Hockey may be the national sport in Canada, but drag racing isn’t far behind in overall popularity.
And nearly 40 legends in the sport were honored Oct. 9 as inaugural inductees of the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame in Montreal.
Among the 28 living and 10 posthumous legends honored included racers, crew chiefs, mechanics, track officials, promoters and sponsors from across the nation “who made a lasting impact and significant difference the development of drag racing in Canada and elsewhere,” according to a media release from the Hall.
“The recognition of world-class Canadian drag racing legends, all under one roof, is long overdue,” said Hall founder John Scotti. “I am very excited about this achievement for the sport and look forward to sharing it with others who will visit the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame museum as well.”
Added Hall director Bob Aubertin, “It is a dream come true to see great ones of our sport getting the recognition they deserve for their extraordinary achievements, contributions and efforts for the sport of drag racing.”
Among inductees are NHRA senior vice president Graham Light, all-star crew chief Dale Armstrong, famed Funny Car driver Gordie Bonin, longtime John Force Racing crew chief Bernie Fedderly, former U.S. Nationals Top Fuel winner Terry Capp and 1970 Winternationals Super Stock winner Barrie Poole, the first Canadian driver to win an NHRA national event.
A former Competition Eliminator and Top Fuel driver, Light owned and operated Edmonton International Speedway in his hometown from 1974 to 1982. He joined NHRA in 1984 and has been with the sanctioning body ever since.
“It’s a great honor to be inducted into the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame during its inaugural year and to be included among the legends of Canadian Drag Racing,” said Light, who was inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1996. “All of the inductees owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to founder John Scotti for his vision in creating the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame, which will provide an appropriate venue to preserve the history of the sport well into the future.”
Complete list of inductees in alphabetical order:
- Dale Armstrong, AB (Posthumous)
- Gordie Bonin, AB (Posthumous)
- Ron Bracken, Pierrefonds, QC (Posthumous)
- Ronald Brunet, Napierville, QC
- Frank Cantusci, Ottawa, ON
- Terry Capp, Sturgeon County, AB
- Wally Clark, Niagara, ON
- Aurèle Collette, Bouctouche, NB
- George Constantine, Montreal, QC (Posthumous)
- Marcel Couture, St. Henri, QC (Posthumous)
- Garry Dearn, Lasalle, QC
- Louis Desjardins, Montreal, QC
- John Dingman, Montreal, QC (Posthumous)
- Sandy Elliot, Chatham, ON (Posthumous)
- John Elliot, Chatham, ON
- Bernie Fedderly, Edmonton, AB
- Alban Gauthier, Montreal, QC
- Ralph Hope, London, ON
- Don Lavoie, Dieppe, NB
- Graham Light, Edmonton, AB
- André Massé, St.-Jean d’Iberville, QC (Posthumous)
- Jacques Marier, Repentigny, QC
- Terry ‘Zeke’ Maxwell, St. Constant, QC
- Ken McDonald, Montreal, QC (Posthumous)
- Doug Miller, Williamsburg, ON
- Jim Morrison, Elmsdale, NS
- John Petrie, Victoria, B.C.
- Barrie Poole, Montague, PEI / Chatham, ON
- Jim Rini, Kingston, ON
- Dan Rini, Kingston, ON
- Joe Roy, Montreal/Toronto, QC/ON
- Stan Sipos, Victoria, BC
- FJ Smith, Cayuga, ON
- Ollie Stephan, Scarborough, ON
- Alain Tanguay, Charlesbourg, QC
- Claude Tetreault, Napierville, QC
- Denis Warner, Toronto, ON (Posthumous)
- Scott Wilson, London, ON
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