Yvon Duhamel
Encyclopedia
Yvon Duhamel is a French-Canadian professional motorcycle racer and father to current AMA Superbike
roadracer Miguel Duhamel
. He won the World Championship Snowmobile Derby
in 1970. He was also a very active ice racer, using hockey shin pads to allow him to lean over farther, scraping his knee on the ice rather than merely sliding his foot as did speedway racers.
Duhamel is best remembered as a member of the Kawasaki
factory racing team during the 1970s along with team-mates Gary Nixon
and Art Baumann. He made famous the #17 on the neon green factory Kawasaki, a number now honoured by his son Miguel.
Following in the footsteps of motorcycle legends Joe Weatherly
and Paul Goldsmith
, Duhamel raced a NASCAR Winston Cup race at the North Wilkesboro Speedway
in 1973, finishing tenth for Junie Donlavey
in the #90 Truxmore Ford after starting 15th, completing 381 laps of the 400-lap Gwyn Staley 400.
Never officially retired, Duhamel raced the 24-Hour World Championship in 1988 with his sons Miguel and Mario and continues to race in the Vintage series to this day. He is still open to offers of racing the Daytona 200
. Duhamel was inducted into both the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame
and the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 1999.
AMA Superbike
AMA Pro Superbike is the premiere superbike racing series in the United States. It is part of the AMA Pro Racing series which was sold to and is managed by the Daytona Motorsports Group...
roadracer Miguel Duhamel
Miguel Duhamel
Miguel Duhamel is a Canadian motorcycle racer, the son of Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer Yvon Duhamel. He is the second winningest rider in the AMA Superbike series at 32 wins and most wins in the with AMA SuperSport series...
. He won the World Championship Snowmobile Derby
World Championship Snowmobile Derby
The World Championship Snowmobile Derby is the World championship snowmobile race. It is held at the Eagle River Derby Track along U.S. Route 45 in Eagle River, Wisconsin on the third weekend in January. Eagle River is known as the "Snowmobile Capital of the World" because it hosts the Derby...
in 1970. He was also a very active ice racer, using hockey shin pads to allow him to lean over farther, scraping his knee on the ice rather than merely sliding his foot as did speedway racers.
Duhamel is best remembered as a member of the Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
factory racing team during the 1970s along with team-mates Gary Nixon
Gary Nixon
Gary Nixon was an American motorcycle racer who, when on Triumph motorcycles, most notably won the A.M.A. Grand National Championship in 1967 and 1968. He was also a former winner of the Daytona 200 motorcycle race on a 500cc Triumph, claiming a victory in the 1967 event...
and Art Baumann. He made famous the #17 on the neon green factory Kawasaki, a number now honoured by his son Miguel.
Following in the footsteps of motorcycle legends Joe Weatherly
Joe Weatherly
Joseph "Joe" Weatherly was a two-time NASCAR championship driver. Weatherly was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009 after winning NASCAR's Grand National championships in 1962 and 1963, three A.M.A...
and Paul Goldsmith
Paul Goldsmith
Paul Goldsmith is a motorcycle Hall of Famer, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee and former USAC and NASCAR driver.- Motorcycle career :...
, Duhamel raced a NASCAR Winston Cup race at the North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway was a short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996...
in 1973, finishing tenth for Junie Donlavey
Junie Donlavey
W.C. "Junie" Donlavey , is a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner with a team based in Richmond. Rarely fielding a car without his familiar #90, he began fielding his team in 1950. He drove for his team at first, but soon gave way to other drivers...
in the #90 Truxmore Ford after starting 15th, completing 381 laps of the 400-lap Gwyn Staley 400.
Never officially retired, Duhamel raced the 24-Hour World Championship in 1988 with his sons Miguel and Mario and continues to race in the Vintage series to this day. He is still open to offers of racing the Daytona 200
Daytona 200
The Daytona 200 is a 68-lap, motorcycle race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.-History:The race evolved from a beach racing venue in 1937 to the Daytona International Speedway course in 1961....
. Duhamel was inducted into both the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame
Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame
The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was founded in 1993 by Lee Abrahamson and Gary Magwood assisted by Len Coates to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of the Canadian motorsport community....
and the AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 1999.