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Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame To Honour 2011 Inductees

Eight Canadians will be inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame at their Annual Gala on April 23, 2011 at On The Park Convention Centre in Toronto. They were chosen after being nominated, and reviewed by the Hall’s Selection Committee. The nominees join 158 other significant contributors to Canadian motorsport, whom have been inducted in the past 16 years.

Bruce McLaren, left, looks at a drawing of the short Circuit Mont-Tremblant in 1966 with John Ross, one of the instigator of Le Circuit on the far right, and Jacques Duval standing to his right. Courtesy Pierre Luc

 

Among the Canadian inductees are two Quebec motorsports icons that will be honoured on that special night. Former racecar driver Jacques Duval of Saint-Bruno and power boat competitor Jean Théoret of Maple Grove, will join the six other Canadians that will be formally recognized on April 23.

 

Even though he is better known in Québec as a Canadian car specialist and a renowned motoring journalist, Jacques Duval started his career as a radio announcer and a television host in the late 1950s. It was during that period that he became involved in motor racing. As a racecar driver, he won the Quebec Championship five times and was the winner of the Mayor’s Cup in the inaugural Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières in 1967. Mr. Duval also became the first Canadian to win at the 24 Hours of Daytona, leading home his Porsche 914 in the under two liters GT category.

Jean-Theoret

Jean Théorêt is being congratulated by his teammates following another stellar performance

 

Jean Théoret credentials in the world of hydroplane racing are impressive. He started in 1983 at age 22, and was named Rookie of the year in the 2.5-litre class. The following year, he graduated to the Grand Prix class, winning again top rookie honours on his way to becoming the driver with the most wins in that class with 43 first-place trophies. He won six Canadian Grand Prix title between 1986 and 2001 and a World Title in 2000. He moved up to the Unlimited class in 2005, once again winning the Rookie of the year award. He scored five of his six career wins in his first two seasons. He will join his brother Robert Théoret who was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2006.

 

The other inductees to be honoured in April include: Power Boat competitors Norm Woods, Bracebridge, ON and John Webster, Scarborough, ON; ASN Canada Executive Paul Cooke, Oakville, ON; Drag racing competitors, Bob Elliott, Wingham, ON and *Herb Rodgers, Belmont, ON; and current president of Canada’s governing motorsport body, Roger Peart, Port Credit, ON. (*Denotes posthumously)

 

The Canadian Motorsport Heritage Foundation also announced that Professor Sid Watkins and Bobby Rahal would be inducted through the CMHF’s International category, which was created in 2010. Both have made significant contributions to motorsports, as well as being prominent international figures. Watkins served during 26 years as the Formula 1 chief medical officer for Formula 1, while Rahal was the first winner of the inaugural Toronto Molson Indy in 1986 on his way to his first of three CART/Champ Car championships. Both Professor Watkins and Mr. Rahal will be speakers at the Gala event.

 

In addition to the audiovisual presentations on each inductee and the acceptance formalities, a silent auction will be held. Profits from the Gala will support the development of a new Canadian Motorsport Heritage Museum.

 

Tickets for the event are available through the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame’s website at www.cmhf.ca or by calling 905 852 6764. A portion of each ticket is eligible for a charitable receipt.

 

The photo of Mr. Duval is a courtesy of the photo collection of Pierre Luc

 

© RIF | CMHF