Motorsports hall to induct nine more on Saturday
ON TRACK
CMHF to honour new inductees this weekend in Toronto
Nine individuals will be inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame for their contribution to the sport in Canada on Saturday.
This will be the CMHF’s 23rd induction ceremony, and will take place at the CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto.
From Montreal, Dr. Jacques Bouchard and Dr. Ronald Denis are to be inducted for their work in advancing health care in motorsport. Their roles as co-Chief Medical Officers for the Canadian Grand Prix along with their work with the FIA Medical Commission has played a key role in this important field.
Ottawa-based Terry Dale is to be recognized this Saturday for his work in helping to found the Ontario region of the CASC (Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs), as race director for Calabogie Motorsport Park, and as a race official.
Peter Lockhart’s road racing career spanned 25 years in such series as the Player’s GM Series and World Endurance Championship, and this Montreal native has also mentored younger drivers.
For his work in just about every aspect of the sport, Dave Mathers of St. Thomas, will be so honoured. Along with racing, promotion, and officiating, Mathers has sponsored competitors such as drag racer Herbie Rogers and oval track racer Dave Whitlock.
As an active driver and advocate for Canadian motorsport for several decades, retired Major-General Lewis Mackenzie of Truro, NS is to be honoured for his efforts.
Another new inductee who has spent many years fostering driving talent in Canada is Toronto’s Chris Pfaff, who has sponsored drivers such as Ron Fellows, Scott Goodyear, and Robert Wickens, and he is still involved with several road racing series.
After a stint in racing in the 1970s, John Powell, of Blackstock, Ontario, turned his attention to driver training, heading up the Mosport Racing School, working with future starts such as Scott Goodyear and Paul Tracy.
While he never drove a race car, Sid Priddle played an important role in Canadian motorsport.
A former Montreal Star reporter, Priddle, a St. John native now living in Ontario, directed public relations and communications for major race events, including the Canadian Grand Prix when held at Mosport, the Molson Indy Toronto, the Molson Indy Vancouver, and the Edmonton Indy.
***** Notes: Last year’s Pinty’s NASCAR Series champion Cayden Lapcevich has been named Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame’s Rising Star for 2017. The 17-year old Grimsby racer, who won the series’ closing race at Jukasa Speedway recently, will be so honoured at the CMHF Induction Ceremonies ... Formula 1 along with Shanghai Juss Sports Development announced the Chinese Grand Prix will be hosted in Shanghai for three more years to 2020. The race will also take place next April 15 and the Bahrain Grand Prix will now be held April 8, 2018. Formula One has also announced that sports broadcaster ESPN will televise all 21 F1 races for 2018 along with ABC television ... There will be no more inner-oval racing at Ohsweken Speedway. The dirt track is removing the smaller oval inside the regular racing surface citing track preparation costs versus usage, dropping the Bomber division for its regular Friday night shows. There were about 30 racers who competed in Bombers over the years.