Daniel Amor - Class of 2018

Vada — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 18:10:53 +0000

Daniel Amor - Class of 2018 Vada Wed, 01/23/2019 - 13:10

Dan thrived on tough rides and persevered when the going was at its worst

Daniel John Amor was an avid motorcycle competitor. He raced in many disciplines including ISDE, Dirt Track, Enduro, Motocross and Hare Scrambles.

He was a mentor for the younger rider, especially the kids that hung around the family motorcycle shop, Amor Honda in Surrey, BC. Dan was born to ride. Many riders came to him for advice and he gladly shared his knowledge. Following in his father’s footsteps, Dan was taught sportsmanship and mechanics. His Father was Vern Amor who was inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2010 and passed away in 2012.

Dan was raised in the world of motorcycles. He was always at the shop shadowing his father and learning the bikes. After graduation he worked as the parts department manager when he wasn’t travelling to races. He left the family business in the late 1970’s to build his own businesses, D. J. Salvage and Dan’s Cycle & Recycle. He loved his work with Honda cars and motorcycles and was also a distributor for KTMs.

Dan started competing in the 1960’s at Motocross and Hare Scrambles in Victoria and eventually raced all over British Columbia, Alberta and Washington. He was one of the top racers in the 1970’s.

He dirt tracked at Hannigan Speedway and Monroe in Washington as well as the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver and Castle Rock, Washington. Dan thrived on tough rides and against tough riders. He persevered when the going was at its worst. He froze his hands during the ’78 Kamloops 2 Day Qualifier but maintained his gold as others dropped by the wayside. He kept his Expert numbers in flat track and motocross, using them as training for cross country. The frostbite continued to give him trouble on cold days, often riding with no feeling in his hands.

Dan was also very involved with the Centenairs Motorcycle Club putting on a huge annual event – The Sasquatch which continued for many years after his death. His goal (and his dream) was to put together enough challenging track to host an ISDE in B.C.

In the ISDT (E) Dan earned a Bronze Medal at Massachusetts in 1973; broke his wrist in Italy in 1974 and came up with another bronze at the Isle of Man in 1975. In 1976, he claimed a Gold Medal in Austria and competed at Czechoslovakia in 1977. A trip to Sweden in 1978 earned a Silver Medal as well as Germany in 1979. In total, Dan earned 17 gold medals in ISDT qualifiers south of the border.

When Dan booked a trip to Australia in 1980, flying off with no bikes in the cargo-hold, people should have been suspicious. He and Sharon mailed their wedding announcements from Ballina, N.S.W. They were married on November 28 and Sharon who had spent seven years driving to races, learning to pit and spending late nights sitting on a milk crate listening to Dan and his fellow riders “bench race,” had finally moved into first place in his life. In 1983, Dan was so proud when their son was born the day before his 28^th birthday.

In 1983 Dan was chosen to ride on Canada’s ISDE team again in Wales and was preparing for the trip when cancer struck. Shortly after booking their flight in June, he was hospitalized with chronic abdominal pains and in September the surgeons removed a cancerous tumor and told him he was terminal. Ever the fighter, Dan did not give up hope but passed away December 15^th 1983.

Daniel was known as a kind, quiet, intelligent, friendly and hilarious man. He was ambitious but believed in setting reasonable goals and was very successful in his racing. Although his life was very short, he enjoyed it to the fullest.

The following awards are presented in Dan Amor’s honour and memory: Timmy’s 24 Hour Marathon Medal – presented for race organization and promotion of the event.

Dan Amor Memorial Trophy: presented at the Sasquatch Cross Country for promotion of the event.

Dan Amor Memorial Plaque: presented to CMA members for sportsmanship in British Columbia cross country events.

Guy Giroux - Class of 2022

Vada — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 21:25:54 +0000

Guy Giroux - Class of 2022 Vada Tue, 02/21/2023 - 16:25

Somewhat of an off-road juggernaut

Guy says his passion for riding and racing has not diminished and he was never there to finish second, he had to win! By the time he was a Junior, he knew he wanted to go all the way. Blair Sharpless was the top guy and he wanted to be just like him!

