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Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (CMHF) is a special place that celebrates amazing people and groups who have done great things in Canadian racing. It's like a museum for motorsport heroes! This not-for-profit group 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 to recognize all the different types of racing in Canada. The CMHF has moved a few times, but since 2010, it has been at The Canadian Motorsport Heritage Museum in Downsview Park in Toronto.

How People Get Into the Hall of Fame

A group of racing experts, called the CMHF Nomination Committee, chooses who gets into the Hall of Fame. Usually, people need to have stopped racing for at least three years. Or, they need to have been involved in motorsport for about 25 years. Anyone can suggest someone for the Hall of Fame. Then, a special Selection Committee looks at all the suggestions. After that, the names are sent to the CMHF for final approval. The board then decides who will be inducted each year. The chosen people are contacted before their names are announced to everyone.

Who Gets Honored?

There are five main groups of people who can be inducted into the CMHF:

  • Competitors: These are the drivers and racers themselves.
  • Motorsport Builders: People who help create and develop the sport, like engineers or car designers.
  • Team Members: Important people who work behind the scenes on racing teams.
  • Significant Contributors: People who support motorsport in other big ways, like organizers or officials.
  • Media: Journalists, photographers, and broadcasters who share the stories of motorsport.

In 2009, the CMHF also added an international category. This is for famous people from other countries who have made a big impact on Canadian motorsport. Each person inducted gets a special plaque with the CMHF logo. Their achievements are also shown with articles and photos inside the Hall of Fame.

The Induction Ceremony

The very first induction ceremony was a fancy dinner. It happened on August 19, 1993, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. Since 2019, the ceremony has been held every year as part of the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto. There was no induction ceremony in 2009. This was because of money problems during a tough economic time.

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:

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