Hall of Fame

Our Dad was involved with this track from the very beginning. He was one of the founding fathers.

He held every office in the organization and was the representative for the FOP for many years. At one point, he had helped build almost every car on the track.

The early years of racing, involved practice on Tuesday, racing at Terre Haute on Fridays, Casey on Saturdays and sometimes Indianapolis on Sundays. We raced before the fireworks at the Stadium and then later at the Action Track. Because of involvement my family had with the warden of the prison’s secretary, we later started racing at the prison. The prisoners so loved watching the races that they built a dirt track at the prison farm facility.

Dad brought the love of racing to many families. There are too many families that he helped get involved to name them all but a few were the Meyers, the Callahan’s, the Barton’s, and the Bards. He had a driver before his daughter Deb and after her he had many drivers until his son Rob raced. Brian Champion and Ron Petcher are a few that come to mind.

When many family’s children had outgrown racing, but they still loved the track and the sport, Dad and Mom started a program where children were brought from Glenn home to race on Fridays.

During his years he developed a friendship with Mary Hulman and helped bring A.J. Foyt to the track several times.

Our Dad acted as the “Father “of this track he loved. He fostered an atmosphere of sportsmanship and camaraderie. He helped so many families get their cars up and running that our doors were revolving with wives and kids until the late hours of the night.

We are deeply honored to see our Dad receive this and know that he is in his cowboy hat, smiling down from heaven.

We also wish to acknowledge our mother, who started and ran the concession stand for more years than we can count and worked keeping the records for many years.

My remarks Rhonda

As the child who did not race but grew up at this track from a toddler on, I can say that nobody has seen Terre Haute Quarter Midget racing as I have. What I want you to know was that my family ate, slept and breathed this track. The dirt was so well ground into us, it is part of our souls. Our childhood memories are mostly of times at the track and the times we spent with the “family” that we acquired there. We celebrated birthdays, mourned losses and I grew up in the arms of all the moms and dads. My wonderful childhood is because of my parent’s involvement. I hope that going forward, children will still have these memories and this track will persevere for years to come."

BACK IN THE WINTER OF 2005-2006 I WAS AT A MCDONALD’S IN GREENCASTLE WHEN I SAW A PICKUP DRIVE BY WITH AN ASHLEY QUARTER MIDGET IN THE BACK. I RECOGNIZED THE CAR BECAUSE I KNEW THE HUTCHISON FAMILY HAD JUST RETIRED BUT I DIDN’T RECOGNIZE THE PICKUP. I SAID TO MYSELF LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A NEW FAMILY RACING.

ANDREW BEHNKE STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF 2006 AT 11 YEARS OLD. (HOW DID BEHNKE FIND OUT ABOUT QM RACING? ). ANDREW RAN 3 RACES IN SR NOVICE, MOVED TO SR HONDA, AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. IN THE SPRING OF 2010, ANDREW MOVED ON TO 600s LEAVING LITTLE SISTER JENNIFER TO REPRESENT THE BEHNKE FAMILY AT THQMA UNTIL HER RETIREMENT IN THE FALL OF 2010.

ALONG THE WAY JIM BECAME AN ASSET TO THQMA AS VICE PRESIDENT AND A BOARD MEMBER IN ADDITION TO HIS INFLUENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AS MANAGER OF SAM’S CLUB. HE IS THE REASON WE ARE HERE TODAY. JIM WAS THE MAN THAT BROUGHT THE HOF TO LIFE. IT WAS HIS BRAINCHILD. IF YOU ARE OR HAVE BEEN A SCHOLARSHIP FAMILY YOU CAN THANK JIM. THAT TOO WAS HIS IDEA. THQMA HAD THE FIRST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY AND IT HAS SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE FROM COAST TO COAST. IT ALL STARTED HERE WITH ONE MAN’S IDEA.

Marycele & Lee Dillion
Marycele and Lee began racing in the eighties with their 4 young sons Brian, Doug, Scott, and Gregg. Both held offices within the club and made many contributions to its success. Lee was instrumental in helping with the building and upkeep of the track amenities and Marycele was found each race night helping score in the tower. Marycele passed away in 1998 well before her grandchildren were born. THey currently have three drivers at THQMA: Carson, Callista, and Carter Dillion.

Mick Landes Family

Mick Landes was president of THQMA for a couple of years.

John and Charlotte Frederick: John and Charlotte started racing many years ago and are responsible for the Dillion boys starting their racing careers: Doug, Scott, Gregg, and Brian. Their grandson Nick would travel with them to races all over the country. Charlotte, along with Gregg's mom Marycele, could be found scoring in the tower nightly. Charlotte continues to visit the track to see Carson and Callista race.

