An overflow crowd of household, associates, inductees and motorsports legends and leaders turned out for final week’s record-setting Motorsports Corridor of Fame of America (MSHFA) thirty fifth Induction Ceremony introduced by Toyota Racing. The night was the crowning occasion of a two-day Induction Celebration that was the largest in MSHFA historical past.
The completed and legendary MSHFA Class of 2023 contains the person who turned Corvette into a world racing champion Zora Arkus-Duntov (Sports activities Vehicles), nationwide champion driver and trailblazing USAC official Henry Banks (Historic), America’s most profitable enduro rider, Dick Burleson (Bikes), air racing celebrity Artwork Chester (Aviation), considered one of NASCAR’s most revolutionary crew chiefs, Ray Evernham (Inventory Vehicles), early NASCAR fan favourite Fonty Flock (Historic), one of many NHRA’s 50 Biggest All-Time Drivers, Darrell Gwynn (Drag Racing), prolific land velocity record-setter Ab Jenkins (Velocity Information) and two males who revolutionized racetrack emergency companies, saving numerous lives and careers, Drs. Stephen Olvey and Terry Trammell (Open Wheel), who have been inducted as duo.
These additions to the MSHFA will increase to 287 the whole variety of “Heroes of Horsepower” enshrined within the “The Corridor of Fame of All Motorsports.”
Spotlight moments of final week’s two-day celebration embody:
Second-Yr Sellouts: For the second-straight yr, each final Tuesday’s Induction Ceremony introduced by Toyota Racing on the Shores Resort and Spa and the Heroes of Horsepower Reception introduced by Firestone Monday evening on the MSHFA Museum on the grounds of Daytona Worldwide Speedway (DIS) have been bought out early. Format and structure enhancements for each occasions allowed extra company to attend than ever earlier than, however even these additional tickets and tables have been shortly bought weeks earlier than the 2023 Induction Celebration.
Bulletins and Displays: Each Tuesday’s Induction Ceremony and Monday’s Reception featured shock bulletins and particular shows. The blockbuster was Tuesday’s announcement of the Don Panoz Endowment for The Motorsports Corridor of Fame of America. Made potential by the Panoz Household, the endowment brings invaluable funding for the MSHFA’s ongoing and non-profit mission of preserving the legacy and historical past of all aspects of American motorsports and supplies a long-lasting memorial for the late Dr. Don Panoz within the MSHFA Museum. Monday evening featured the primary presentation since 2017 of the Bob Russo Heritage Award, the MSHFA’s highest honor subsequent to induction, which went to Bass Professional Retailers Founder and CEO Johnny Morris. The award, named in honor of the longtime motorsports journalist and historian Bob Russo, is introduced on the suggestion of the MSHFA Board of Administrators in recognition of the recipient’s contributions to motorsports all through their profession.
One other shock got here when John Skopos, a pal of Linda Vaughn (MSHFA Class of 2019), generously donated a helmet in honor of the First Woman of Motorsports that features the signatures of opponents within the 2001 IROC Collection. The drivers, together with NASCAR Cup Collection Champions Dale Earnhardt (MSHFA Class of 2002), Dale Jarrett, Tony Stewart (MSHFA Class of 2019) and Bobby Labonte, Indianapolis 500 winners Eddie Cheever and Buddy Lazier and Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Mark Dismore, signed the helmet through the season-opener at Daytona. Earnhardt added his autograph shortly earlier than the beginning of that weekend’s Daytona 500. Along with the helmet donation, a bunch led by Morris, however together with Bruce Smith, Larry Cope, Frank Phillips, Pam Yates and former drag racer Jeff Gordon donated a much-needed automobile mover to the Corridor’s Museum.
The Stars Come Out: The unimaginable achievements and star energy of the Class of 2023 have been complemented by a powerful gathering of fellow racing champions, motorsports trade leaders and household and associates that got here from all corners to laud and rejoice the MSHFA’s thirty fifth induction class. Greater than two dozen beforehand inducted motorsports legends have been amongst Tuesday night’s company whereas a number of others enshrined within the MSHFA have been proudly represented by relations. Historic inductees Flock and Banks have been formally introduced into the MSHFA in Tuesday morning’s Inductee Brunch introduced by American Honda. Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles and Daytona Worldwide Speedway President Frank Kelleher appropriately teamed as much as induct Banks and Flock, respectively. Banks’ daughter, Kathy Orr, graciously acquired her father’s honor whereas Flock’s son, Victor Flock, spoke and accepted the induction on behalf of his colourful and race-winning father.
