SPARKS, NV (Sept. 7) – Rod Hall, in off road racing he’s one of the legends. When Baja is mention he stands above the rest and is the only man to compete in all of the first 50 of these 1000-mile races.
Sadly a few weeks ago he succumbed to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). IT affects 1 in 10,000 people and at present there is no cure.
This weekend former employees, friends and family joined together to celebrate his life and accomplishments at the Wild West Motorsports Park. The site located east of Sparks, Nevada was where Hall also had a driving school for a time.
When a person entered a large tent they passed by a display of memorabilia of trophies, posters and other things Hall earned in his career. There was also a guest book to sign.
The family has set up a foundation and to get things rolling for a donation one could get a couple of hot laps around the course. It’s the same one the Lucas Oil Off Road series uses.
Most of the laps were done with UTVs giving riders to people and there was even a truck that also turned laps.
Once hot laps ended many drove their vehicles onto the front straight and formed up as they were going to do a memorial lap in Hall’s honor.
Leading the procession was Josh Hall, his daughter Shelby and her racing partner Amy Learner. At the end of the memorial lap when everyone was leaving the track Josh Hall personally thanked all of them.
This was followed by a meet and greet where family and friends exchanged greetings and stories of the experiences they had with Hall. Keeping the mood light was the band Trilogy that, during the formal part, played some songs the elder Hall requested.
Two of the attendees were Steve Rudd and Tom Heyl, who not only worked for Hall but also became friends with him as many of his employees did.
“I worked six years for Rod and one of the great memories with him was the first or second year we did the USA 500,” Rudd said. “Tom, I and Rod went out and marked the course. We were in and out of that truck 500 times that day putting up course makers. Rod would find a better trail and we’d go back and put 15 markers down then we’d go up another route. Any time you spent a day with Rod off-roading, that was a good day.”
Then after giving it some thought Rudd continued.
“I think the scariest time was when Tom and I were with Rod and we were laying out a light truck seminar. There was still a little bit of snow on the ground and we left Gooseberry Mine and we’re heading up a hill. We’re in the H3, we get half way up the hill, Rod’s talking to us and we start going backwards. Rod looks back and goes, ‘uh oh,’ I looked at Tom and said,’when Rod Hall says ‘uh oh it’s time to be nervous.’”
Heyl, who also got the title of “Director of Entertainment,” from Hall said, “Everyone of them has been a great memory. I worked for him 16 years and he’s my friend forever.”
During his life Hall touched many hearts, inspired many people and led by example. He was well respected both in and away from racing.
One he inspired is granddaughter Shelby, a racer herself.
Asked about any special memory she said, “One of the greatest memories that I have of my Poppa Rod is learning how to drive. I was very little, I wasn’t big enough to sit in the driver’s seat by myself so I would sit on his lap and he would work the pedals and I would work the steering wheel. It was in an H1 Hummer and I just had no fear.
“I really didn’t know that much at that time and he had no fear of me driving the car and we would be on these really excellent adventures. He would guide me on what to do with his words and he trusted me to drive appropriately, which I had no idea of what I was doing. He guided me so well we just had so much fun, I have so many great memories doing that.”
Then she related how he inspired her.
“He has had such immense influence on my life today. I’ve had so many moments of being able to race for different events that I attend, the people that I know and it’s all because of him. He introduced me to this amazing life of off road motorsports. I am so grateful for all of the amazing experiences that I’ve had leading up to now, I can’t wait to see what I have in store and I have him to thank for everything.”
Josh Hall, the oldest son, acted as the Master of Ceremonies and after a nice buffet dinner everyone settled down for the program.
First up to give the invocation was Steve Hanson, known to the off road community as Chaplain Steve. He’s from Racers for Christ.
He related how over the years a relationship developed with Rod Hall and how they’d have a short prayer session before a race.
Hanson added that Hall used to take a short nap in the staging area so he needed to make sure he didn’t disturb him then.
Next up was Mr. Norm Dianda, whose company Q & D Construction actually built Wild West Motorsports Park and operates the facility.
He remarked on how his relationship with Hall grew over the years. That and how he knows what the family is going through since his wife passed two years ago.
Finally Dianda mentioned he’s contributing money to the foundation the Hall family has formed.
Next up was Hall’s youngest son Chad who spoke about his father. The elder Hall wanted to be the only person that competed in the first 50 Baja races and facing that challenge his family and crew made it happen.
In that last Baja 1000 race the car had problems. The crew managed to fix that and load Rod Hall into the co-driver’s seat so they could head for the finish.
Chad, who was driving, mentioned that his father knew this was his last Baja 1000. They not only finished but won their class as well.
Then Chad told the crowd the advice his father gave him. “Race while you can because someday you can’t.”
C.J. Hadley, publisher of Range Magazine, also knew Rod Hall and offered some funny stories of her experiences with him.
Then Don Newsome from B.F. Goodrich explained the tire company’s relationship with Rod Hall and how it grew over the years. In fact it became a partnership and not just a sponsor.
