Bob Hanna

Hanna takes 1st place at Harewood in his Autosport 1, Canada Class, 1957

Presentation of the Player’s Trophy to Jack Brabham, Winner of the 1st Canadian Grand Prix, 1967 (Hanna at right) Photo: David Phipps

Welcome at the Suzuka track, Japan, when Bob Hanna and James Hunt arrived to inspect the circuit and safety installations on behalf of the FIA, 1976

Inducted 1994 – Motorsport Builder – Road Racing

While he was variously a driver, entrant and team manager in races and rallies throughout Canada and the United States, a dealer of imported cars (including Canadian distributor for Lotus Cars), a designer and a builder of custom sports and racing cars from 1950 to 1964, it was this inductee’s outstanding strategic and management skills for which he is most recognized in his contributions to Canadian Motorsport.

The following is a listing of the many and varied ways in which this inductee contributed his management and organizational skills to help build organized Canadian motorsport.

1950 – 1959 Member of the British Empire Motor Club; competitor and organizer at Edenvale circuit and member of the committee that founded and developed Harewood circuit in Ontario

1957 Founding member of the Canadian Racing Drivers Association (“CRDA”)

1959 -1963 Member of the committee that built and managed the Mosport circuit

1964 – 1968 President of CRDA. In this capacity organized the first Canadian Grand Prix for Formula 1 (1967)

1968 – 1985 Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs (“CASC”, the national sporting authority and representative for Canada to the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (“FIA”) and Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile (“FISA”)).

CASC responsibilities

Direction, supervision and management of amateur and professional events and the activities of 110 regional clubs and their various discipline committees

Development of national race events and rally series including marketing to sponsors and manufacturers

Negotiation of all commercial contracts and agreements with other sanctioning bodies in North America and abroad

Responsible for the organization of the Canadian Grand Prix (Formula 1) at Mosport, St. Jovite and Montreal

Introduced Formula Atlantic to North America and created a Canadian Championship series which later expanded to include the USA and Mexico

As Executive Director of CASC Mr. Hanna had overall responsibility for the administration of automobile sport throughout Canada.

This responsibility included the inspections and licensing of racing circuits, the licensing of competitors, issuance of event permits, establishing and enforcing safety standards and the administration of a national insurance plan

FISA contribution

During this time, he was the Canadian sporting delegate to the FIA and FISA and held several important positions in these organizations.

1975 – 85	Member of the Executive Committee of FISA
1976 – 78	Member of the Circuits and Safety Commission, including a term as President
1980 – 83	Member of the Formula 1 Organizers Commission
1980 – 85	Member of the FIA Committee
1982 – 85	President of the World Cup Commission
1983 – 84	President of the Regulations Commission
1983 – 85	Member of the President’s World Sporting Council
1983 – 85	Member of the working group for the revision of the International Sporting Code

In 1976, in London, Mr. Hanna was Chairman of the FIA conference on motor racing circuits and safety which created the FIA safety manual which is the worldwide standard for motor racing safety and circuit construction.

in June 1983, under Mr. Hanna’s auspices, an International safety and medical seminar was organized in Montreal, Canada.

On behalf of the FIA Mr. Hanna has conducted inspections of the circuit and safety installations at the following International racetracks:

Japan – Fuji and Suzuka

Mexico – Mexico City Autodrome

USA – Daytona, Talledega, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Limerock, Riverside, Laguna Seca, Hallet

Mr. Hanna also acted as an FIA appointed observer or steward at the following World Champion Events:

Grand Prix of Brazil; British Grand Prix; USA Grand Prix — Long Beach; USA Grand Prix — Watkins Glen; USA Grand Prix — Detroit; Monaco Grand Prix; Grand Prix of Japan; Grand Prix of Holland;

World Endurance Championship – Silverstone, England

24 Hours of Daytona – USA;

World Endurance Championship – Japan;

San Remo Rally

In the words of Yvon Leon, Secretary general of FISA, June 1986 “The term of Mr. Hanna’s involvement in automobile sport at the International level and the depth of his experience is a record which at this time is unequalled by any other person in North America.”

1986 – 2000 Vice President, National Accounts, Motorsport Division, K & K Insurance Group. Responsible for management of the group providing insurance and risk management support to major sanctioning bodies, permanent and temporary road racing circuits, super speedways, drag strips, power boat races, motorcycle events and karting activities.