Introducing the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2018 June 20, 2018 Regional PETITCODIAC, NB – Management for the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame (MMHF) is pleased to announce the 10 new inductees who will comprise the Class of 2018. Each is being recognized for significant accomplishments and/or contributions in Maritime motorsports. From New Brunswick Gerard Clow (Moncton) Competitor, Drag Racing Robert ‘Bob’ Duncan (Rothesay) Competitor, Stock Car James MacKinnon (Moncton, residing in Dartmouth, NS) Competitor, Motorcycle From Nova Scotia Mitchell ‘Mitch’ Cooke (Truro) – Competitor/Promoter, Motocross Danny Fahie (residing in Orange, California) – Competitor/Builder, Motocross/Supercross Mike Kaplan (Dartmouth) – Competitor, Drag Racing / Track Announcer George Koszkulics (New Glasgow) – Competitor/Builder, Stock Car Stanley Miller (Kennetcook) – Builder, Stock Car Atlantic Canada Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. (Cooks Brook) – Club From Prince Edward Island Debbie Livingston-Martin & Paul MacKenzie (Charlottetown) Jr. Drag Racing, Promoter Thirty nominations were considered by the MMHF Induction Committee in making their selection; they would like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination. The formal induction ceremony is set for November 17 at the Best Western Glengarry in Truro, Nova Scotia. Tickets are $80.00and available by calling 506-756-2110. A block of rooms is being held at a special group rate of $125.99/night (including a full hot breakfast for two) until October 31, 2018, based on availability. Call 1-800-780-7234 and let them know you will be attending the MMHF function to qualify for the group rate. The dress code is formal for this occasion. Bios for each of the members of the Class of 2018 follow (in alphabetic order): Gerard ‘Gerry’ Clow – In 1983, Gerry purchased a 1969 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet convertible Stock Eliminator and went drag racing. In 1986 he joined a group of 16 top Maritime drag racers to redevelop the Maitland NS drag strip. In May 1987 he became the first New Brunswicker to win an NHRA Division event (Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, New Jersey). In 1998 Gerry achieved perhaps his greatest success in drag racing; while still a participant he became a promoter of which he continued until 2010 – by then, local interest had expanded from less than 12 racers to over 24. 2008 was a highlight when he partnered with sponsors at Miramichi Dragway to host the richest Stock/Super Stock race in the Maritimes, with over 20 cars registered. In 2010, he retired. Mitchell ‘Mitch’ Cooke – Starting at the age of eight, he became a Maritime Motocross legend. His professional motocross career started in 1999 when he signed with Two-Wheel Motorsports, Canada’s largest motocross team. He has raced world-wide: Africa, Bermuda, Belgium, Holland, Italy, India and the United States. In 2006, he raced in front of his hometown crowd at Riverglade MX, earning a spot on the podium in both the 250 and 450 class. The native Nova Scotian has had a dream career including two national wins in New Brunswick and Manitoba, and a total of 14 podium finishes. He continues to give back to the Atlantic Motocross community…in 2009 he and his father re-opened Pleasant Valley Motocross. Mitch has multiple business interests that combine all the things he enjoys. Robert ‘Bob’ Duncan – Bob Duncan raced in New Brunswick at Brookside Speedway, Hammond River Raceway, River Glade Speedway, Petty Raceway and Speedway 660. In 1989 he raced two full schedules, a late model with MASCAR and a sportsman at Hammond River Raceway; he won the division championship at Hammond River. In 1991 he became owner/crew chief for his sons, Dana and Chris. For a time he had three cars running at Speedway 660, for his sons and himself. As a crew chief, Bob’s cars won championships in 1993 at Hammond River and in 1994 at Speedway 660. From 1998 to 2005 the Duncan family had the only two-car pro stock team in the Maritimes. Bob still helps his son Chris in his racing career at Speedway 660. Danny Fahie – Danny started racing motocross in the Atlantic region in 1983, by his fourth year he won the open Pro motocross class. He has traveled the world working with the best riders at the top level and has been the Monster Energy Kawasaki team manager since 2011, currently the senior manager for the United States Kawasaki motocross team that competes at the FIM World Championships of Supercross and Motocross. Danny has a Diploma of Engineering from Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Engineering, Metallurgy, Technical University of Nova Scotia, and a Master of Arts in Management, University of Redlands, California. Mike Kaplan – Mike’s motorsports career started in 1965 as a drag racer at Maitland Dragway where he won his first race. 1966 saw him with a Baracuda, winning many times. His ‘427 Hot Shot’ car was featured on the cover of the grand