Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame welcome 21 inductees 24.03.2017: The Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame, presented by Speedcafe.com, has inducted 21 new members at a gala function attended by FIA President

The Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame, presented by Speedcafe.com,  has inducted 21 new members at a gala function attended by FIA President, Jean Todt in Melbourne tonight.



The Australian Hall of Fame was launched last year with an inaugural list of 30 inductees including three-time Formula 1 World champion Sir Jack Brabham and five-time MotoGP champion, Mick Doohan.



Tonight’s inductee list included competitors from virtually every facet of the sport as well as two “special” awards for legendary engineer Ron Tauranac and long-time administrator, John Large.



Hall of Fame chairman, Garry Connelly, was delighted with the outcome of evening.



“It has been another fantastic evening and I think has carried on a great tradition from last year’s inaugural event,” said Connelly.“Tonight’s list of inductees will again create plenty of opinion and debate and that’s what programs like the Hall of Fame are all about.



“I think the 2017 list of inductees is a terrific tapestry of contributors from all sections of the sport, whether two wheels or four or from the dirt or tarmac.“As you would expect, we already have had a few suggestions from people at tonight’s dinner for next year’s inductee list.



“When you go to work to put the list together each year you realise what a great depth of talent and history we have in every aspect in Australian Motor Sport.”



One of the highlights of the evening was the attendance of FIA President Jean Todt who presented the final Hall of Fame dinner medal to legendary Formula 1 engineer Ron Tauranac.



Todt was the special guest at the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame dinner presented by Speedcafe.com at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre tonight and wasted no time ranking the locals as "world class".


"It is pleasure to be here tonight in your beautiful country and this great city of Melbourne for such a special weekend," said Todt. "Australia has been demonstrating for decades how it should be done in motor racing and safety. Your country is an example of how things should be done.



"The contribution of officials is outstanding and has led to Australians training others all over the world. "Please enjoy the weekend, especially with a driver (Daniel Ricciardo) a chance of being on the podium.




"Incidentally I came here a few decades back and is always a part of the history of the country, that passion for motor sport and are real ambassadors of motor sport for around the world."



Tonight’s inductee list includes Arthur George “Bluey” Wilkinson and Leigh Scott Adams from the world of speedway motorcycles.



Jim Read became the second drag racer inducted after Ash Marshall paved the way last year.


Jim Richards and Mark Skaife were announced as “advance” inductees back in December and they were joined on the list by fellow motor racing stalwarts Lex Davison, Frank Gardner, Kevin Bartlett, Larry Perkins and Vern Schuppan.


The two-wheel tarmac inductees included Troy Corser, Keith Campbell and Tom Phillis, who became the first rider to win a world championship on a Japanese motorcycle when he clinched the 125cc title on a Honda in 1961.



Coral Taylor became the first woman inducted into the Hall of Fame along with her long-time rallying partner, Neal Bates. Kiwi Possum Bourne was also included on the list of rallying inductees.



Ken Rumble joined 2016 inductees Jeff Leisk and Stephen Gall in the Hall of Fame through his efforts on a motocross bike.



Legendary karter John Pizzaro put his name beside former world champion James Courtney while Johnny Stewart became the third speedway car driver in the Hall of Fame, joining Ray Revell and Garry Rush.



F1-winning engineer Ron Tauranac and long-time administrator John Large joined Phil Irving and Donald “DKT” Thomson in the Hall of Fame in the “special” section, which highlights the efforts of off-track contributions.



Victorian drag racing volunteer and official, Paul Rogers Sr, was announced as the first Speedcafe.com Spirit of Speed Volunteer of the Year, Presented by Dunlop, for his 50-plus years of contribution to his sport.



2017 INDUCTEES LIST

Motor Racing

Alexander Nicholas “LEX” Davison (D)
Jim Richards
Mark Skaife
Frank Gardner (D)
Kevin Bartlett
Larry Perkins
Vern Schuppan

Motorcycle Racing

Keith Ronald Campbell (D)
Thomas Edward Phillis
Troy Corser
Rallying
Peter “Possum” Bourne (D)
Neal Bates
Coral Taylor

Motorcycle Speedway

Arthur George ‘Bluey’ Wilkinson (D)
Leigh Scott Adams
Motorcycle - Motocross
Ken Rumble
Drag Racing
Jim Read
Karting
John Pizarro
Speedway Cars
Johnny Stewart (D)


Special Category

John Large (D) - (Administration)
Ron Tauranac – (Engineer)
(D) = Deceased


2016 INAUGURAL LIST

Motor Racing

Sir Jack Brabham
Alan Jones
Frank Matich
Allan Moffat
Dick Johnson
Peter Brock
Colin Bond
Bob Jane
Harry Firth

Motorcycle Racing

Mick Doohan
Casey Stoner
Troy Corser
Wayne Gardner
Gregg Hansford
Kel Carruthers
Rallying
Ross Dunkerton
Jack”Gelignite” Murray


Motorcycle Speedway

Jason Crump
Jack Young
Lionel Van Pragg


Motorcycle Motocross

Jeff Leisk
Stephen Gall
Drag Racing
Ash Marshall


Karting

James Courtney


Speedway Cars

Garry Rush
Ray Revell


Land Speed Records

Norman “Wizard” Smith


Off-road

Mark Burrows



Special category


Phil Irving - (Engineer)
Donald DKT Thomson - (Administration)



Brett Murray - Speedcafe.com also photos