SE Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame Expands

During the Jefferson Swap Meet April 24-26 we ran into Gib Wiser of Wiser’s Hot Rod Fabrication from Neosho, Wis., who had a vending space. He introduced us to his neighbor Dick Melius. Gib is well-known as a Wisconsin short track racer and Dick’s father is Miles “The Mouse” Melius, a legend in Midwest open wheel racing.

Dick is the technical director for Slinger Super Speedway and a member of the board of directors of the Southeast Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame (www.sewishorttrackhof.com), which is housed in the Wisconsin Automobile Museum in Hartford, Wis.

Dick told us that the Hall of Fame had recently been expanded and remodeled. In addition, the 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees have been selected. Eleven legends of short track racing will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on Nov. 7, 2015. They include Lowell Bennett, Rich Bickle Jr., Jim Blazek, Don Goeden, Dave Moulis, Pete Ostrowski, Bill Prietzel, Ray Toft, Dave Watson and John Ziegler. John Quinn will be inducted posthumously.

The November induction ceremony will be held at the Schauer Arts and Activities Center in Hartford. Tickets will be available soon at the group’s summer show or at the Schauer Box Office.

The Southeast Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame’s first outdoor event will be at Cedarburg on June 6. A free racing swap meet is part of this event. The entire show is free and open to the public. Anyone wishing to show a car, truck, go kart or racing car can join in the fun. Visit the Website for full information about the show.

Of course, there is no reason to wait that long to see the Hall of Fame’s new look.

The Wisconsin Automobile Museum will be open during the sixth annual Hartford Downtown Old Fashioned Block Party and Classic Car Show (www.downtownhartfordwi.com). The classic cars and trucks will be displayed on Main Street in Hartford and there will be 11 awards classes plus a Best of Show award and a Mayor’s Choice award.