Dave DeHem

 

Dave DeHem, born in Detroit in 1956 has had a multi diverse career ranging from Driving to Crewing to Public Relations to Promoting and finally leading two of the top racing organizations in Michigan, the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club and the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.

 

Dave started out as a fan of Drag Racing until being bit by the oval track bug in 1977 at The Mt. Clemens Race Track (MCRT). Until the track closed in 1985, Dave was a fan, a crew member, and a driver at the famed speed plant. Even today, nearly forty years later after its closing, Dave still helps to keep the history of the track alive by acting as an administrator for the track’s face book page. Dave has also helped out to promote and plan a number of (MCRT) reunions of those who like himself have their roots at the Mt. Clemens Race Track. Later, in 2002 Dave purchased a Legends Car to race in the Michigan Legends Series. Dave traveled with the Michigan Legends Series for the next 14 seasons, first as a driver and then as the series P.R. Director, race reporter, and Chaplain. This helped him to form his leadership skills and also helped to build up lasting relationships with many key people in Michigan racing.

 

In addition to all of that, Dave had joined the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club in 1979, eventually being elected to the Board of Directors in 2001 after being selected Fan of the Year in 2001. Dave’s 23 year tenure on the Board and 47 years of membership saw him ascend to the Vice-Presidents position as well as the President’s position for four years. As President, Dave worked with the track promoters and owners to line up the various fan club days and to manage and chair the club’s annual awards banquet. Dave also represented the club at the semi-annual Michigan Speedway Promoters Association meetings (MSPA). Dave stepped down from serving on the MARFC Board in June 2024 in order to devote more time to the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.

 

 

In 2008, Dave decided that he would like to be involved in the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame so in April of that year he attended a Board meeting as a guest and then was voted onto the Board of Directors at the June meeting in 2008 and remains on the Board of Directors and was elected President of the MMSHoF in 2015, a position he holds still in 2024 which makes him the second longest serving President at ten years running with his predecessor, Dan VanKoevering serving 18 years prior to Dave.

 

During Dave’s tenure as President of the MMSHoF, the treasury continues to grow and the outreach of the Hall continues as well through the Laura Devlin Memorial Benevolent Fund that has been supported to by the members of the Hall of Fame. As President, Dave organizes and manages the annual induction ceremony and dinner as well as a night before celebration. Under Dave’s leadership the Board of Directors continues to grow and flourish which gives us a presence at the tracks and motorsports venues in the state and also helps us maintain a presence and relationship with the MSPA.

 

While Dave’s career started as a fan then to a driver, his roots at the Mt. Clemens Race Track helped to propel him forward into the Michigan Motorsports world and all of his assignments from PR Director, Chaplain, Promoter, and all the way to a highly respected leader of two of the top organizations in Michigan Motorsports as well as being a highly respected member of the Motorsports Community as well as the Michigan Speedway Promoters Association. These qualities would make Dave a worthy addition to the Hall of Fame.

 

Years in Motorsports as of 2025: 51, starting in 1973 at Motor City Dragway.
Category: Other Than Driver: Officials, Media, PR