FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES
NEW INDUCTEES FOR 2000

Novi, MI - Nine new Heroes of Horsepower have been elected to join the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHF). The 2000 Class of inductees will be honored at the 12th Annual Motorsports Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony on June 8, 2000 at the State Theatre in Detroit.

"With such an impressive list of racers, each year there is a lot of excitement as every inductee is worthy of the hero title," said MSHF Chairman Tom Elliman, who noted that the nine new inductees will raise the total Hall of Fame membership to 113 in nine different categories. "Many of these names are familiar to people who don't follow our sport, which is a testament to their achievements."

The newest class of inductees is as follows (category in parentheses):
  • Sam Hanks, the late winner of the 1953 AAA National Championship, 1957 Indy 500 winner, and multi-time midget champion. (Open Wheel Racing)
  • The Wood Brothers, pioneer stock car racing family and the first in wins on tracks measuring one-mile or longer. (Stock Car Racing)
  • Danny Ongais, champion drag racer who also excelled at Indy cars, and sports cars. (Drag Racing)
  • Peter Gregg, the late six-time Camel IMSA GT series champion. (Sports Car Racing)
  • Bob Hannah, America's first motorcross superstar, also know as "Hurricane Hannah". (Motorcycle Racing)
  • Tom D'Eath, powerboat racer, builder, designer and historian. (Powerboat Racing)
  • Cook Cleland, Post WWII race pilot of the 3,000+ hp Super Corsairs racer. (Air Racing)
  • Smokey Yunick, one of the most innovative mechanics in history. (At-Large)
  • Ray Harroun, the late winner of the first Indianapolis 500-mile race. (Historic Racing, Pre WW-II)


In addition, many returning inductees are also expected to be on hand at the Annual Motorsports Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony. Eligibility for induction into the Hall of Fame is extended to any person who has driven, piloted, owned, designed, built, supported, maintained, prepared or promoted motorized vehicles in the pursuit of speed, distance or other records; or in racing, endurance or other competition. An inductee must have been retired for at least three years or must have engaged at the top level of his or her area of Motorsports for at least 20 years.

A panel of historians, retired competitors, journalists and prior inductees vote for the final selection. Each inductee receives the Hall of Fame prestigious "Horsepower" award-an original bronze statuette created by Ann Arbor, Michigan sculptor Michael Curtis.

The Motorsports Hall of Fame is currently located inside the Novi Expo Center in Novi, Michigan. Its 10,000 square foot museum houses numerous racing and high performance vehicles. The continually changing collection showcases racers and vehicles from the world of Indy cars, stock cars, Can Am, Trans-Am, sprint cars, powerboats, airplanes, truck racing and motorcycles. Among the highlights is the last ever Novi Special Indy car, namesake of the city of Novi, Michigan.

The museum and gift shop are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by special arrangements for group tours, catered receptions and special events. Plans are underway to move the Museum and Hall of Fame to a permanent home at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit in the near future.

For more information on the inductees or how to purchase tickets to the black-tie Induction Ceremony on Thursday, June 8, 2000, please call the Motorsports Hall of Fame at (800) 250-RACE, (800) 250-7223.

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