BAJA Racing HALL Of Fame
2021 INDUCTEES
First Memorial Member
"Mark Luhtala from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida worked in the aviation industry for 30 years. He was the owner of Luhtech Jet Aviation and was well respected in the industry. He began his racing career at the age of 14 racing motocross in the Chicago, IL area with his brother Erik. Inspired after attending a professional rally during a family visit to his native Finland, he formed Luhtech Motorsports and officially began off road racing in Baja, MX August, 2013.
Mark competed in several races on the Baja peninsula before successfully crossing the finish line during the 2016 Baja 500. Several months later, he and his crew returned to tackle the 49th Annual Baja 1000 with renewed optimism. After a successful start and early progress, his race ended abruptly early on morning of day two after he was struck head on by another driver. Despite surviving the initial impact with severe injuries, even a complicated airlift was not able to save him. He died as a result of his injuries three days later in a San Diego hospital.
Mark's death lead to several major rule-changes being implemented by SCORE International including DOT lights only on paved roads, no un-belting prior to a complete stop, all pit-stops on the right-hand side of the course, and NO two-way traffic allowed on any race course sections. Implementing these rules will hopefully prevent other avoidable deaths.
Mark is survived by his loving wife Holly, their two daughters Janie and Eva, as well as his mother Sanna, sister Taina, and his brother Erik and his wife Natalie. He was proceeded in passing by his father Juhanni. His spirit continues to inspire others to pursue their dreams and appreciate the gifts life offers."
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Bob Renz
Bob Renz raced in all of the Baja 500's from 1974 to 1986 with the SCORE International racing association. He also raced in the Baja 1000 for a few of those years. Bob finished every race event, in the top 20 for his Buggy class.
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Norm Johnson
First Family Induction
Mr. Norm Johnson, Founder of the "MINT 400", as an event concept and his wise direction in regional promotions.
Norm's Great Contribution of bringing Modern Desert Racing to North America with his Brilliant Foundation of the "MINT 400" of Las Vegas, Nevada!
Norm Johnson created "The MINT '400' Del Webb Desert Rally" in 1968, in his role as promotions director of the Mint Hotel & Casino. The first race sent 101 vehicles across 400 miles (640 km) of Nevadan basin and range, harsh desert terrain. From the original location of the 'Mint Hotel' in Las Vegas to the Sahara Tahoe at Stateline, at Lake Tahoe.
The future of the MINT 400 race came into question in 1988 following the sale of Del Webb's Mint Hotel & Casino to Jack Binion, owner of the Horseshoe Club.
Forces joined, a testament to the event as a concept and the prestige and importance of the race as a pillar of regional economic development. The incredible dedication of Norm Johnson and the financial benefit this promotion brought to the City of Las Vegas and the entire region of Clark County, the MINT 400 continued under the new ownership.
The annual MINT 400 Off Road Race continued to be run in 1988 and 1989. New owner, Binion, decided the classic, tradition of the desert, off-road race would no longer be flagged under his ownership after the 1989 running.
Now, the most famous online racing coverage, the "LIVE! MINT 400" continues to this very day, with the guidance of Norm's far-reaching Vegas entertainment, public relations.
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Don Edmundo Yuen González
Baja Racing Hall Of Fame Inducts Baja Sureno Don Edmundo "Mundo" Yuen González, 95 years young! We celebrate the sport and passion of "Mundo", in Southern Baja.
SPECIAL to BajaRacingNews.com June 7, 2020
"Mundo" comments with joy that in 1955 he was the general mechanic of the First CABO Car Race that took place on the La Paz-San Antonio-San route José del Cabo to Todos Santos and La Paz.
Today, the CABO 1000 justifies these historic racing legends throughout the racing year!
"It seems like yesterday, I still remember that great moment that excited the first riders, mechanics, fans and families who before and during the race came excited first to the mechanical revision that was carried out in the old baseball stadium located on 5 de Mayo and Lic. Verdad streets", he said in a brief interview that took place at his home.
Don Edmundo "Mundo" stated that in those days he worked as a mechanic at the Ford company and that for this reason, he was named on the organizing committee.
Baja Racing Hall Of Fame Sponsor, CABO 1000
GOODYEAR TIRES salutes Don Edmundo "Mundo" Yuen González
'He was commissioned to assist all vehicles', mostly Ford and Chevrolet from the years prior to 1934.
Vehicle and pilot drivers from Ensenada, Santa Rosalía, San José del Cabo and La Paz since it was the first race of its kind. when aroused great interest in the peninsula, he specified.
"For many drivers, the race was relatively easy since the vast majority had traveled the transpeninsular road from Ensenada to La Paz or San José del Cabo, everyone knew the roads like the palm of their hands, as well as everyone mastered the secrets of mechanics with a basic tool could solve any eventuality on the way". Also stated, "They were also very witty and inventive, they took advantage of everything", assures Don Mundo.
"Most of the cars were of four powerful cylinders that worked even with oil or tractor oil, standard transmission of 3 changes, rod brakes, thin wheels with spoke wheels and camera, that was all to be able to compete", he said excitedly.
Barney Oldfield
First Historic Member
1914 Desert Classic Winner & Father of American Motorsports
""Although Barney Oldfield retired from active competition while motorsports was still in its infancy, his achievements and his colorful style combined to make him the spiritual father of American racing. Born Bernard Eli Oldfield on June 3, 1878 in Wauseon, Ohio, this Motorsports Hall of Fame inaugural inductee began his racing career on bicycles, becoming a works racer with the Stearns factory in 1896.
