SNOWMOBILE HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2019 INDUCTEES
Todd Wolff, Richard Bahr, Goodwin Brothers, and Jim Kedinger to be Honored During 2019 Ceremony in St. Germain, Wis.; Tickets on Sale Now for Expanded Two-Day Induction Weekend Event
The Snowmobile Hall of Fame (SHOF) and Museum in St. Germain, Wis., announced today its four inductees for 2019: Todd Wolff, Richard Bahr, Goodwin Brothers, and Jim Kedinger. These honorees will be inducted into the SHOF during a two-day induction ceremony weekend, February 15-16, 2019 in St. Germain, coinciding with the 36th Annual Ride with The Champs and other events. All snowmobile enthusiasts and race fans are invited.
Todd Wolff (Racer) of Annandale, Minn., raced for Ski-Doo for most of his 12-year career (1992-2003), demonstrating true determination and loyalty as he helped the company develop a competitive sled for cross-country. Frequently competing against more adept sleds, Wolff and his team were always fiercely competitive, including winning the 1994 ISOC Detroit Lakes 200. When better equipment came, so too did the championships. Wolff delivered Ski-Doo’s first I-500 cross-country victory in 26 years when he captured the win 1998. He won it again in 1999, the same year he earned the FANS championship title. More than a one-dimensional racer, Wolff captured national snocross wins and championship titles, as well as top finishes in ice ovals, ice lemans and enduro events.
Richard “Dick” Bahr (Support) from Fond du Lac, Wis., is regarded as one of the most innovative and respected engine builders and tuners in the industry. He played a significant role in the careers of many current Snowmobile Hall of Fame inductees by building and tuning engines for factory Polaris, Mercury, Rotax, and John Deere racers. Bahr-built engines captured Eagle River World Championships, Winnipeg to St. Paul I-500 Championship, Soo International 500 Enduro Championship, Sno Pro Championships and High Point Titles, as well as multiple USAA class championships and world series winners. Richard Bahr passed away March 1, 2014.
Goodwin Brothers (Team) – Guided by their father Charlie, brothers Jeff and Greg Goodwin of Zion, Ill., delivered decades of winning excellence and popularity in the snowmobile racing arena, and oval events in particular. After campaigning several brands early in their career, the Goodwin Brothers race team became factory Ski-Doo oval racers, with Greg winning the World Championship in 1991. The team added two more World Championship titles in 1993 and 1995; innumerable class victories in USSA and SWSRA; and the grueling 24-Hours of Eagle River Championship in 1997. The family established Goodwin Performance in 1992 and remains vibrantly active within the snowmobile racing community.
Jim Kedinger (Industry) of Hazelhurst, Wis., provided an integral link between Yamaha Motor Corporation and the company’s racing success and greatly bolstered the brand’s rise to become the market share leader during the mid-1980s. Kedinger assembled and led what would become Yamaha’s legendary “Super Team” consisting of Tim Bender, Steve Houle, Jim Wergin, Guy Useldinger, Bobby Donahue and others, who together were a dominant force in oval, ice lemans and snocross. Kedinger managed Yamaha’s racing department during that time and forged and managed vital relationships between racers, aftermarket companies and the brand, as well as creating important contingency and promotional efforts for racing that helped grow the sport. Kedinger’s tenure as racing manager at Yamaha is widely recognized as the brand’s most successful era of snowmobile competition.
Snowmobile racing fans and enthusiasts are invited to the SHOF 36th Annual Ride with The Champs and Induction Ceremony weekend, presented by Modine Hot Dawg Garage Heaters, February 15-16, 2019. The expanded two-day event features guest speakers, vintage and modern trail riding opportunities, a meet-and-greet with past and current SHOF members along with other snowmobile industry celebrities, and a formal induction ceremony with dinner. In addition, the Snowmobile Hall of Fame Museum will be open along with the new 6,000 square-foot, two-story addition throughout the weekend.
Learn more and get details on the complete weekend schedule at www.snowmobilehalloffame.com Get your Advanced Tickets now, quantities are limited and this event is expected to sell out.
John,
Looks like the HoF has another first class group of inductee’s for 2019. Personally, I can’t wait to meet Todd Wolf, always been a big fan.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the “Ride with the Champs” and the induction ceremony!
-“John Deere Joe” Rainville
Todd Wolff winning anything with that doo is one of the most impressive things I have ever seen…It was a complete pile. Epic rider!
Todd Wolff was a phenomenal racer and is a great person. His 1995 ISOC Pro class win at Detroit Lakes was one of the grittiest performances I’ve seen in a career of covering XC races. That stock Ski-Doo sled was truly a POS compared to Cat and Polaris sleds. He was one of the best XC, snocross and Le Mans racers of that VERY competitive era despite being severely handicapped by an inferior snowmobile throughout much of it.
His brother Lauren is also a SHOF-worthy racer who I hope will someday get his own plaque.
@ John, that was an absolutely fantastic time for snowmobile racing multiple guys that could race damn near anything, old guys, guys in their prime, super kids coming up. HUGE fields….Good times!