PETITCODIAC, NB – Management for the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame (MMHF) is pleased to announce the 10 new inductees who will be inducted to the Hall in 2022. Each is being recognized for significant accomplishments and/or contributions in Maritime motorsports.
From New Brunswick
· Paul Arsenault (Shediac) – Motorsports Builder
· Rick Cashol (Saint John) – Competitor, Stock Car
· Kandy Mitton (Sussex) – Competitor, Drag Racing
From Nova Scotia
· Thomas “Tommy” Harmes (Halifax) – Competitor/Builder, Stock Car
· Robert “Bob” Riley (Halifax) – Competitor/Builder, Stock Car
· The Roache Brothers, Donald & Gary (Halifax) – Builder, Stock Car
From Prince Edward Island
· Rudy & Ruth Croken (Kensington) – Motorsports Builders
· Everett “Layton” Johnston (Summerside) – Competitor, Stock Car
· Mike McCarville (Kensington) – Competitor/Builder, Stock Car
· Michael “Glenn” MacLean (Wheatley River) – Competitor/Builder, Drag Racing
The MMHF Induction Committee considered numerous nominees in making their selection; they would like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination.
These inductees will join more than 150 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 19, 2022, at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. It will be on the heels of the 2021 MMHF Induction Ceremony to be held November 18, also at the Rodd Royalty. Tickets can be purchased for both nights at a discount or for either night by calling 506-756-2110 or emailing maritimemotorsports@gmail.com. The dress code is formal for both events.
Bios for each of the members of the Class of 2022 follow (in alphabetic order):
PAUL ARSENAULT – His career was automotive shop teacher (1970-2001). From the time he was old enough to drive his first car he wanted to make it go faster. Many of his engines made it to the winner’s circle. He has been a staple in the local, regional and national motorsports scene. He has spent the last 50 plus years with his passion, and the car and truck owners have reaped the awards. He provided engine work, tune-ups and complete engine overhauls for winners on drag strips, oval tracks, mud bogs.
He has sponsored many drivers and their car over the years. Paul now retired from his trade, enjoys building race engines in his sons’ engine shop in Shediac.
RICK CASHOL – Started racing stock cars at age 17, 1974. His first Late Model Track championship was in 1976. He has had many, many track Championships, Most Popular Driver Awards, and Best-Looking Car Awards. He is still racing. He has raced at all stockcar tracks in New Brunswick. He was Vice President of Maritime Motorsports Hall Of Fame Inc. 2006 – 2009.
RUDY& RUTH CROKEN – Rudy and Ruth have been on many Cross Canada tours with one of their antique cars. They have spent many hours researching the Charlottetown provincial archives for information on the early years of the automobile on PEI from 1905-1919. With his research he published a book “Ban the Automobile Instrument of Death,” published in 2017. Rudy is a lifetime member of the Prince Edward Island Antique Car Club, Ruth is Secretary. Rudy has received the Citizen of the Year Award (PEIACC); he is Director of the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada representing Cross Canada tour guide and automotive historian; he led a PEIACC committee in designing a new plate for the antique cars that recognizes one of the most significant historical events in Canadian automobile history. He has published articles re the first automobile in Canada in many well known publications.
THOMAS HARMES – Tom travelled to all major events in the Maritimes and Newfoundland from 1967 to 1981. He also drove modified class cars for Carl Conrod and Ron Monroe. He raced first on ¼ mile dirt tracks,1967 moved to asphalt tracks. He competed in Sportsman and Modified classes.Raced the International 100’s and invitational events. He raced in both divisions on the same race card for two years. He raced at River Glade Speedway, near Moncton; Danny’s Speedbowl, Bathurst; Riverside Speedway, Antigonish all on the same weekend, competing in special events such as the International 100’s. Received award for Best Dressed Pit Crew at Halifax Int, Speedway. Won a winner trophy at Spence Speedway, St John’s NFLD. 1968 was president of Seabreeze Stock Car Club. 1970 President of Nova Scotia Stock Car Association. Tom was a welder/fabricator, built racecars and equipment for other car owners. Most notable he built wheels for both race cars and street vehicles, totaling more than 10,000 wheels.
