OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame continues to recognize the achievements of those individuals and institutions that have realized significant accomplishments and have made outstanding contributions to motorsport in Canada by preserving, recording and displaying to the widest possible audience via virtual format, the appropriate information, materials and artifacts relative to them. During the conversion of the Hall into a virtual entity most of its physical assets were either returned to donors (whenever possible) or liquidated with the full agreement of the donors. Unfortunately, after many years of storage, some items were in poor quality and beyond restoration. This transformation has occurred over a number of years under the guidance of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Board of Directors using accepted governance procedures. While the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame has a treasure trove of images videos relating to our inductees achievements in Canadian motorsport, we know we don’t have the whole story. If you have images or stories that others should be aware of we encourage you to contact: info@cmhf.ca

The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame continues to move forward, guided by a Board of Directors with a wide range of expertise, experience and motorsport knowledge, which has assured an informative website, an innovative virtual museum, and a secure financial future.

Hugh E Scully, Chairman, Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame

FRANCIS, PETRIE & WIETZES

During the past month, three members of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (CMHF) passed away.

On May 22, George Bradbury ‘Brad’ Francis passed away, in North Carolina. Originally from Timmins, Ontario, Francis was inducted to the CMHF in 1995 in the ‘Builders’ category.

A true innovator, he was active in drag racing, stock car and road racing and played a role in winning championships at the highest international levels of the sport in a career that spanned more than five decades.

On June 8, John Edgar Petrie – a member of the CMHF class of 2015 – passed in British Columbia. Inducted as a Competitor, Petrie was a drag racing pioneer. He established a precedent in motorsports marketing that has become commonplace today.

Petrie started competing in Stock classes, in the early ‘60s, before finding success in the Funny Car and Pro Stock divisions. He represented Chrysler, in Canada, putting on Super Car Clinics at the company’s dealerships.

And on June 9, Eppie Wietzes – a member of the CMHF’s inaugural class in 1993 – passed as a result of heart failure. Born in the Netherlands in 1938, he and his family came to Canada when Eppie was just 12.

He was a two-time Canadian Driving Champion (1969 and 1970) and won races in many different vehicles and classes. He took part in two Canadian Grand Prix F1 events, in 1967 and 1974. He’s also credited for being the driver of the first F1 safety car, in 1973.

Commenting on the passing of Brad Francis, John Petrie, Eppie Wietzes and their contributions to the sport, CMHF Chairman Dr. Hugh Scully said, “The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame offers its condolences to the families and friends of these three outstanding individuals who did so much for Canadian racing. Each was passionately committed to advancing motorsport in Ontario and Canada, and were very strong supporters of the Hall. As motorsports fans, we celebrate and honour their achievements. Their legacies will be a permanent part of Canadian motorsport and the CMHF.”

Brad Francis

John Edgar Petrie

Eppie Wietzes

Celebrating the Canadian Motorsport History

The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was founded in 1993 to honour those who have contributed to, or excelled in Canadian Motorsports. This organization is developing Canada’s leading collection of virtual racing memorabilia and is working to become the primary source of historical motorsport information. The CMHF is home to the archival history of a proud Canadian Motorsports story, one still being written on most weekends, here in Canada and around the World.

The inaugural induction ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, August 19, 1993, and has been held annually since.   Since its founding, the organization has grown, developed and matured into a national charitable institution, operated by a volunteer Board of Directors in trust for all Canadian motorsport fans.  We invite you to look around the CMHF website and to marvel at the accomplishments of our motorsports heroes on the global stage.

CMHF Inductees

The Hall of Fame now has over 200 inducted honourable members, who have been recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to Canadian motorsports. READ MORE >

The Itinerant Museum

In a country as big as Canada with a proud and colourful motorsports history, only an online museum could truly reach the public and properly represent the great of the sport.  READ MORE >

Be part of it

While the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame has a treasure trove of images, items and memorabilia related to motorsport, we know we don’t have the whole story. READ MORE >