Canada's Vaillancourt to join Motorcycle Hall of Fame

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced another member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2009: Gilles Vaillancourt, a pioneer in modern motorcycle suspension development. Vaillancourt will be among the motorcycling heroes honoured at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas this Dec. 5.

"There are key periods in the history of motorcycling where major leaps forward helped bring us to where we are today, and in the off-road world the suspension revolution of the 1970s certainly qualifies as one of those eras," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "Gilles Vaillancourt and his company, Works Performance, were not just along for the ride during that period. They were among the few in the rider's seat, pushing the technology and the sport of motorcycling forward."

In the early 1970s, Vaillancourt began developing off-road motorcycle shocks that featured a revolutionary multi-stage damping system. Motocross and desert racers began using his shocks with great results, and soon racers in all disciplines of motorcycling started adopting them. Works Performance now makes custom shocks for dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, street bikes and cruisers. The company also has expanded into other areas and builds suspension for airplane, photographic and military applications, among others.

Vaillancourt started in motorcycling at a young age, working at a local motorcycle shop in Quebec after school.

"In the winter, the shop effectively was shut down, so we spent a lot of time rebuilding the trade-ins, and that's how I got involved in working on motorcycles," Vaillancourt said. "After immigrating to the U.S. in 1960, I worked as a motorcycle mechanic and as a foreman on a printing press. Then, in the early 1970s, I got involved in modifying existing shock absorbers. That's how it all started... It's been a long ride. I've been very fortunate to have some good experiences in the sport and meet some very terrific guys who I count as friends these days. I'm really honoured that somebody would recognize what I've done in this industry."