opening program for Drag City. ‘Charlie Brown’, a factory 1968 Cougar XR7, running a Barry Poole setup, won a runner-up trophy in the Top Eliminator division at Cayuga. Altogether, he won 115 trophies while drag racing. He has been an announcer at Drag City, Atlantic Speedway, Scotia Speedworld, Cape Breton Miners Speedway, Exhibition Park, Metro Centre, Centre for Speed, Lake Doucette Motor Speedway, Petty International Raceway, Speedway 660, Riverside International Speedway, Raceway Park, and PEI Go-Kart. He has been a motorsports promoter on Fredericton’s “Nick Story Hour” while announcing at the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition, and for two years as co-host with Ernie Ledwidge of a television show. In 2004, he was honoured by the local Shrine Club for the help he has provided them in fundraising at Scotia Speedworld. George Koszkulics – George started racing in 1974 and, in 2018, is still competing. George has had much success and multiple wins as a driver at numerous tracks in the Maritimes, at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, and at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine. George was a crew member of the King Racing team when it fielded cars in the ACT Tour, the NASCAR Busch North Series, and the ASA (with Scott Fraser). In 2006, he teamed up with Nova Racing, driving No. 88 and preparing cars for 2015 Pro Stock Tour champion and NASCAR Pinty’s Series winner Donald Chisholm, and for all of the NASCAR celebrity drivers which have participated in the IWK 250. Debbie Livingston-Martin / Paul MacKenzie (deceased) – In 1999, Debbie and Paul started the Jr. Dragster program for youth aged eight to 15 by holding a class for interested children and their parents, with drug education and safety, on Friday evenings at the local Jr. High School in Charlottetown. On Saturday morning the sessions moved to Raceway Park, where students put the theory to practice in Jr. Cars. Each student received a trophy, hat, and shirt. The emphasis was on the group learning and having fun. Debbie and Paul had many sponsors, one of the first were the PEI Police Association. In 1999 the Jr. Drag racing program on PEI started with one Jr. Dragster. By 2006 there were 18 Jr. racecars in existence. The Atlantic Drag Racing Association is also running a competitive points program at all the Maritime Dragstrips for the Jr. Class. In October 2012, Paul passed away but, in spite of her grief, Debbie continued donating her time to the young people. At the track, she has helped raise money for Jr. program and over the past five years helped the track and racers raise almost $50,000 for cancer research in their Pink with a Twist Program. Those around her are never ceased to be amazed by her personality and first to help attitude. James MacKinnon – He competed from 1956 to 1969 as a motorcycle racer, road racer, drag racer and a great club supporter. He held the Maritime Road Racing Championship for three years. In 1961, riding his Norton 99, he won the Grand Prix Motorcycle Race at the Scoudouc airfield, taking home the Frank Buxton trophy and $50.00. Besides Scoudouc, he raced at McEwen’s in New Brunswick; at Atlantic Park and Maitland in Nova Scotia, and at Mosport in Ontario. Stanley Miller – Stanley Miller has been involved in stock car racing since 1969; he has been a race car builder, car owner, and crew chief – sometimes wearing more than one of these hats a time. The Miller Racing team has helped many successful racers with as many as eight cars racing out of his shop at one time including championship street stock cars. His dedication to racing has taken him from Newfoundland to Ontario to Florida – and many stops in between. He is well-known for his willingness to help fellow competitors – and for always having an answer to those racing questions. His motto: “If it’s for a race car, it’s free. Josh Collins, owner-driver, of the car Stanley has worked on most recently calls Stanley Miller “a legend.” Atlantic Canada Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club Inc. (ACC) – Formed June 9, 1996, this club is a chartered affiliate of the International Studebaker Drivers Club Inc. (SDC). ACC members are required to be members of the SDC. The emphasis is on driving the Studebakers. The ACC is a Club for Studebaker owners and anyone interested in Studebaker cars, trucks and later Packards. In 2017 there were a total of 63 members from Atlantic Canada, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Maine. The ACC’s bi-monthly newsletter, “Studenews” has won a number of SDC newsletter competitions. For the past 21 years, the club has displayed and promoted the Studebaker marquee in Atlantic Canada. The ACC is a member of the National Association of Antique Car Clubs of Canada and of the Maritime Motorsports Hall Of Fame Inc. To learn more about the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame (MMHF) please visit the MMHF museum in Petitcodiac or online at www.mmhf.ca. source – MMHF communications
