Coral Taylor became the first woman inducted into the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame at a gala function attended by FIA President, Jean Todt, in Melbourne.
Neal Bates and Coral Taylor were inducted into the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame last weekend. (Photo: CAMS)Also inducted was her long-time rallying partner, Neal Bates, while seven-time Australian Champion, the late Possum Bourne, was also included on the list of rallying inductees.
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.
The 2017 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.
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 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre 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.”
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)
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