Welcome
Welcome to the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame!
The Board of Directors met on June 9, 2021 to tally the votes of the past inductees and past and present Board Members to determine the 10 inductees to the Class of 2021 for the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame (MMSHoF).
Representing those members in the “Other than Driver” category are, Gary Howe, the famed promoter and owner of the Kalamazoo Speedway who has come up with many innovative racing programs and is the home of the prestigious “Kalamazoo Klash. Ed “Big Ed” Inloes, longtime announcer at various tracks in the state and radio show host joins Gary Howe. Ed has been instrumental in the formation of the MARFC/MSTRC Annual Bowling Tournament which raises funds for those less fortunate in the racing community. Ed is a Tom Carnegie Announcer of the Year winner as well a MMSHoF Mick Schuler Media Award winner and was the longtime partner in Race Talk Radio with the Late Larry Loynes.
Representing the “Drag Racing” category is Angelo Giampetroni, founder of the famous Gratiot Auto Supply and longtime sponsor of numerous winning Drag Racers and supplier to the custom car and hot rodding community. Joining Angelo is the Late, Robert “Poncho” Rendon who was the owner of the famed “Detroit Tiger”, “Frito Bandito”, and “Desperado” line of Funny Cars and Top Fuel Dragsters that were driven by Hall of Fame drivers such as the Late Dick Lahaie, Connie Kalitta, and Shirley Muldowney. Incidentally, Poncho carried sponsorship from Gratiot Auto Supply.
Representing the “Other Motorsports” category are famed SCCA Pro Rally America Racer out of Plymouth, Michigan, Doug Shepherd who has won numerous titles and races. Joining Doug is Scott Harvey who himself is a member of the SCCA Hall of Fame and the Mopar Fame as well as being another extremely accomplished Rally driver who himself has made numerous contributions to the World Rally organization as well as the FIA.
Representing the “Oval Track Historical Era” for drivers who started their careers at least fifty years ago are the Late Joe Boyer Jr. who was the 1924 winner of the Indianapolis 500 and lost his life in Altoona, Pennsylvania in September of 1924 after sustaining injuries in a racing accident. Joining Joe is Ben Snider from Brooklyn, Michigan. Ben was a standout driver at the Jackson Motor Speedway as well as Manchester, Spartan, Owosso, Butler, Crystal and others in Michigan as well as Indiana and Ohio.
In the “Oval Track Modern Era” for drivers who started their careers at least 25 years ago the team of Gori11a Racing comprised of Chuck and Chris Silva. While both Silva brothers were drivers it was Chuck who excelled behind the wheel with Chris turning the wrenches and fine tuning the set-ups. The duo has competed in and won Super Late Model races all over Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio with the Main Event Series as well as garnering multiple Modified Championships at Auto City Speedway and the Dixie Motor Speedway. Joining the Silva boys will be second generation driver and the third member of the Simmons Family in the MMSHoF with Billy joining his Mother Joan, and Father “Lil” Richard as Inductees. Billy got his start driving his Dad’s figure 8 car at the Jackson Motor Speedway and over the years has won three Red White and Blue championships in the Figure 8 series in Indiana as well as competing in and winning championships in, Super Sixes, and winding down his career in the mid 2,000’s with the Michigan Legends Series where he won numerous feature races and Championships in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. Billy also won the State Figure 8 Championship becoming only the first time a Father and Son have won that.
The induction ceremony for the Class of 2021 is scheduled for November 7, 2021 in Mt. Pleasant and will be combined with the induction ceremony for the Class of 2020 which due to Covid restrictions in 2020 forced a postponement of ceremonies until 2021. Ticket forms will be out in the mail by August 21, 2021. Tickets can also be obtained by sending an e-mail to Dave DeHem at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 586-202-2357. Tickets are $40.00 each. The award ceremony schedule is as follows: 11:00 am check in and social time, 12 Noon -12:15 short cocktail time before program starts at 12:15 PM. Break for dinner at 1:15 PM, 2:30 PM Inductions resume.
The MMSHoF has suffered some losses this summer with the loss of Board Members Rose Calabrase and most recently, Barry Meschke on July 2, 2021. There will be a memorial for Barry on August 21, 2021 at the Kris Kay Park Clubhouse located at 1800 South Graham Road in Saginaw, Michigan from 1PM to 4 PM.
2016 Dick Beebe Award recipient, George Keen passed away on Thursday, August 21, 2021. George was a force in West Michigan Racing and held many roles from car owner, racer, promoter, broadcaster, announcer and was a fixture at the Berlin Raceway. He was also one of the leading historians in our sport. There will be a private family ceremony in accordance with George's wishes.
We have also lost 2010 Inductee, Gene Logghe of the Logghe Brothers. Gene was inducted with his brother Ron (who has also passed in May 2020) and the two were a driving force in the building of Drag Race chassis, most notable Funny Cars but were also leaders in chassis building for the Top Fuel Dragsters, and the Top Fuel Altered Cars as well. The drivers who have won in a Logghe chassis are numerous and represent a who's who of Drag Racing with many of them enshrined in the MMSHoF. No details on visitation are known at this time.
The next meeting of the Board of Directors is September 8, 2021. Location TBA as it is confirmed.