One way they helped Hall was mentioning that as a partner it wasn’t just about winning races. The partnership really got going in the time between the last checkered flag and the next green flag.
Finally it was time for Josh Hall to be at the mic and he related the last years of his father’s life.
“When he was wheelchair bound it was hard to be a public figure,” he said. “As his world got smaller his vision got bigger and bigger as he got to see other things. His family was as important as a sponsor as he saw things like his kids and family. Putting on his last shirt, a BF Goodrich one, he said ‘time to punch out.’ I’m so honored to share those last years of his life.”
Just before a video about Rod Hall’s life was shown Chaplain Steve got up for some final words. It was quite an emotional time for him but he got through it and ended with a passage from Ecclesiastes about how there is a time and season for everything.
Next came a video created by Amy Learner and her husband showing Rod and Donna Hall’s life and the racing he was involved in. Spliced in were many comments by fellow drivers and the family.
It ends with Chad Hall piloting that Hummer across the finish line giving his father the record of finishing all the first 50 Baja 1000 races.
As the celebration ended Josh said, “My entire family could not be more ecstatic with the generosity with the number of people that have shown up tonight who have shared fantastic stories, who donated money to the foundation, who brought their race cars out, who took friends for laps. This has been a wonderful experience for and I know my dad is watching and couldn’t be more proud of everything we’re doing here.”
In his remarks Hall gave special thanks to the crew at Wild West Motorsports Park for their assistance in making the Celebration of Life a success.
He also mentioned the amount of donations the foundation had raised. The goal is to help research find a cure for Progressive Supernuclear Palsy, the disease that Hall had. There is no known cure or way to determine how it starts.
Those wishing to help can donate to www.curepsp.org.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery from the event after the results at the end of this article.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Next weekend there are two cancellations in our area. First the World of Outlaws race at Fernley 95A Speedway is one of them. The other is that the Nor Cal Nostalgia Drag series won’t be at Top Gun Dragstrip this weekend.
• There was racing at Fernley 95A Speedway on Saturday. Among the winners was Joe Frock, who clinched this year’s Dwarf Car championship.
The full results are at the end of this article.
• Teresa’s Garage Radio Show will again be happening from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. We cover all things automotive as well as trends.
I have a preview section at 2:15 and hope you will give us a listen. We can be heard over the air, streaming on the Internet as well as live on FaceBook.
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RESULTS:
• Fernley 95A Speedway – Sept. 7
A Mods:
+ Heat race: 1. Fred White, 2. John Osgood III, 3. Connor Tatum, 4. Dale Tatum, 5. Steve McQueen Sr.
+ Main: 1. Fred White, 2. John Osgood III, 3. Dale Tatum, 4. Steve Mcqueen Sr.
DNF: Connor Tatum.
Sport Mod:
+ Heat: 1. Rusty McMillan,2. Collin Sanford.
+ Main: 1. Rusty McMillan.
DNF: Collin Sanford.
Hobby Stocks:
+ Heat: 1. Rick Miller, 2. Robert Crane, 3. Bob Vaden.
+ Main: 1. Bob Vaden, 2. Rick Miller.
DNS: Robert Crane.
Dwarf Cars:
+ Heat: 1. Joe Fock, 2. Glenn Sciarani, 3. Roy Petersen, 4. Skip Wise.
+ Main: 1. Joe Frock, 2. Glenn Sciarani, 3. Roy Petersen, 4. Skip Wise.
PHOTO GALLERY:
The band Trilogy kept things light and even played special songs during the formal part of the celebration of Rod Hall’s life. Tom Heyl (leeft) and Steve Rudd worked for Rod Hall and like many employees became friends with him. 
Start of the memorial lap to honor Rod Hall at the Wild West Motorsports Park. Josh Hall and daughter Shelby along with Amy Learner before the memorial lap. Shelby Hall and a graphic of her Poppa Rod. He was a great inspiration to her.. 
Just some of the people that knew or worked for Rod Hall. Left to right are Danny Rudd, Joel Ellis,Tom Heyl and Steve Rudd. Some of Rod Hall’s memorabilia on display. More memorabilia from Rod Hall’s off road racing career. 
Participants in the memorial lap to honor Rod Hall head up the hill toward Turn 1. 
Keith Brooks was just one of the drivers taking people on hot laps around Wild West Motorsports Park. After the memorial lap Josh Hall thanked all the participants. Hall’s oldest son Josh acted at MC during the celebration. 
As they ended the memorial lap Shelby Hall, Josh Hall and Amy Learner wave to the spectators. 
Just part of the crowd having dinner at the celebration. 
If one wanted a faster hot lap session this desert racing truck was the ticket. Chad Hall speaking. It was his honor to drive his father across the finish line at the last Baja 1000 Rod Hall participated in. 
A great buffet supplied the dinner.
Dan, thank you for the many years of covering motorsports in northern Nevada and for your work telling hundreds of compelling stories over the years. And thank you for sharing dad’s final story as well! The Hall family appreciates all you have done.
Once again thanks for the kind words Josh. It was an honor to cover the celebration of
your father’s life. He touched many hearts during his journey through lift.