Based in St-Hippolyte, Quebec, Giroux has an impressive resumé in the world of off-road competition. In Quebec, Guy is somewhat of an off-road juggernaut, having reigned as the off-road Champion 16 times - from 1988 through 1994 and 2003 through 2008, in addition to capturing the 2004 Supermoto Championship in both the SM1 and SM2 classes. Guy also has the longest streak of appearances at the Montreal Supercross.

On the international front, Guy earned bronze and gold medals at, respectively, the '88 French and '89 German International Six-Day Enduro (ISDE) events. In 2002, he had the chance to enter the legendary Paris to Dakar Rally, entering as a privateer with Eric Dubeau as a teammate and sponsor. Known as the world’s toughest race was a challenge and Guy slept 3 nights in the African desert, lying on the ground with an arm around the rear wheel so that no one could steal his bike. He and Eric both finished the grueling event on their first try. Guy finished 16^th overall, second rookie and 6^th Marathon Class.

In 2003 and 2004, Guy started to race supermoto, where he was a Quebec pro champion in both classes and runner up in the National series. He also placed 16^th at the World Championship in Vegas. He was invited to the first ever indoor Endurocross in Vegas, where only 40 of the top off road racers were invited. As one of the top off roaders in the world, Guy was also invited to Weston-super-Mare beach race in England. The 6 mile circuit is described as the maddest, baddest and biggest event in the UK off road calendar and the toughest sand track in the world; he placed 16^th and the top North American. Guy competed successfully in World Enduro events from 2005 through 2007.

Giroux came back again to racing QC endurocross championship in 2003 and winning his 7^th pro title which he kept until 2010.

Giroux rode for every major brand. It was no surprise that as twelve times Quebec and three times Canadian Champion, BMW Canada signed Giroux as their official Canadian rider for 2009 Enduro Championship and member of team Moto 123.com with the first event at Daytona. He was pumped as he had been following the progress of the G450X since early 2008 and this was an incredible challenge for him and one he had been looking forward to. He was excited to leave for Florida even though his rig got stuck in the driveway and took 3 hours to get out with all the ice and snow.

Giroux has competed in Enduro, Motocross, Ice Racing, Hare Scrambles, Supercross, Supermotard, Rally Arenacross and competed across Canada, USA, England, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, France, Africa.

His passion for riding and racing does not diminish. During 2005 – 2012 he was racing professionally and under a lot of pressure. You had to win as contracts were victory bonuses. It was serious racing and prep was as important as the race.

Guy retired from professional racing in 2012 but continued to compete in the Vet Expert Class. In 2019 he competed and won the Corduroy Enduro and even did a comeback as a pro in 2021 where he finished 5^th in the FMSQ series.

From 2011 to 2013, Guy founded 801 Motosports training and helping kids to achieve their goals and since 2015, he has been busy grooming the next generation of Giroux.

Giroux also gave back to the sport and was involved for 20 years as a volunteer with FMSQ – Federation of Trail Motorcyclists of Quebec.

Guy started working in the industry in 2001 for BMG (KTM Importer) then for Husaberg, Husqvarna MC. BMW group was next in 2012; moved to DPSM for Suzuki Canada until 2018 and is currently president of Sherco Motorcycle Canada since 2020.

Guy affirme que sa passion pour le pilotage et la course n'a jamais diminué et qu'il n'était jamais là pour finir deuxième, il devait gagner! Lorsqu'il était junior, il savait qu'il voulait aller jusqu'au bout. Blair Sharpless était le meilleur et il voulait être comme lui!

Établi à St-Hippolyte, au Québec, Giroux possède un curriculum vitae impressionnant dans le monde de la compétition hors route. Au Québec, Guy est en quelque sorte une bête de course hors route, ayant été champion hors route 16 fois - de 1988 à 1994 et de 2000 à 2008, en plus d'avoir remporté le championnat de Supermoto en 2004 dans les classes SM1 et SM2. Guy a également la plus longue série d'apparitions au Supercross de Montréal.

