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 2022 is scheduled for Sunday, November 6, 2022 at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The Class of 2022 will be announced in June or early July of 2022.

   Very sorry to bring the sad news that 2012 Inductee Jim Terrill has passed away after a long battle with Cancer. His funeral was this past week in Midland. Also received word that 1993 Inductee Bob Kingen passed away on April 20, 2022. Services for Bob will be at a later date. The loss of these two great racers leaves a hole in the history of the Traveling MSPA Carlings and Busch Series as both men were longtime supporters of the series and multiple race winners. Each one of these men made a great impact on Dirt and Asphalt Late Model Racing as well as Dirt Modifieds in the early days of the Michigan Modified Association and represented many championships. Condolences and prayers to both the Terrill and Kingen Families.

  Learned that 1998 Inductee Lee Brayton has passed away. Condolences and prayers to the Brayton Family.  

  Please submit any new Biographies by March 1, 2023 for consideration in 2023 either electronically in Word form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mail them to:

MMSHoF,  C/O Dave DeHem, 28047 Maple Forest Blvd. E., Harrison Twp., Mi. 48045. 

Please refer to the Nominations page for instructions on Biography preperation and submittal. If not sure of whether a person has had a biography submitted for consideration please do not hestite to contact the MMSHoF to obtain an answer. 

 The next meeting of the Board of Directors is on  June 15, 2022 and is open to the public, location TBD. Meetings in May, June, September, and October are open to the public while our Induction Ceremony serves as our November meeting. The Induction Ceremony is always open to the public to obtain tickets and attend. Meetings are normally the first Wednesday of each month. 

   Welcome to our newest Board Member, John Price and congratulations to John Hotchkiss for being selected to the position of Vice President at our latest Board Meeting of May 11, 2022.

   Thank You for yours of service to Dan Crawford. Dan served on the Board for many years and was selected as Vice President from 2014 until the present time. Dan tendered his resignation at the April 2022 meeting. His plans are to continue to enjoy his business and his hobbies. He is a 2009 Inductee and fully intends to stay active and participate with the Hall and enjoyed his years on the Board. Thank You Dan for your many contributions over the years.