BROOKFIELD, N.S. – Mitch Cooke will add another highlight to his career this fall when he is elected into the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Cooke, who raced professional motocross at the national level for many years, will be inducted during a ceremony at the Best Western Glengarry in Truro on Nov. 17. In total, 10 new inductees will be enshrined, including six from Nova Scotia, three from New Brunswick and another from P.E.I.
Inductees are being recognized for significant accomplishments and/or contributions in Maritime motorsports.
“It’s awesome,” said Cooke, a 34-year-old from Brookfield. “It’s nice to be noticed for some of your accomplishments. Motocross sometimes gets overlooked because it’s not your stick and ball sports, but it’s cool to be noticed; I’m happy.”
Cooke first got involved in motocross when he was just eight and started his professional career in 1999 when he signed with Canada’s largest MX team – Two-Wheel Motorsports. He raced on the Canadian series for more than a decade, and in 2006 earned a podium spot in both the 250 and 450 classes in front of family and friends at Riverglade, near Moncton. Cooke collected a total of 14 podium finishes on the national circuit before calling it quits in 2009 to shift his focus to business.
“To be honest with you, in my motocross career, I think that I could have accomplished more,” he said. “I’m happy with what I did accomplish, I wish it had of been more, but it’s still nice be noticed for what you did get done.”
Motocross provided Cooke with an opportunity to see the world. He has raced in such places as Africa, Bermuda, Belgium, Dubai, Holland, Italy, India and all over the United States.
Cooke will become the second member of his family to be inducted into the Hall after his older sister Heidi received the nod in 2011. Heidi is Canada’s most successful female motocross racer and holds seven national titles.
“It’s pretty cool that we’re both in there,” said Mitch. “To maybe some people it’s not an accomplishment, but I think it’s pretty cool.”
Cooke is the owner of Pleasant Valley Motocross Park, near Brookfield. The track hosted national races in 2002, 2016 and 2017 and has been a longtime favourite of riders and fans alike on the Atlantic series.
Cooke’s other business ventures include HAF Skate and Tattoo, Jimolly’s Bakery and Café and 2U Like New Auto Everything. Mitch and his brother-in-law, Tyler Medaglia, are also owners of Callus Glove Co., motocross gear.
Hall of Fame inductees
Mitch Cooke (Brookfield) Competitor/promoter, motocross
Danny Fahie (residing in Orange, California) – Competitor/builder, motocross/supercross
Mike Kaplan (Dartmouth) – Competitor, drag racing/track announcer
George Koszkulics (New Glasgow) – Competitor/builder, stock car
Stanley Miller (Kennetcook) – Builder, stock car
Atlantic Canada Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. (Cooks Brook) – Club
Gerard Clow (Moncton) Competitor, drag racing
Robert ‘Bob’ Duncan (Rothesay, N.B.) competitor, stock car
James MacKinnon (Moncton, residing in Dartmouth) competitor, motorcycle
Debbie Livingston-Martin & Paul MacKenzie (Charlottetown) Jr. drag racing, promoter