Last Wednesday’s 19th annual induction ceremony for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America was a sellout at the downtown Fillmore Detroit, formerly the State Theater. It was actually jammed with fans and representatives of companies interested in U.S. motorsport. Its date coincided with the preliminaries of the Motor City’s biggest annual attraction, the Woodward Dream Cruise, and pre-race activities at Michigan Int’l Speedway, which helped provide a broad base of attendees. The opening reception at the Sheraton-Detroit Hotel in Novi saw inductee Jim McGee in a rare business suit, vest included; “Birthday girl” Linda Vaughan wearing virginal white and admitting only to 39 summers; Jennifer Revson, who lost her brothers Doug and Peter to racing crashes, now a director of the hosting organization, was a center of attraction with her shoulder-length blond hair and striking clothes. She let it be known a new automobile bearing the Revson name is a possibility; personable Sybil Scott, daughter of driver Wendell Scott, was busy meeting, greeting and making friends in addition to accepting her late father’s award. Some chose to skip the popular museum tour, the widow of late drag racing star Ronnie Sox opting for a massage while Indy 500 winner and Florida GM dealer Jim Rathmann and his lady Kay chose the new downtown casino. Asked how he fared, he replied, “I lost one Cadillac.” Questioners kept Father Phil DeRea, the popular racing priest who splits his time between a religious center in Aurora, Ill., and the Vatican, busy. IMSA head man Scott Atherton couldn’t wait to tell one and all that the recent ALMS race at Elkhart Lake drew the Wisconsin track’s biggest crowd in years, while Indianapolis Speedway Communications VP Fred Nation surprised us in revealing the Speedway’s NASCAR Brickyard race has experienced a three-year ticket sale decline, this year’s being the largest. Nation also reported ticket sales for the Indy 500 have been up three years running, this year’s being the biggest of the three! GM heavyweight Bob Lutz, presenter of John Fitch’s award, looked disappointed when no flash bulbs popped when he was introduced. Former Indy Car team owner U.E. (Pat) Patrick made a rare appearance, and Lyn St. James was busy-busy pushing her Project Podium effort to further the cause of women racing drivers. Lyn will take your calls at (317) 244-9790. I’m afraid aging engine maven Bill (Grumpy) Jenkins may be losing his nickname. Spent 30 minutes alongside him on a bus and he couldn’t have been more sociable. Highlight of my Motown visit? A delightful lunch with Toddy Ruttman and Patricia Parsons Vigants, both daughters of Indy 500 winners.

Our recent question as to the Dodge car company’s future in auto racing now that it is being bought by Cerberus Capital Management, has been answered by Mike Delehanty, Senior Mgr. Motorsports for Dodge. He says, “It will be business as usual,” adding, “We’ve got long-term commitments with our NASCAR teams and with the sport as well.”

Constant reader Mike Rudderham of Griffin, Ga., suspects the recent fall in the stock market might force some sponsors to cut back on their race-team budgets.   

The recent order Chinese authorities issued to fire Chen Liangyu, the disgraced Communist Party Secretary, for blatant spending, corruption and fraud included a list of his “sins” involving state money. On that list was the $300 million he spent building the fancy Formula One circuit near Shanghai that is home to China’s Grand Prix. The straw that broke the camel’s back, however, was the $4.5 billion he sought for a maglev (magnetic levitation) elevated rail line linking Shanghai to a suburb.

Up, up and up. Most big-name drivers now have charitable entities bearing their name, and Jeff Gordon was one of the first. His foundation’s first bowling tournament six years ago raised $4,000 for the Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Its 2007 renewal late last month generated $244,700 for the hospital. The highlight was spirited bidding for a   Peyton Manning-donated T-shirt that went for $6,000.

Members of SCCA’s New England Region say final approval for their proposed road course in Palmer, Mass., is close at hand and construction of its 2.14-mile raceway, designed to be run in either direction, should start soon. Racing in 2009 is the plan. The $5 to $7 million project will be a “for-profit” undertaking owned by NER Investments LLC, and investors are sought. Interested? Call Dick Patullo, (413) 530-1393 for specifics, and please mention NSSN.

One of this country’s better fan clubs, the Badger Midget Auto Racing Ass’n club, is trying something new to spur interest, a show car. Painted up to showcase the club and its activities, its home base is at Angell Park Speedway in Hales Corners, Wis. And, the club’s latest yearbook is now available, $10 from BMARA, 215 Sunset Dr., Dane, Wis. 52529.  I’d throw in an extra buck for postage. 

Hard-core New England fans and members of NEAR (New England Antique Racers) are gearing up for one of the area’s biggest annual gatherings, the day-long Ron Bouchard Auto Stores show at his five-make dealership in Fitchburg, Mass., on Saturday, Sept. 22nd. Everyone is invited to enjoy the show and partake of the free lunch. For more call (860) 628-0517.

A kick in the pants for open-wheel buffs. On-track action at the Racing Legends Reunion at New York’s Little Valley Speedway on Aug. 26 won’t be the Empire Super Sprints gentry as advertised, but rather the Super Late Models. Other hardtop classes will run in support. Repeated rainouts for the late models apparently caused the change.