JR, Debbie and Shelby Vangilder
Johnny Shipman Family

DON SMITH: Donald E. Smith was born in 1928 and has been a life long resident of Terre Haute. Don was the president of First Financial Bank. He has been a long time supporter of the THQMA. His bank has been the title sponsor for each of the 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, and 2013 Grands events at Terre Haute. He worked with the Vigo County Commissioners to help gain THQMA an additional 4.9 acres of land. He donated monies to purchased Moscore and transponders for our club. Currently, his two great-grandsons race with us at THQMA. He has always been a supporter of our club.

Maggie Brown-Zenor: Maggie Brown-Zenor became involved in quarter midget racing at the Terre Haute Quarter Midget Track in 1968 and 44 years later continued to be involved. Maggie operated the scale house as she congratulated kids when they came off the track. But this is only the most recent chapter in a long history of dedication to quarter midget racing. Maggie has three children that raced quarter midgets from 1968 when her oldest son, Robert “Bobby” Breneman started racing, Jayne-Ani “JJ” Brown Collins joined her brother racing in 1975 and her youngest son, William T. “Bucky” Brown II, finished his quarter midget racing career in 1988. Most of the 1990’s Maggie continued her involvement as Region 5 Secretary as her grandchildren raced quarter midgets. Maggie attended every Region 5 event from 1995 through 2008. Maggie was also involved at the National level and attended 30 National Races in a row from 2000 through 2009. Seven of the eight of Maggie’s grandchildren also raced quarter midgets. Maggie was part of the committee that was responsible for helping start the third Grand National event known as “Dirt Grands”. Maggie and her late husband Bill were also responsible for helping get several other kids involved in quarter midget racing and were even known to make deals with kids allowing them to race one of their cars if they stayed out of trouble. More than 15 times, Maggie has been Novice Director in Terre Haute. Maggie was inducted into the National Quarter Midget Hall of Fame located at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama in 2003 and was formerly recognized on July 3, 2004. The Terre Haute Quarter Midget family wants to “Thank” Maggie Brown-Zenor for 44 years of dedication to the kids of quarter midget racing.

Tom King

Shannon Ashley: Shannon has been involved in quarter midget racing and THQMA for nearly 50 years as a driver, handler and most recently as a chassis builder. His passion for the sport is only exceeded by his passion for the kids. The look on Shannon’s face, when one of the kids that he has worked with “gets it”, clearly illustrates this passion. Anyone who knows Shannon, knows that the above, only scratches the surface of describing his generosity, wisdom, dedication and impact on the people of THQMA.

James “Grandpa” Meyers: Grandpa Myers was a part of the THQMA family spanning 3 generations. He was a veteran who was awarded a purple heart, and survived the sinking of the U.S.S Rohna. He was married to Geraldine Myers, with whom they had seven children. Grandpa became a member of THQMA in the 1970’s, initially with son Jim and later two of his daughters, Dori and Jodi began racing. Through the years, several of his grandkids and later, great-grandkids became drivers.
Grandpa just enjoyed the atmosphere at the track, and loved each child as if they were his own. Nothing made him smile more than seeing the kids do well in their race car. He always thought you did amazing, whether you finished first or last, as long as you were having fun.

Macon and Mary Morgan: The Morgan family started in QMA in 1969 and racing in 1970. Both of the Morgan children (Ray and Joy) raced until they were 16. Ray continued with sprint cars and now owns his own sprint car team. They have 2 grandchildren. Macon has held various positions within the club including treasurer, head flagger, and served as a board of director, as well as being involved in the incorporation of THQMA. The Morgan Family's commitment to the kids of THQMA is unprecedented.

Andy Camp: Andy Camp was involved in every aspect of the QMA during his family’s 11 year tenure in the sport. He not only helped work the track every Thursday night, but he also held many different positions locally, regionally and nationally, including THQMA Novice Direc­tor, THQMA Club President, Region 5 Director, THQMA Club Vice President, QMA National Vice President, and QMA National Head Judge; some of these held concurrently. Andy was only able to do so only through the help and support of his wife, Peggy, and children, Katie and Kyle.
As National Head Judge, he used three of his four vacation weeks to travel all over the United States and Canada to the Grand National events and the fourth to attend the National QMA meeting. In all, he attended 15 Grand National Events as National Head Judge. At the Dirt Grand Nationals every year, he would not only be National Head Judge, but would handle Katie in three classes and starting in 1998, also raced Kyle. Andy and his family have moved to drag racing with Kyle. The Camp family still holds QMA close to their hearts and hopes to be back racing at THQMA again one day