Baribeau and Rutledge to be honoured

From the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada

In 2005, at the time the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame was created and with the induction of the first nominees, it was recognized that there were a great many individuals who were also deserving of the honour yet whose triumphs and achievements took place so long ago. As a result, the Historical category was established to honour such motorcyclists.

This year, at the 5th Annual Induction Banquet to be held on Nov. 6 at the Delta Burnaby Hotel in Burnaby, BC, motorcycling legends Joseph Baribeau and Palmer Rutledge will be so honoured.

The name 'Wild Joe Baribeau' wasn't the invention of a manager or publicity agent; he came by it honestly, being named by the newspapers of the day. If the name Joe Baribeau isn't familiar to most of us today it's because a full 100 years have passed since his racing career was in its ascendancy, but his accomplishments are no less remarkable.

Baribeau was a homegrown hero of the stature of motorcycle racing legends like Maldwyn Jones, Cannonball Baker and Jake DeRosier, but he lived, worked and raced here in Canada. He overshadowed his rivals and earned nicknames like "Daredevil Baribeau," terror on wheels" and "the new speed god." He was the fastest man of his day, enjoying support from the mighty Indian factory and winning races in Toronto, Winnipeg, Detroit, Columbus and Toledo, OH, and other U.S. and Canadian events.

Baribeau died in Winnipeg Oct. 6, 1950 at the age of 61.

History has shown that one enthusiastic motorcyclist can eventually inspire dozens, even hundreds, of others to take up the sport. That is especially true when a keen rider can look back on a lifetime of more than 100 years himself. Such was the experience of Rutledge, who bought his first motorcycle at the age of 12 and went on to become "the bike guy" of much of the B.C. Interior.

Rutledge was born in Goderich, ON in 1903 and seven years later his family moved west, eventually settling in Nelson, BC. Having last made his home in Vancouver, he was a popular member of the Southlands Riding Club for many years. Still with keen recollections of his long motorcycling career, he died in 2005 at the age of 102.