A truly unique class of inductees into the racing-focused Snowmobile Hall of Fame has been announced for 2025. It honors legendary racers from such distant places as Alaska, Ontario and Montana from three very different aspects of the sport, plus a truly innovative designer from Quebec whose creations proved to be both game-changing and dominating.

The Snowmobile Hall of Fame class of 2025 will be formally inducted on February 15 at a ceremony in St. Germain, Wisconsin, but the celebration has already begun among fans for cross-country dominator Scott Davis, designer Gaetan “Chester” Duval, hill climb legend David Shepherd and the oval racing brothers Gary and Bruce Vessair.

Here’s the official release from the Snowmobile Hall of Fame (below).

SNOWMOBILE HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2025 INDUCTEES

St. Germain, Wis. (September 6, 2024) – The Snowmobile Hall of Fame (SHOF) and Museum in St. Germain, Wis., proudly announces Scott Davis, Gaetan Duval, David Shepherd and the team of Gary and Bruce Vessair as the 2025 class of inductees. These honorees will be inducted into the SHOF during a three-day celebration, February 13-15, 2025, in St. Germain.

                The 2025 class of inductees represents many parts of the North American snowbelt and multiple forms of snowmobile racing competition. From a dominator of an extreme cross-country event to a pioneer of mountain hillclimb competition, championship racers who spun high-speed laps on iced ovals to a developer of machines that changed the sport, this class includes true champions and legends who made huge impacts on the sport.

                They will be recognized and celebrated during the 41st annual Ride With The Champs weekend that culminates with a formal induction ceremony the evening of February 15, 2025. Subsequently, their likenesses will be forever decorate the walls at the SHOF museum next to previously inducted legends.

The 2025 inductees are:

Scott Davis (Racer)

Throughout his incredible 31-year racing career, Alaska’s Scott Davis defined greatness in arguably the sport’s toughest cross-country competition, the 2,000-mile Iron Dog. Davis won the epic race across the Alaskan outback an amazing seven times – first in 1985 and then again in 1989, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2007. Almost as impressive is that he completed the grand adventure in 25 of the 29 Iron Dog races he entered, and collected 8 seconds and 5 thirds, totaling 20 total podium finishes. The marathon man only missed two Iron Dog events, both due to injury.

Gaetan (Chester) Duval (Support)

Old snowmobile history books and magazines are filled with pictures of racing champions standing next to Gaetan “Chester” Duval. That’s because the Quebec native was very often the main man behind the equipment that carried them to the waving checkered flag. An inventor, designer and builder, he concepted the 1979 Ski-Doo Super Stock and Sno Pro race sleds before completely overtaking oval racing’s top class with his Formula I Twin Track design. The engineering marvel was so dominant that no other brand would challenge it. Duval also served as the title-winning Ski-Doo race director from 1980 to 1990.

David Shepherd (Racer)

Among racers and fans in the West, David Shepherd’s name is mentioned with deep reverence. The racer, sled builder and innovator was a force on the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association (RMSHA) circuit, amassing 36 wins and 98 podium finishes en route to 12 “king” titles and 5 season championships. The Montana racer also scored four King of Kings titles at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and its World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb. Shepherd, who is being inducted posthumously, is also remembered for his wild mod machines, including being first to race a turbocharged two-stroke and first to utilize final belt drive.

Gary & Bruce Vessair (Team)

For more than 20 years, brothers Gary and Bruce Vessair ran circles around their competition in snowmobile ice oval racing. From flat tracks in their native Ontario to the high-banked ovals of Eagle River to the prestige of Valcourt and very well beyond, they were self-made stars. Gary won multiple championships in multiple classes on the Ontario Snowmobile Racing Federation (OSRF) as well as race series titles in Quebec. Both brothers earned major Formula I/Sno Pro titles circuits, and each won an Eagle River World Championship – first Bruce in 1989 and then Gary in 1992.

Snowmobile racing fans and enthusiasts as well as other legendary racers and insiders are invited to the 41st Annual Ride With The Champs and induction ceremony weekend, presented by Livingston Sales of Hillsborough, NH, February 13-15, 2025.

The three-day event includes the popular Legends Laps where participants can experience the famed ice oval track at the World Championship Derby Complex. Additional features include a Friday Night Fish Fry with famous guest speakers and storytellers; vintage and modern trail riding opportunities with poker run; a Snowmobile Hall of Fame Open House meet-and-greet with past and current SHOF inductees along with other snowmobile industry celebrities; and the formal induction ceremony with dinner Saturday evening. In addition, the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum will be open throughout the weekend.

To learn more and purchase advance tickets visit www.snowmobilehalloffame.com.

Editor’s Note: Every Snow Goer issue includes in-depth sled reports and comparisons, aftermarket gear and accessories reviews, riding destination articles, do-it-yourself repair information, snowmobile technology and more. Subscribe to Snow Goer now to receive print and/or digital issues.