MARKHAM, Ont. – The Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the ninth member of the class of 2013. Zdeno Syrovy will be honoured at the Eighth Annual Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Reunion, which takes place on November 2 at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Center in Mississauga, Ont.
Syrovy was born in Czechoslovakia and at age 15, on his first motorcycle, won the Czech championship for the 50cc class. Recognizing his natural talent, Zdeno was hired as a mechanic as well as racing and building motorcycles, which is where Zdeno really learned his craft. During this time he racked up 38 firsts, 17 seconds and nine third place finishes.
At age 18, he went to serve the Czech army. While for most draftees it meant parade drills and digging trenches, for Zdeno it meant 24 months on the track. His racing program had official sanction because in those days manufacturing motocross bikes was an important industry and in competition events national pride was at stake. Zdeno placed ninth overall in the expert class national championship in 1968, a momentous year in his home country.
In 1969 Zdeno moved to Canada and it didn’t take long for him to make a name for himself here. Zdeno was able to win the opportunity to represent the Canadian flag at an international race in Denmark, where he placed fourth. Upon return to Canada he joined the Canadian team to compete in the international challenge series, in which they won against the Americans. This was followed by wins in other races including first place in the 250cc expert category at the Canadian championships.
This year, the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame will honour eight legends and champions. It will also be honouring The Corduroy Enduro™ as it celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2013.
The Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Reunion is the annual signature event of the Canadian International Motorcycle Heritage Museum Foundation, a non-profit association with charitable status. It is governed by an independent board of volunteer directors located from coast to coast and is sponsored in part by the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada (MCC).
Founded by Bar and Hedy Hodgson in 1999, the Canadian International Motorcycle Heritage Museum Foundation preserves and promotes Canadian motorcycle history for the benefit of the motorcycling community and the public. Since the first induction banquet in Toronto in 2006, almost 100 distinguished motorcyclists have been inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
For more information about the Eighth Annual Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Reunion, contact Daniel H. Tessier at daniel@motorcycling.ca or at (647) 920-1334.
For information about past inductees, historic motorcycle collections, event sponsorship, and tax-deductible donations, visit www.motorcyclehalloffame.ca.
–From the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada
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