Rally racing/Road racing | ||
Jack Greedy![]() |
Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Bob and Helen Harvey![]() |
Significant contributor | Drag racing | ||
Doug Kennington | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
George LeMay![]() |
Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Rollie McDonald | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Jean-Paul Perusse | Competitor | Rally racing | ||
Gordon Reelie![]() |
Motorsport builder | Stock car racing | ||
Mark Rothmarel | Competitor | Powerboat racing | ||
Brian Stewart | Motorsport builder | Road racing | ||
2005 | Bill Adam | Competitor | Road racing | |
Frank Allers | Competitor | Road racing | ||
John De Gruchy | Competitor/Significant contributor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Pete Henderson![]() |
Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Brian Robertson | Competitor/Motorsport builder | Road racing | ||
Jack Smith![]() |
Competitor/Motorsport builder | Stock car racing | ||
Jim Thompson | Motorsport builder | Powerboat racing | ||
Harold Wilson | Competitor | Powerboat racing/Rally racing/Road racing | ||
2006 | Bob Atchison | Competitor/Motorsport builder | Drag racing | |
Alec Bennett![]() |
Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
John Bird | Competitor | Rally racing | ||
Jacques Dallaire | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
John Duff![]() |
Competitor | Road racing | ||
Lorne Leibel | Competitor | Powerboat racing/Road racing | ||
Dan Marisi![]() |
Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Ted Powell | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Lloyd Shaw![]() |
Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Bruce Simpson | Competitor | Rally racing | ||
Robert Theoret | Competitor | Powerboat racing | ||
2007 | Jack Christie | Motorsport builder | Road racing | |
Scott Fraser![]() |
Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Geoff Goodwin | Competitor/Motorsport builder/Significant contributor | Drag racing | ||
Ted Gryguc | Competitor | Power boat racing | ||
Alan Labrosse | Significant contributor | Road racing/Stock car racing | ||
Bill Mathews![]() |
Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Tony Novotny | Significant contributor | Stock car racing | ||
2009 | Carl Bastedo | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | |
C. Alan Bunting![]() |
Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Canadian Race Communications Association | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Doug Fairchild![]() |
Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Wayne Kelly![]() |
Competitor/Motorsport builder | Road racing | ||
Bill Lefeuvre | Competitor | Rally racing | ||
Norm Mackereth | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Michel Mercier | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
Jim O'Donnell | Significant contributor | Road racing | ||
F.J. Smith | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
Bruce Vessair | Competitor | Snowmobile racing | ||
Gary Vessair | Competitor | Snowmobile racing | ||
Carroll Shelby* | Significant contributor | International | ||
2010 | Paul Cooke | Competitor/Significant contributor | N/A | |
Jacques Duval | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Bob Elliott | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
Roger Peart | Competitor/Significant contributor | Road racing | ||
Bobby Rahal* | Competitor/Motorsport builder | Road Racing | ||
Herbie Rodgers | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
Jean Theoret | Competitor | Power boat racing | ||
Sid Watkins* | Significant contributor | International/Road racing | ||
John Webster | Competitor/Significant contributor | Power boat racing | ||
Norm Woods | Competitor | Power boat racing | ||
2011 | Michael Andretti* | Competitor | Significant contributor | |
Rudy Bartling | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Ben Docktor | Competitor/Significant contributor | Road racing | ||
Robin Edwardes | Competitor/Significant contributor | Rally racing | ||
Norm Ellefson | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Dick Foley | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
Paul Manson | Competitor | Rally racing | ||
Greg Sewart | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
2012 | Mario Andretti* | N/A | N/A | |
Bob Armstrong![]() |
Competitor/Significant contributor | Road racing | ||
Jimmy Carr | Motorsport builder/Significant contributor | Stock car racing | ||
John and Sharon Fletcher | Significant contributor | Drag racing | ||
Ron Fellows | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Tom Walters | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
2013 | Diana Carter | Competitor | Road racing | |
John Magill | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Nigel Mansell* | N/A | N/A | ||
Scott Maxwell | Competitor | Road racing | ||
Norris McDonald | Competitor/Journalist | Stock car racing | ||
Paul Tracy | Competitor | Road racing | ||
2014 | John Chisholm![]() |
Competitor/Significant contributor | Stock car racing | |
Ralph Luciw | Competitor/Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Jackie Stewart* | N/A | N/A | ||
Alex Tagliani | Competitor | N/A | ||
Don Thomson Jr. | Competitor/Motorsport builder | N/A | ||
2015 | Peter Gibbons | Competitor | Stock car racing | |
Antoine L'Estage | Competitor | Rally racing | ||
Multimatic Motorsports* | N/A | N/A | ||
John Edgar Petrie | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
Jordan Szoke | Competitor | Motorcycle racing | ||
David Whitlock | Competitor | Stock car racing | ||
2016 | Jacques Bouchard and Ronald Denis | Significant contributor | N/A | |
