Motorsports Hall of Fame of America facts for kids
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) is a special place that honors amazing people in motorsports. These are people from the United States who have done great things in racing. They come from many different types of racing, like Open Wheel cars, Stock Cars, Powerboats, Drag Racing, Motorcycles, Sports Cars, and even Aviation.
The Hall of Fame also recognizes people who set speed records or made big changes in business and technology related to motorsports. Every year, there's a big event called the Induction Ceremony. Many famous people from the racing world attend this event.
Contents
History of the Hall of Fame
The MSHFA started in 1986. It was created by leaders in the city of Novi, Michigan. Larry G. Ciancio was the first chairman. The very first Induction Ceremony happened in 1989.
The main goal of the MSHFA is to "help share American values like leadership, creativity, teamwork, and the spirit of competition found in motorsports." A non-profit group called the Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation Inc. runs the Hall of Fame.
How People Get Inducted
Becoming a Hall of Famer
To be considered for the Hall of Fame, people must have been involved in motorized vehicles. This includes driving, flying, owning, designing, building, or promoting them. They must have done this to achieve speed, distance, or other records.
Candidates need to have either retired for at least three years. Or, they must have been at the top level of their sport for at least 20 years. Only U.S. citizens or non-citizens who achieved great things in motorsports within the U.S. can be inducted.
The Voting Process
About 200 racing experts decide who gets into the Hall of Fame. These experts include historians, journalists, and people already in the Hall of Fame. Certified accountants watch over the voting to make sure it's fair.
Each year, there are two rounds of voting. First, a group of 100 voters chooses six finalists in each category. Then, all 200 voters decide who will be inducted that year. Each new Hall of Famer receives a special "Horsepower" award. This is a bronze statue created by Michael Curtis.
The first group of people inducted into the Hall of Fame was in 1989. It included famous names like Cannon Ball Baker (Motorcycles), James Doolittle (Aviation), A. J. Foyt (Open Wheel), Don Garlits (Drag Racing), Phil Hill (Sports Cars), Bill Muncey (Powerboats), Barney Oldfield (Historic), and Richard Petty (Stock Cars).
The Induction Ceremony Event
The annual Induction Ceremony is the biggest event for the MSHFA. It takes place every March in Daytona Beach, Florida. This event brings together motorsports legends from the past and present. New inductees are honored on the main stage.
Usually, another famous person in motorsports introduces each new inductee. For example, in 2019, champions like Jimmie Johnson and Scott Dixon introduced new members. The Class of 2020 included people like Red Byron (Historic), Rick Hendrick (Stock Cars), and Jacky Ickx (Sports Cars).
The induction experience lasts two days. It includes a "Heroes of Horsepower" reception. Here, new inductees show off their permanent Hall of Fame sculptures. There's also a "Heritage Luncheon" for those inducted in the Historic category. An "Inductee Breakfast" allows new and returning Hall of Famers to answer questions. Anyone can buy tickets to attend these events.
The Motorsports Hall of Fame Museum
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America museum is located at Daytona International Speedway. More than 100,000 people visit it every year. The museum first opened in Novi, MI. It later moved to the Detroit Science Center before coming to Daytona Beach.
The museum is inside the Ticket and Tours Building at Daytona International Speedway. You can visit it daily as part of the regular speedway tours. Inside, you'll see vehicles and items related to the Hall of Fame's inductees. There are historic race cars, memorabilia, and displays honoring the more than 260 inductees. The museum also has two movie theaters that show motorsports videos.
Research and Information
The MSHFA also acts as a research center. It has many experts on different motorsports topics. They answer questions from journalists, historians, and anyone interested in motorsports.
Recent Inductees
Class of 2025
- Skip Barber
- Miguel Duhamel
- Carl Haas
- Ed Iskenderian
- Dale Jarrett
- Tony Schumacher
- Bill Stroppe
Class of 2024
- Austin Coil
- Scott Dixon
- Jim Downing
- Dr. Bob Hubbard
- Bud Ekins
- Jimmie Johnson
- Paul Newman
- John Surtees
Class of 2023
- Zora Arkus-Duntov
- Henry Banks
- Dick Burleson
- Art Chester
- Ray Evernham
- Fonty Flock
- Darrell Gwynn
- Ab Jenkins
- Stephen Olvey and Terry Trammell
See also