Further presenters at Tuesday evening’s gala included three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (MSHFA Class of 2019) for Drs. Olvey and Trammell, standard motorsports tv pit reporter and host Matt Yocum, who lauded his longtime pal and colleague Evernham, and “Huge Daddy” Don Garlits, the very first MSHFA inductee within the Drag Racing class as a part of the inaugural 1989 Class, who introduced Gwynn. Tim Weinschenker, President of the Society of Air Racing Historians, introduced Chester for induction whereas Jenkins was enthusiastically ushered into the MSHFA by “Landspeed” Louise Noeth.
Automotive, motorbike and motorsports executives have been additionally effectively represented on the Induction Ceremony head desk. John Hinz, the President of KTM North America, introduced Burleson for induction whereas Normal Motors President Mark Reuss did the honors for Arkus-Duntov. Tuesday night’s Honorary Chair was IMSA President John Doonan, who can be an energetic and longtime supporter of the MSHFA, serving as Chairman of the Board of Administrators from 2013 – 2017 and persevering with right this moment as a member of the Board of Trustees.
David Hobbs (MSHFA Class of 2009) as soon as once more shined because the thirty fifth Induction Ceremony Grasp of Ceremonies and was ably assisted by longtime motorsports broadcasting professional Marty Reid, who in flip stepped into the highlight on his personal because the host of Monday evening’s “HoH” reception and Tuesday’s Inductee Brunch introduced by American Honda on the Rolex Lounge at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
Full Schedule of Occasions: The thirty fifth Induction Celebration’s premier nighttime occasions have been supported by an expanded lineup of afternoon panel discussions that joined the standard Tuesday Inductee Brunch introduced by American Honda and Monday’s Inductee Luncheon at The Shores within the largest lineup of daytime occasions in MSHFA Induction historical past. The panels included Monday’s “Zora As We Knew Him: 6 Corvette Legends Bear in mind” that was introduced by Normal Motors and Fabulous Restorations. Former GM engineers Herb Fishel and Gib Hufstader joined retired Corvette racers Burt Greenwood, Tony DeLorenzo and Jerry Thompson and avid collector and efficiency tuner Ken Lingenfelter in remembering the nice Belgian-born Class of 2023 inductee who remodeled the Corvette right into a world-class race automobile. Tom Peters, former Director of Design for the GM Efficiency Automobile Studio, moderated the dialogue.
Monday additionally featured 2023 inductees Drs. Olvey and Trammell who shared some perception and behind-the-scenes tales on varied screenings of scenes from their film, co-directed by Michael Miles, “Speedy Response.” The shifting and galvanizing panel dialogue was hosted by Tommy Kendall (MSHFA Class of 2015) who overcame his personal devastating accidents on the peak of his profession to win a number of extra championships and dozens of races. The ultimate panel dialogue on Tuesday introduced collectively a group of MSHFA Sports activities Vehicles inductees for “The 24-Hour Wars: Tales from the Entrance Traces.” Judy Stropus (MSHFA Class of 2021), Derek Bell (MSHFA Class of 2012), Elliott Forbes-Robinson (MSHFA Class of 2006), Brian Redman (MSHFA Class of 2002) and Hobbs shared some tales, and even a couple of laughs, within the entertaining and insightful session that was hosted by 2023 inductee Evernham, a frequent street racing competitor in each historic and modern sports activities automobile racing.
Information of three completely different livestreams from the Tuesday Induction Ceremony are at the moment accessible for viewing on the MSHFA Fb Web page and YouTube Channel. Produced by Vid Monster and sponsored by Speedvision, the encore programming features a preview Pink Carpet present on the MSHFA Fb and a behind-the-scenes Again Stage present, hosted by Ryan Myrehn, on the MSHFA YouTube Channel.
Vote counts have been accomplished and the MSHFA’s Class of 2024 can be introduced later this spring in preparation for subsequent yr’s thirty sixth MSHFA Induction Celebration.
Extra details about the MSHFA, together with ongoing occasions, may be discovered HERE.