Terry Dale | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Peter Lockhart | Significant contributor/Competitor | Road Racing | ||
David Mathers | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Lewis MacKenzie | Competitor | Drag racing | ||
Legendary Motorcar* | N/A | N/A | ||
Chris Pfaff | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
John Powell![]() |
Significant contributor | N/A | ||
Sid Priddle | Significant contributor | N/A | ||
2017 | Doug Crosty | Formula Atlantic Championship winning engineer | ||
François Dumontier | Canadian Grand Prix promoter | |||
Honda* | N/A | N/A | ||
D. J. Kennington | Double NASCAR Pinty's Series champion | |||
Jim Robinson | Television filmmaker and producer | |||
John Sambrook | Championship driver | Race association official | ||
Scott Steckly | Quadruple NASCAR Pinty's Series champion | |||
Jim Tario | Official at the Grand Prix of Toronto | |||
Jacques Villeneuve | Formula One World Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner | |||
2018 | Len Coates![]() |
Canada's first motorsport reporter | ||
Gerald Donaldson | Motorsports journalist and writer | |||
Dave Franks | Motorsports photographer | |||
Graham Jones | Motorsports writer and columnist | |||
Pierre Lecours | Motorsports journalist | |||
Dean McNulty | Motorsports journalist | |||
Tim Miller | Motorsports reporter | |||
Jeff Pappone | Motorsports reporter | |||
Dan Proudfoot | First motorsport beat reporter | |||
Erik Tomas | Raceline radio host and producer | |||
2019 | Allen Berg | N/A | N/A | |
Robin Buck | N/A | N/A | ||
Larry Caruso | N/A | N/A | ||
Ed Hakonson | N/A | N/A | ||
Normand Legualt | N/A | N/A | ||
Gary Magwood | N/A | N/A | ||
McLaren* | N/A | N/A | ||
Bruno Spengler | N/A | N/A | ||
2020 | Myles Brandt | Builder | N/A | |
Jim Bray | Competitor | N/A | ||
Danny Burritt | Competitor/Team builder | N/A | ||
Kevin Dowler | Competitor/Builder | N/A | ||
Louis-Philippe Dumoulin | Competitor | N/A | ||
Mike Miller | Builder | N/A | ||
Alex Nagy | Competitor/Builder | N/A | ||
Lawrence Partington | Media | N/A | ||
Nathalie Richard | Competitor | N/A | ||
Anne Roy | Builder/Contributor | N/A | ||
Steve Robblee | Competitor | N/A | ||
Robert F. Seal | Builder | N/A | ||
Ron St. Clair | Builder/Contributor | N/A | ||
Kenny Wilden | Competitor | N/A | ||
Doug Woods | Builder/Competitor | N/A | ||
2021 | John Bondar | Builder | N/A | |
Patrick Carpentier | Competitor | N/A | ||
Wally Dallenbach Sr. | Competitor/Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Bertrand Godin | Competitor | N/A | ||
Brian Graham | Competitor/Builder/Team Member/Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
John Graham | Competitor/Builder | N/A | ||
Colin Hine | Builder/Team Member | N/A | ||
Kandy Mitton | Competitor/Media | N/A | ||
Howie Scanell | Competitor | N/A | ||
Glenn Styres | Competitor/Builder/Team Member/Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Bill Zardo Sr. | Competitor/Builder/Team Member/Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Philippe Brasseur | Media | N/A | ||
Clare Dear | Media | N/A | ||
Gerry Frechette | Media | N/A | ||
James Martyn![]() |
Media | N/A | ||
Frank Orr![]() |
Media | N/A | ||
Allan de la Plante | Media | N/A | ||
2022 | AIM Autosport | Competitor | N/A | |
Uli Bieri | Competitor/Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Chris Bye | Competitor/Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Gary Elliott | Competitor | N/A | ||
Terry Epp | Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Robert Giannou | Competitor | N/A | ||
Carl Harr | Competitor | N/A | ||
Dave Lloyd | Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Derek Lynch | Competitor | N/A | ||
Bob MacDonald | Competitor/Team Member | N/A | ||
Dick Midgley | Team Builder | N/A | ||
Scott Spencer | Team Member/Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Russ Urlin | Competitor/Special Contributor | N/A | ||
Bruce Biegler | Media | N/A | ||
2023 | Claude Aubin† | Competitor | N/A | |
Jeremy Dale | Competitor | N/A | ||
Mark Dilley | Competitor | N/A | ||
James Hinchcliffe | Competitor | N/A | ||
Ernie Jakubowski | Competitor | N/A | ||
Norman Jennings | Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Brad Moran | Significant Contributor | N/A | ||
Patrick Richard | Competitor | N/A | ||
Didier Schraenen | Competitor | N/A | ||
Dan Sprongl | Competitor/Team Builder | N/A | ||
Frank Sprongl | Competitor/Team Builder | N/A | ||
Bill Vallis | Builder | N/A | ||
Jordan Waldie | Competitor | N/A | ||
Kuno Wittmer | Competitor | N/A | ||
John Massingberd† | Media | N/A | ||
J. Wally Nesbitt | Media | N/A |
Cool Facts About the Inductees
Since 1993, over 290 people have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Each year, between five and fifteen new racing figures are added. Most of the inductees are men, but eight amazing women have also been chosen! Kay Petre was the first woman racing driver inducted in 1995. More recently, Nathalie Richard and Anne Roy were added in 2020.
The first doctor to be inducted was Hugh E. Scully in 2000. Brothers Robert Theoret and Jean Theoret, who were hydroplane drivers, were inducted separately in 2006 and 2010. In 2018, for the first time, all the new inductees were journalists who wrote or talked about motorsport. The CMHF also includes nine organizations. Sometimes, two or more people are inducted together for their shared work.
Some famous international people who have been inducted include:
- Carroll Shelby (2009)
- Bobby Rahal (2010)
- Sid Watkins (2010)
- Michael Andretti (2011)
- Mario Andretti (2012)
- Nigel Mansell (2013)
- Jackie Stewart (2014)
- Multimatic Motorsports (2015)
- Legendary Motorcar (2016)
- Honda (2017)
- McLaren (2019)