Class of 2021 Announced for Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame December 15, 2020 Regional PETITCODIAC, NB – Management for the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame (MMHF) is pleased to announce the 10 new inductees who will make up the Class of 2021. Each is being recognized for significant accomplishments and/or contributions in Maritime motorsports. From New Brunswick · Hinson Ashe (Moncton) – Competitor, Stock Car · Raymond ‘Ray’ Bastille (Moncton) – Competitor, Sports Car · Robert ‘Bob’ Guthrie (Fredericton) – Competitor/Builder, Sports Car From Nova Scotia · Dwight Giddens (Bible Hill) – Builder · Glen Walker (Lower Sackville) – Competitor, Drag Racing · Russell White / Bobby White (Kennetcook) – Competitor/ Builder, Stock Car From Prince Edward Island · Emmett ‘Emmo’ Donahue (Charlottetown) – Competitor, Stock Car · Kris Fournier (Charlottetown) – Competitor/Builder, Stock Car · Allan MacPhail / David Peters (Cornwall) – Competitor/ Builder, Stock Car · Prince Edward Island Antique Car Club (Kensington) – Collector/ Promoter, Antiques The MMHF Induction Committee considered numerous nominees in making their selection; they would like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination. These inductees were planned as the Class of 2020 but with the COVID-19 restrictions, the ceremony was postponed and there will be no Class of 2020. These inductees will join more than 140 individuals and clubs that have been recognized by the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame since the inaugural class in 2006. The induction ceremony is set for November 13, 2021, at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Tickets are available now and can be purchased by calling 506-756-2110 or emailing maritimemotorsports@gmail.com. The tickets are $85.00 each which includes a reception, dinner, and the awards ceremony. The dress code is formal for this occasion. Bios for each of the members of the Class of 2021 follow (in alphabetic order): Hinson Ashe – Moncton, NB Inducted as a Stock Car Competitor. Hinson was the first to build and run a 65 Mustang in Canada, according to Wheel Spin newspaper back in the ’60s. He won his share of races and Mid-Seasons, etc. He raced River Glade Speedway, McEwen’s Raceway, for years. He also raced Danny’s Speedbowl (Bathurst), Yarmouth Speedway NS, and Shediac Speedway NB. It was rare to build Ford stock cars as the motors cost more to build… but never blew up as much as the high winding Chevs. His first cars were 55 and 56 Fords until sponsorship from Casey Ford, they supplied him with the Mustangs. Raymond C. Bastille ‘Ray’ – Moncton, NB Being inducted as a Competitor Sports Car. Ray started Autocross in 1988. His contribution to motorsports includes Recreational, Road Challenge, Rally, Sports Car; he has worked as a team and as an official. His accomplishments include National Class Champion B Stock Autocross National Class Champion D Autocross; Overall Regional Champion multiple times; Autocross Regional Class Champion multiple times, Multiple Classes Autocross; Past President Moncton Motor Sports Club; Multiple Terms as Regional Solo Director; and Organizer Slalom at Slalom since 1995 (25 years). Emmett Joseph Donahue ‘Emmo’ – Charlottetown, PE Being inducted as Competitor/Stock Car (Mini Stock, Street Class). Numerous top 10-point finishes in Mini Stock. In PEI Emmett has raced at East Rive Speedway, Oyster Bed Speedway, and Elephant Rock Speedway: in NB Petty Raceway and Centre For Speed. In 1993 he began racing in the very competitive Street Stock. 1995 10 years award of dedication to racing at Raceway Park. 1999 second-place points Street Stock, Oyster Bed Speedway. 2011 Most Sportsman driver, and Myrna O’Connor Award (given to who adds spirit and enthusiasm to the sport. 2012, 2013 third-place point Street Stock Oyster Bed Speedway. Kris Fournier – Charlottetown, PE Being inducted as a Competitor/Builder Stock Car. Kris’s racing story began in 1986 He raced in the Mini Stock division at East River Speedway for several years, then moved to the Street Stock Division at Oyster Bed Speedway. He loved everything about the sport – the thrill of racing – the action, the competition, and the excitement of the track. In 1998 Kris made the move to the Modified Division there he competed until 2004. He then moved up to the Maritime Pro Stock Tour where he raced for 4 years. He changed back to the Late Model. In 2013 he was a Late Model Champion and in 2014 placed 2nd. In 2015 Kris retired. His accomplishments are many, including 1987, 1994, 1997, 2014 – Most Sportsman Like Driver; 2002, 2003 – Most Dedicated Drive Modified Class; 2010 – Winner Pro Stock Super Series; 2013 – Late Model Division Champion; 2013 – Best Appearing Car Late Model Class; 2014 – 2nd Place Championship Late Model Class; All of these awards were at Oyster Bed Speedway except in 1987 was at East River Speedway. Dwight Giddens – Bible Hill, NS Being inducted as Motorsports Builder. In 1973, at the age of 17, he became interested in stock car racing. In 1974 he became Rick Upham’s engine builder. In 