Who left their indelible mark upon Motorsports and
Automobiles…
Like many stories here upon Ye Isle ‘O
Nofendersville. This one has been growing barnacles along thoust rocky
shoreline, where All the ‘lil Creatures play in their Tide pools…
Yet before the 2026 racing season begins in
earnest, I’d like to honour a few men who made a difference upon motorsports,
which I’ve been neglecting awhile. As Marshall Pruett’s words still resonate
with me, even if it now some ten months since hearing them, when I first began
thinking about this.
Reflecting upon Shigeaki Shigi’ Hattori’s death
last April. Marshall said He was embarrassed over His Dickishness towards Shigi!
For which I say Kudos to Marshall for “Manning” up to this, since I surely also
fall afoul to! Since I’m guessing I would have lambasted Shigi during His brief
tenue at Bettenhausen Motorsports Wayback’ in 1999.
Think about this, Hattori came to the U.S. in
1995 after winning the 1994 Toyota Racing Series in Japan. And at Age 32! Was a
rookie in Indy Lights, driving for Dorricott Racing.
Hattori’s teammate was Jeff Ward, with Shigi
finishing 13th overall. Scoring a best finish of fourth at Toronto; amassing seven
Top 10 finishes.
Following a sophomore slump driving for Lucas
Place Motorsports, with His only Top 10 finish coming at Long Beach. (9th) Hattori
moved to Indy Regency Racing in 1998 for His third Indy Lights campaign, which
began brilliantly! As Shigi dominated at the season opener, leading the most
laps enroute to His maiden Lights win at Homestead. Hattori followed this up
with another dominant victory at Gateway, while ultimately finishing P14
overall.
For 1999, Shigi joined Bettenhausen Motorsports
in CART, contesting only eight races. With a best finish of 15th at Gateway.
Unfortunately after a spate of crashes, CART Steward Wally Dallenbach revoked
His IndyCar Competition license. While its worth noting that Bettenhausen was
running the then uncompetitive Mercedes-Benz in a year old Reynard chassis. And
these racecars were known for their brutal horsepower…
Hattori then migrated to the Indy Racing League
(IRL) in 2000. Making over two-dozen starts between 2000-03, with a best finish
of sixth at Texas Motor Speedway. Along with two Indianapolis 500 starts in 2002-03.
Driving for Bradley Motorsports and A.J. Foyt Enterprises respectively. With a
best finish of P20 in 2002.
Shigi capped off His driving career with a
partial season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series in 2005, making ten starts.
Before forming Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE) in 2008, competing in NASCAR
and ARCA.
As a team owner Shigi reached His zenith in
2018, when HRE won the Trucks title with Brad Moffitt driving. With the team
winning a total of 14 Truck races. While HRE also raced in Xfinity and ARCA,
before the team closed its doors in 2025, following Hattori’s death.
Sadly, Shigi died on April 5, 2025 at Age 61
when crossing over into oncoming traffic in North Carolina, succumbing in the Head-on collision
While Marshall rightly points out, Shigeaki
came to America to do what He loved, racing cars. And Shigi, Dr. Jack Miller.
Or “King Hiro”, (Hiro Matsushita) Dennis Vitolo or whomever we as Fans lambast
can drive one Helluva lot better than we can! Which you can check out Pruett’s
comments in the link below.
MP1595:
The Week in IndyCar, April 9, 2025
Whilst karmically, a day after revisiting
Marshall’s podcast above. I ran across an old Car & Driver magazine article
by Rich Zeppos, noting how He got His Arse kicked contesting His first
Short-track Oval!
I
got My Ass Kicked in my first Short-track Oval Race
Robert Clarke was Honda Performance
Development’s (HPD) very first employee, Known today has HRC US. (Honda Racing
Corporation U.S.) Clarke was instrumental in turning Honda into the IndyCar
Juggernaut of today as HPD’s founder…
Clarke was responsible for the formation of HPD
in Santa Clarita, California, when their was no facility. As Honda had decided
to return to Open Wheel Racing Stateside in 1994, in Championship Auto Racing
Teams CART PPG IndyCar World Series.
As Clarke would lead Honda from unsatisfying
initial results with the HRX 2.65-litre turbo lump’. Before Cheep’ (Ganassi)
scored Honda’s first of six consecutive IndyCar Championships in 1996 with
Jimmy Vasser.
Clarke shepherded Honda to it’s first, elusive
Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004, along with its maiden Indy Racing League
(IRL) title that year. Followed with a second “Double”, i.e.; IRL Championship
and Indy 500 win before Honda became the IRL’s sole engine supplier in 2006.
Before retiring from HPD, Clarke was
responsible for Honda’s very first racing engine built outside of Japan, with
the Acura Sports Car engine. As Clarke would become Head of De Ferran Motorsports
in 2008, overseeing its Acura LMP2 Sports Car effort. While Clarke was also
president of the SCCA for two years.
Clarke died on September 20, 2025 at Age 75
from Heart failure.
Ironically, on the very same day Clarke’s death
was being announced. (Sept 22nd) Tsutomu “Tom” Matano, the “Father” of the
first generation Miata’s obituary was also being published.
Although graduating from Seikei University as
an Engineer. “California Cool” called, with Matano attending California’s Art
Center of Design in 1970.
After stints with GM in Australia and BMW in
Germany, Matano joined Mazda’s Design Studio in California, and the rest as
they say, was History…
Matano “penned” the first generation Mazda
MX-5, which Mazda Brass had desired to revive British Sports Cars of past,
i.e.; MG, Triumph, but without their legendous’, porous reliability!
And then Matano was instrumental in the third
generation Mazda RX-7, arguably the best looking RX-7 of all.
As Tom was known to be warm, engaging and willing sparing His time with the legions of Mazda Fans worldwide. Joking He’d lived long enough to become the Miata’s Great Grandfather. Before dying at Age 76 this past September.
