Welcome
Welcome to the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame!
Please submit any new Biographies by March 1, 2025 for consideration in 2025 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 will be on Wednesday October 2, 2024 at Buddies Grille in Holt. Come early and order dinner if you wish to as we have the room from 4:30 PM until the end of the meeting. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting gets under way at 6:45 PM. If coming, please let Dave DeHem know ahead of time if possible at 586-202-2357.
The votes were tallied, the ballots counted and eleven individuals will be inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame on Sunday November 3, 2024 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The following individuals have been selected and will make up the Class of 2024:
From the Other than Driver category, Long time Sprint Car owner and former mini modified driver and champion Dick Myers has gotten the nod. Joining Dick in the Other than Driver category is Berlin Raceway General Manger, Jeff Striegle. Jeff has a long history in Motorsports as a driver, PR person, Mini Champ driver/champion, and is the Lead Anchor for the MRN Radio network.
Representing the Drag Racing category is the late Roy Steffey. Roy Steffey was instrumental in the early days of Funny Car racing and development along with Maynard Rupp. Together they formed RSE or Rupp Steffey Engineering. Roy built many engines out of his RSE shop as well as fielded a car himself. RSE was highly succeseful and was tightly aligned with the Logghe Brothers of Logghe Stamping fame.
Representing the Other Motorsports category is the Husband and Wife due of Steve and Sue Christophersen. Together they both drove at the Bonneville Salt Flats and are one of the few Husband/Wife teams to be included in the prestigious 200 MPH Club at Bonneville where they set numerous land speed records. Later on the duo went drag racing with a rear engined rail before switching over to a nostalgia funny car that has gone 218 mph.
In the Oval Track Historical Era, Denny Anderson, Mike Bilacic, and Charlie Ryan Sr. got the nod. Anderson is a long time racer out of Grand Rapids. He has raced on both dirt and asphalt with success on both surfaces. Denny is the father of the Late Lee Anderson who himself was an accomplished driver and leading chassis builder.
Mike Bilacic hails from Twining and started out on snowmobiles and grass drags but soon migrated to the Stock Car form of racing. Mike has seven track championships over the years and was a mainstay at the Whittemore Speedway.
Charlie Ryan Sr. is the father of 2023 Inductee the late Charlie Ryan Jr. As the patriarch of the Racing Ryan family, Charlie was also the leader of "The Leslie Gang" of racers from the Leslie area that have all tasted success over the years. He has won numerous feature races all over Michigan but is most notably known for driving at Spartan Speedway and Owosso Speedway as well as Springport, Butler, Crystal, and Hartford.
In the Oval Track Modern Era there are three inductees as well. Earl Miles Jr. , Dennis Whisman, and Tristan Dupuis.
Earl Miles started at the Butler Motor Speedway and was Rookie of the Year that year. His racing travels have taken him all over Michigan and neighboring states as well. Most notably he has been a modified driver and has championships at Springport as well as in the I-Car modified traveling series.
Dennis Whisman Sr. has 17 season championships in the figure 8 division at the Flat Rock and the Toledo Speedways. In addition to all of that success, Dennis has raced street stocks, X-cars, and has traveled to the World Figure 8 series three hour race at Anderson, Indiana as well as traveling to Showtime Speedway in Clearwater, Florida to compete in the Outlaw class world championship the last few years. Dennis has over 100 Figure 8 Feature wins over his long career that started in 1982.
Tristan Dupuis has been a very versatile driver, winning in multiple types of race cars from enduro's to Dwarf's to ASA and many in between. He is the type of racer that can and did win in everything.
These individuals represent the "Class of 2024" and will be forever enshrined in the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame. The three Special Award winners will be determined at the August meeting and will be announced once they are notified.
Tickets to the Induction Ceremony will be available in September for a donation of $45.00 each with the induction ceremony being held at the University Comfort Inn in Mt. Pleasant on November 3, 2024. Mail your check or Money Order to: 28047 Maple Forest Blvd. E., Harrison Twp., Mi. 48045. Call to order at 586-202-2357 or e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please indicate which inductee or award winner you wish to sit near.
Since our Banquet and Induction Ceremony last November we have sustained a number of losses with the passing of the following individuals: 1986 Inductee Art Bennett, 2020 Inductee Dick Crup, 2006 Inductee Mel Gillett, 1999 Inductee Bob Patterson, 2002 Inductee Bill Reichert, 2015 Inductee Richard Reynolds Sr., and 2009 Inductee Tim Steele, 2024 Inductee Charlie Ryan Sr. and 2005 Inductee, Donnie Roberts. In addition, Board Member John Price suffered the loss of his Father. Prayers and condolences to all of these families.
I am pleased to welcome Steve Hodge and Keith Grainger to the Board of Directors with terms ending June 2027. These two gentleman were voted on to the board at our most recent meeting on September 4, 2024. The Board also selected Jeanne Lindahl to receive the 2024 Dick Beebe Memorial Contributions to Motorsports Award in recognition of her lifelong activity in the sport. She comes from the racing Lendahl family which includes brothers Gary and Steve as well as Daughter Candyce Lamberson. Jeanne follows in the footsteps of Mother Stella and Brother Gary who have both received this honor from the MMSHoF.
Wayne Bishop, formerly of Michigan Race Tire Warehouse was selected by the Board of Directors to receive the 2024 Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame/ Lifetime Dedication Award. (our highest honor) Wayne Bishop, now retired spent decades running up an down the road making sure that tracks, racers, and traveling series had tires to compete on. Antime you saw the MRTW truck in the pits you could find Wayne busting tires, mounting tires, and helping out the racers and the tracks. He did this all in an unassuming and humble way and with a smile and a handshake.
The Board also selected a recipient of the Mick Schuler/MMSHoF Media Award but at present have not been able to locate the person's family. We will update once they are located and notified.