Can-Am Design Team
Bombardier assembled a unique team to design, engineer, test and eventually launch can-am's. Many spent their careers with Bombardier and are still active.
Bill Fullerton
1974 - ???? Bill has spent his entire career with Bombardier, starting with development engineering and is widely known in the snowmobile world where he now runs a specialist parts supply business
Bob Barker
1971-1974 Was one of the initial hires for can-am and worked in development /racing manager
Bob Fisher
1973 -1978 Bob was the second hire after Gary Robison, commencing as project engineer then became Engineering Director. Bob was an experienced racer and joined Jeff Smith on many enduro and ISDT events. He was also responsible for the design of can-am military bike along with Robert Lebouf.
Bruno Speiter
1978 - 1980 Bruno was in charge of the 504 design from the start.
Camillie Picard
1971 to 1983 Camillie was a Bombardier draftsman who transferred over to the can-am project, his work can be seen in all the manuals
Carl Myers
?????? Carl was part of the initial sale team
Charles Swanson (deceased)
1973-1975 Charles worked within the development team
Claude Nadeau
?????? Clause was a technician
Dave McLean
1971-1975 David was one of the initial hires, a bike mechanic by trade, he helped with the development and testing of the bikes.
Dennis Mahan
??????? Dennis is listed as the initial competition manager for can-am
Didier Oulie (French Importer)
1978-1983 Didier was the initial importer of can-ams into France and responsible for their considerable sponsorship. He is still active in vinduro racing
Dr Lippitsch (Rotax)
1970 - ??? An Austrian regional road-racing champion in his younger days and his familiarity with his rotary valve engine led to the Rotax designs.
Gary Robison
1970 -1976 Gary was the driving force behind can-am and served as the Vice President and Chief Engineer, responsible for the development, launch and success of can-am.
Gary Scott
1973 Gary was part of the land speed record team
Gary Seims
1973 Gary was part of the land speed record team
Geoff Burgess
1976-1982 Geoff was largely responsible for the design and development of the MX4 - MX6 range of bikes and the Rotax engine specification release.
Helmut Lippitch (Rotax)
???? Part of the Rotax team who developed the 244 motor
Jeffery Heininger
1972 - ???? Jeffery was the original salesman on the road sparking dealer interest in the can-am's. He personally knew principal motorcycle dealers across the USA due to his family involvement with the aftermarket company WEBCO.
Jeff Smith
1973 - 1987 Jeff held many roles at can-am, from initial bike development, through racing to sales and maketing
Jim Allen
1973 - 1978 Jim was one of the initial project managers
John Holtzleitner (Rotax)
???? Rotax lead engineer who developed all the two stroke motors - 125 to 500cc
Jon Slynzak
1975-1977 Jon was a race bike builder for the likes of Buck Murphy
Ken Rosevear
1973 Ken was the initial motocross race manager and eventually went on to develop the road bikes
Lars Goodman
1979-1981 Lars was a sales and marketing director
Laurent Beaudoin
1972-1987 Laurent was responsible for the whole can-am project, as President. He eventually became Chairman of Bombardier, retiring in 2017
Lee Robison
1972-1975 Technically not an employee, but Lee is the son of Gary Robison, and won the first ever championship on a prototype can-am, being the 1972 Canadian 125 Novice title.
Mike Cutler
???? Mike was one of the initial marketing managers
Paul Hunt
1973-1974 Paul was an early competition manager
Paul Lamontagne
1982 - ???? Paul took over from Laurent in 1982 and served as can-am president
Paul Michaud
????? Paul was an initial Engineer/Draftsman
Ray Henrie (deceased)
1973-1975 Ray worked with Bombardier in Idaho Falls assisting with development and testing. He also designed the can-am race truck
Richard Lauqe
???? Richard was one of the initial marketing managers
Robert LeBouf
???? Robert was one of the initial sales/marketing directors
Ron Poneche
1972-1976 Ron was an industrial designer responsible for the look of the early white tank bikes, designing the the gas tank . both fenders, side panels and seat profile. As well as this, the overall off-white colour, the yellow and red accent colours and the bold can-am font. He later left Bombardier, returning to his native Alberta where he taught industrial design.
Sam Lapointe
1972 - ???? Sam was the lead stylist for the bikes, an employee of Bombardier for his whole career, his son Denys Lapointe is now design director for the whole BRP product range.
Scotty Sader
1973 Scotty was one of the initial enduro racing managers
Steve Brand
1979-1987 Steve held several roles with can-am, mainly with sales and dealership management, eventually becoming race manager in the '80's