Sur le plan international, Guy a remporté des médailles de bronze et d'or, respectivement, à l'International Six-Day Enduro (ISDE) de 1988 en France et de 1989 en Allemagne. En 2002, il a eu la chance de participer au légendaire rallye Paris-Dakar, en tant que pilote privé avec Eric Dubeau comme coéquipier et sponsor. Connue comme la course la plus dure du monde, c'était un défi et Guy a dormi 3 nuits dans le désert africain, couché sur le sol avec un bras autour de la roue arrière pour que personne ne puisse voler sa moto. Eric et lui ont tous deux terminé l'épreuve exténuante à leur première participation. Guy est arrivé 16e au classement général, deuxième recrue et 6e dans la catégorie marathon.

En 2003 et 2004, Guy a commencé à courir en supermoto, où il a été champion du Québec dans les deux catégories pros et vice-champion de la série nationale. Il s'est ensuite classé 16e au Championnat du monde à Vegas. Il a également été invité au tout premier Endurocross intérieur à Vegas, où seulement 40 des meilleurs coureurs hors route étaient conviés. En tant que l'un des meilleurs coureurs hors route du monde, Guy a également été invité à la course de plage de Weston-super-Mare en Angleterre. Le circuit de 6 miles est décrit comme l'événement le plus fou, le plus décadent et le plus important du calendrier off road britannique.La piste de sable est la plus difficile au monde et il s'est classé 16ème et le meilleur Nord-Américain. Guy a participé avec succès à des événements d'Enduro mondiaux de 2005 à 2007.

Il est ensuite revenu aux courses du championnat d'endurocross du Québec en 2003 et a remporté son 7e titre professionnel qu'il a conservé jusqu'en 2010.

Giroux a roulé pour toutes les grandes marques. Il n'est pas surprenant qu'en tant que douze fois champion du Québec et trois fois champion du Canada, BMW Canada ait signé Giroux comme pilote canadien officiel pour le championnat d'enduro 2009 et membre de l'équipe Moto 123.com lors du premier événement à Daytona. Il était très enthousiaste car il avait suivi les progrès de la G450X depuis le début de l'année 2008 et c'était un défi incroyable pour lui, qu'il attendait avec impatience. Il était très enthousiaste à l'idée de partir pour la Floride, même si son engin s'est retrouvé coincé dans son "driveway" et qu'il a fallu trois heures pour le dégager avec toute la glace et la neige.

Giroux a participé à des compétitions d'Enduro, de Motocross, de courses sur glace, de Hare Scrambles, de Supercross, de Supermotard, de Rally Arenacross et a participé à des compétitions au Canada, aux États-Unis, en Angleterre, aux Bermudes, en République Dominicaine, en France et en Afrique.

Sa passion pour la moto et la course n’a pas faiblit. De 2005 à 2012, il a participé à des courses professionnelles et a été soumis à une forte pression. Il fallait gagner car la rémunération étaient les primes de victoire. Cela demandait beaucoup de travail et la préparation était aussi importante que la course.

Guy s'est retiré des courses professionnelles en 2012 mais a continué à concourir dans la classe Vet Expert. En 2019, il a participé et remporté le Corduroy Enduro et a même fait un retour en tant que professionnel en 2021 où il a terminé 5e dans la série FMSQ.

De 2011 à 2013, Guy a fondé 801 Motosports en formant et en aidant les enfants à atteindre leurs objectifs. Depuis 2015, il s'occupe de préparer la prochaine génération de Giroux avec son fils Axel qui vient de remporter son premier championnat FMSQ.

Giroux a également redonné au sport et s'est impliqué pendant 20 ans comme bénévole auprès de la FMSQ - Fédération des motocyclistes des sentiers du Québec.

Guy a commencé à travailler dans l'industrie en 2001 pour BMG (importateur de KTM) puis pour Husaberg, Husqvarna MC. Le groupe BMW a suivi en 2012 ; il a travaillé pour Suzuki Canada jusqu'en 2018 et il est actuellement président de Sherco Motorcycle Canada depuis 2020.

Hall of Fame Internationals

Daniel Amor - Class of 2018

Guy Giroux - Class of 2022