1982 Dwight gave up his day job and went full time at his shop that he called R&D Performancenter. Dwight began making contacts by phone with nearly every performance supplier in North America that included such industry people as Ray Baker of Baker Engineered Racing Engines; World Products/Dart Racing Heads and Vic Edelbrock of Edelbrock Performance. In 1985 R&D Performancenter purchased Hub City Performance in Truro. Dwight developed an “Inventory Number Sequencing” system and convinced Hoosier Tire to manufacture their tires for MASCAR using this system. Hoosier Tire used that system throughout North America. The system led to the bar code system that is the industry standard today. In 2004, R&D Performancenter became the Legends Cars dealer for the Maritimes. Dwight served as President for the Maritime League Of Legends from 2008 to 2013. R&D Performancenter was sold in 2006, but Dwight remains the inventory control manager. Robert B. Guthrie ‘Bob’ (deceased) – Fredericton, NB Being inducted as a Competitor/Motorsports Builder Sports Car. Robert lived much of his adult life in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Heracedcarsfrom age 17 till 62, contributing much to amateur motorsportin the Atlantic Region. For his 40 years of champion racing as well as his contribution to the development and promotion of the sport, he was awarded the Ken Vaughan Memorial Trophy. Bob’s principal legacy to sports car racing in the Maritimes was his role as the designer of the Atlantic Motorsports Park (AMP) track. The track is a permanent monument to Bob’s love of the sport. Allan MacPhail / David Peters – Cornwall, PE They raced together for nearly 30 years, so are being inducted together They began in the early seventies on the clay at Charlottetown Speedway in Sleepy Hollow, with cars that were stock or at least a combination of stock parts. Allan was the driver that wanted to win races and championships. David wore many hats; he was a car builder, pit crew, crew chief, fabricator, and builder of the sport. David was always looking for a way to go a little faster. Their combination worked, winning multiple championships at different tracks, under different conditions, with cars that were constantly becoming more advanced. Winning races and championships continued into the late ’70s. At Freetown Speedway David took it upon himself, to build a fence to keep the fans a safe distance from the action. They convinced the owners of the drag strip, Raceway Park, to build a stock car track, a ¼ mile dirt oval that opened in 1985. In 1986 East River Speedway opened and they won the championship at both tracks. Even the way they got to the track changed over the years, from flat tow to the back of a dump truck and car trailers. Prince Edward Island Antique Car Club (PEIACC) – Kensington, PE Being inducted for their Motorsports contribution: Collector, Promoter, Preservation, and Restoration of antique cars of 30 years and older. The Prince Edward Island Car Club was formed in 1964. The preservation and enjoyment of vehicles thirty years and older is its main purpose. The province’s redesigned antique auto license plate commemorates Canada’s first automobile, owned by “Father Georges-Antoine Belcourt, a pioneering priest in the Rustico area, Prince Edward Island in 1866. Glen Walker – Lower Sackville, NB Being inducted as Competitor, Drag Racing. Glen started his love affair with motorsports in the mid-1960s. As an accomplished drag racer, Glen has dozens of event wins to his credit throughout the drag strips in NS. Glen was a founding member of the Halifax-based Intruders Car Club and in the mid-’70s he worked with Bruce Robertson to bring top-caliber car shows to the Maritimes. He was an International Show Car Association (ISCA) member and judge from 1976-95, Glen was instrumental in bringing monster trucks to the Maritimes. Glen sponsored Greg Sewart’s racing for years. As his friend Jerry ‘Jer Bear’ Lawrence (Class of 2007) comments “Glen is one of the good guys who has helped build motorsports in NS, NB, and PEI. Russell White / Bobby White – Kennetcook, NS Being inducted as a Builder/ Competitor, Stock Car Racing. Russell White and family was the backbone of the hotbed of Late Model racing that came from Kennetcook in the years of the 60s through the 80s. Russell White bought Onslow Speedway in 1978. Russell’s support to the local racing community was unwavering. Russell’s son Bobby started racing in 1977 at the age of 18 in the Mini class at Atlantic Speedway and won the Points Championship. The next year he moved up to Late Model and in 1980 he won the points championship at Onslow. In only his third year behind the wheel of a stock car, he made quite an impression not only in NS, NB but also in Cayuga, Delaware, and Flamboro in Ontario. He was a regular winner in MASCAR. Bobby stopped racing full-time due to back problems but ran some special events over the years. He was always a fan favorite. To learn more about the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame (MMHF) please visit the MMHF museum in Petitcodiac or online at www.mmhf.ca.