Barney Oldfield Made Henry Ford Famous!
His first exposure to motorsports came in 1902, when an acquaintance loaned him a motorcycle for a race in Salt Lake City. That same year he went to Detroit, where he participated in the development of Henry Ford's famous 999 racer, eventually driving it to victory against, among others, Alexander Winton, the American champion of the day. Oldfield went on to attack the mile-a-minute barrier, eventually whittling it down to 0:55.8 seconds, which was good enough to land a job with Winton, and his career as a barnstorming race driver was established. Oldfield attracted national attention with his national match racing against all comers in the fabled Peerless Green Dragon.
Famously run at the original speed track of America at Lakeside, California!
In the course of an 18-week tour that hit 20 tracks nationwide, Oldfield, clad in a green leather driving suit, went 16-for 16 against local opposition and perfected his skill as a showman. Though his flair for showmanship kept him in almost constant hot water with the AAA, America's major race sanctioning body in those days, Oldfield did manage to make occasional record runs, and in 1910 broke all existing marks for the mile, two miles and the flying kilometer, hitting 131.724 mph in the famed 200-horsepower Blitzen Benz. Oldfield had historic luck with America's premier race, the Indianapolis 500. His best finishes were fifth places in 1914 and 1916, the former in a Stutz, the latter in a Delage.
Oldfield ran the first 100 mph lap at Indy, driving a front-drive Christie.
Oldfield's 1914 prize, which he took to his end.
He had many tries at 'The Desert Classic, Los Angeles To Phoenix Desert Race'. His momentous win in 1914, a 670-mile run was historic.
The same 'Number 5 Stutz-Bearcat' he finished fifth at Indy that year, against the world's greatest cars and racers, Barney took the same car to Los Angeles and won The Desert Classic in 1914!
In all, Oldfield drove for Mercer, Stutz, Maxwell, Delage, Peugeot and ended his career almost as colorfully as he had begun, in the Golden 'Yellow' Submarine, another barnstorming campaign that helped put a national tire and rubber company on the American corporate map. ""
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OFFICIAL
**INFAMOUS INDUCTION ANNOUNCEMENTS**
Today, Thursday, October 7, 2021
BAJA Racing HALL Of Fame
Our Esteemed Members
2011 Don Francisco [No. 1]. 2012
Ray Moon, Mark Smith, Dick Cepek, Brian Chuchua, Pete Condos, Charlie
Erickson, James Garner, Vic Hickey, Parnelli Jones, Steve McQueen, Bruce
Meyers, Drino Miller, Ed Pearlman, Malcolm Smith, Bill Stroppe,
Thurston Warn, Vic Wilson, Edo Ansaloni, William Bryan, Gilmon George,
Richard Landfield, Walter Lott, Mickey Thompson, Frank Vessels, Clark
Collins, Salvatore Pesca, Bob Hamm, Corky McMillin, Ivan Stewart, Scott
McKenzie, Ak Miller, Larry Minor, Roy Spuhler, Ed Waldheim, Herman Booy,
John Buffum, Eugene Chappie, Edward Dunkley, Walker Evans, Harry
Bushert, Bud Ekins, John Lawlor, Jerry Penhall, David Ashley, Nye
Frank, Bill Sanders, Larry Bergquist, Bob Chandler, Frank DeAngelo,
Jerry Herbst, Bob Steinberger, Larry Roeseler, Ron Bishop, Rob
MacCachren, Peter Brown, Chris Haines, JN Roberts, Joe MacPherson, Nico
Saad, Larry Ragland, Bud Feldkamp, Jim Ober. 2014 Donny Robertson, Javier Tiznado, Nick Nicholson, Rich Minga, Javier Espinosa, Mark Stahl. 2016 Mike Leon, Mike Overcast, Robert "BAJA BOB" Gordon and his son Robby Gordon. 2017
Spirit Of Ensenada Racing Team, Dr. Ramon Murrillo, Geraldo Novelo,
Gustavo "Gus" Vildosola, Gerardo "Niño" Rojas, José David Ruvalcaba,
Eric "Panda" Fisher, Ernesto "Tito" Arámbula, Arnoldo "Cone" Ramírez,
Lupito "El Rey" Murillo. 2018 Dave
Ekins SPECIAL Inductee, [No. 100], Ray Brock, Bruce and his son, Dana
Brown, Kurt Caselli, Jack Cooperman, Ray Harvick, Donald Lee Hatz, Sr.
Tono Hernandez, Michael Noval, Hector Eliseo Garcia Araujo, Presidente Marco Antonio Novelo Osuna, GENERAL MOTORS Brands, FORD Motorsports, VOLKSWAGEN Motorsports. 2019 Bob and Pistol Pete Sohren 2020 Baja Sureno Sr. Alberto "Pato" Ayala and Jimmie Johnson 2021 BAJA Racing Memorial [No. 1]
Mark Luhtalla, Bob Renz, BAJA Racing Family Norm Johnson, Baja Sureno
Don Edmundo "Mundo" Yuen González, BAJA Racing Historical [No. 1] Barney
Oldfield.
Edited by: Gary Newsome, Publisher
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