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Pioneers of racing, custom cars roar into recognition

Three Surrey residents are being inducted as 2014 Vancouver Motorsports Pioneers for their significant contributions to their fields.
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Surrey's Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society 2014 inductees Carl Blomfeldt (top left

Three Surreyites are being inducted into the Greater Vancouver Motorsports Pioneers Society Saturday in Cloverdale.

Carl Blomfeldt, Dwain Kremyr and Art Brumpton are among 17 new inductees to be honoured at the 14th annual induction ceremony, taking place at Shannon Hall Sept. 20.

Blomfield is being inducted for his long career in motorcycle racing. He helped introduce speedway motorcycle racing to Vancouver fans in the 1980s, and went on to race in the U.S., the U.K, Europe, and the Grand Prix. An engine builder and tuner, he’s worked with riders who became world champions. This year, he’s been in Poland helping another young rider achieve international recognition.

Pioneer drag racer Kremyr got his first car at 12, a 1950 Meteor he used to learn to drive, and by the time he was 15, he and his brother were building a 1949 Thames into a drag racing car.

After buying a famous 1957 Thunderbird called Blackbird in 1971, Kremyr continued campaigning it at Mission Raceways. He went on to build cars for customers, something he still does at Kremyr Racing in Cloverdale.

Brumpton, another Cloverdale resident, is being inducted as a Motorsports Pioneer for his contributions as a hotrod and custom car enthusiast.

A past president of the B.C. Hot Rod Association, he raced Corvettes in the Pacific Northwest for many years. Track racing, hot rods and custom cars remain a passion for Brumpton. Cars in his garage include a modified 1929 Ford roadster pickup, a 1966 Chevrolet Impala station wagon, a 1957 Chevrolet BelAir and a 1939 Ford sedan.

The Greater Vancouver Motorsports Pioneer Society has inducted 215 pioneers in its efforts to recognize and record the accomplishments of those people who have made major contributions over the past 40 years.

“The Motorsport Pioneers Society continues to recognize individuals who have made major contributions in past years as a way to celebrate this history,” GVMPS president Jim Greenwood said.

Areas of expertise include hot rodding, custom car building, drag racing, land speed racing, sports car and road racing, motorcycling, power boat racing, car collecting and restoration.

All motorsports enthusiasts are invited to the event, running from 1-5 p.m. It’s open to everyone. Admission is $15 at the door.

For more information contact www.gvmps.org.

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