Summary:
- A racing helmet worn by Canadian IndyCar driver Greg Moore was stolen from the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
- The helmet, used in Moore’s Rio 400 victory, was on permanent loan from his family.
- The museum and Moore’s father say the theft is a heartbreaking loss of Canadian sports history.
A piece of Canadian motorsport history has gone missing after thieves stole one of Greg Moore’s racing helmets from the BC Sports Hall of Fame in Vancouver.
The theft was discovered Wednesday, when staff noticed that the helmet, displayed on a mannequin next to Moore’s IndyCar, had vanished. The helmet wasn’t just another piece of equipment.
Moore, a Maple Ridge, B.C., native who rose to fame on the IndyCar circuit in the late 1990s, wore it during the Rio 400 in Brazil, one of his five career victories. Unfortunately, his bright career came to an abrupt end in 1999, at the age of 24, when he lost his life in a tragic crash at a race in California.
The helmet had been on permanent loan from the Moore family and was considered a centerpiece of the Hall of Fame’s motorsport collection. For both the museum and the Moore family, its loss is devastating.
This helmet isn’t just a valuable artifact, it’s a deeply personal and irreplaceable piece of Canadian sports history
Jason Beck, curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, which has been the custodian of British Columbia’s sports legacy for many years. Beck added that staff were “devastated” by the theft and are now seeking or help from the public.
Ric Moore: “It’s Not Just Racing Gear”
Authorities have published a description of the suspect involved in the theft and are asking anyone with relevant information to come forward.
Greg’s father, Ric Moore, explained the helmet represents “a part of Greg that we’ll never get back”.
It’s not just racing gear, it’s a symbol of who he was, the joy he brought to people, and the dreams he chased.
As for racing fans passionate about the latest sports offers, the helmet isn’t just a piece of memorabilia, but a way of bringing back the thrill of watching their favorite drivers compete.