EVERETT “Layton” JOHNSTON – Raced stock car from 1965-1979. PEI Stock Car Association Triple win Aug 1969. Labor Day Free for all Trophy ‘68. Triple win 1968. 2 Benefit Races trophies 1968. Over the course of five years built, maintained and ran seven cars with great consistency. Rarely missing a race and finishing near the front of the pack regularly. In 1969 alone, between 26 races at the Charlottetown and Freetown race tracks he accumulated nine wins, nine seconds & seven thirds.
MICHAEL (Glenn) MacLEAN – Glenn started racing in1979. 2005 his son, Matthew, started racing Jr. dragster; his daughter, Danielle, raced her Camaro; in 2019 grandson, Carter, started racing Jr. dragster.
Glenn’s driving skills, car building and tuning knowledge put him in the Winner’s Circle the majority of the time. He has raced in Atlantic region as well as IRHA and NHRA events in the USA. From 1984-2017 he won seven 1st place in Maritime season points and three 2nd place. From 2016-2019 he won five 1st place Wally Trophies in NHRA National Open. He has received multiple other awards.
MIKE McCARVILLE – Mike started racing at Oyster Bed Speedway when he was 18. However, he soon moved from driving to working under the hood. He was one of the members of Kevin Harvick’s pit crew when Kevin crossed the finish line to claim the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship title at Homestead Miami Speedway in 2014. Mike is the shock specialist responsible for determining which set-up is best to use for each track. There is a lot of travel and a lot of hard work. He loves stock car racing and has spent a lot time at race tracks.
KANDY MITTON – Kandy started drag racing around 1997. She was Secretary/Treasurer for the ADRA association for 10 years; one of the Olympic torch runners from Moncton to Saint John, that was used to light the Olympic cauldron on February 12 in Vancouver for the start of the 2010 Olympic games.
Kandy is the first female in Atlantic Canada to place in the top three in any Super Pro Points Series. First woman to win the Atlantic drag racing Association Super Pro Class Championship for 2015.Kandy defeated five super pro cars in six rounds of racing to earn the top eliminator honors. Her achievements in Drag races are many. Kandy had a 2-year TV series on Rogers TV “2FAST4U” it highlighted 13 high schools across New Brunswick, She was one of just 6 female drivers, and 1 of 2 Canadians chosen for the brand-new Caged Heat Series, with half-scale stock cars in-doors on a 22-foot-high oval track.
Perhaps her highest award will be on May 28 this year in Toronto, when she will be the only woman of 16 inductees to be inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame.
ROBERT (Bob) RILEY – Bob started racing in the early 70s at Atlantic Speedway as a driver/car builder, but soon realized driving was not his first love; he enjoyed the role as builder, chief mechanic and team owner. Over the years he had drivers such as: Bobby Yuille, Jim Hallahan, Kenny Cameron, Jr. Kelly, Frank Fraser, and his son Mike Riley. In 1983 Bob was a member of the MASCAR tour. In 1985 Bob’s Team (Riley Racing) won the MASCAR Championship with Jr. Kelly driving. Frank Fraser took over as the driver of the 50-car winning many events. In 1997 his son, Michael Riley took the wheel winning Rookie of the Year and finishing 11th in points. Bob retired in 2005.
THE ROACHE BROTHERS (DONALD & GARY) – Donnie & Gary were known as the Roache Bros. Racing Team, they built cars and had someone else drive for them…Ron Manual, John Dalrymple, Bill Jones, Junior Kelly, Charlie Kane, Lennie Curry, Ross May (a pitman for Don Biederman), Paul Lewis, Brian Northrup, Bobby White and Cy Harvey. These drivers were in the winner’s circle on many occasions. Lennie Currie had a lot of good finishes including winning the Atlantic Speedway International 100 in 1978 and in 1979 he had an overall 4th place finish in the Riverside 250. Some of the tracks that they had cars at were Seabreeze Speedway, Atlantic Speedway, Riverside Speedway and Maine’s Oxford Speedway. Donnie passed away a few years ago. He was well respected by his peers. He loved stock car races. Gary spends time in their race shop daily, it has been transformed to a Maritime racing history.
To learn more about the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame (MMHF) please visit the MMHF museum in Petitcodiac or online at www.mmhf.ca.