OFF-ROAD MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2025
July 1, 2025, Reno, Nevada – The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) received forty-seven nomination packets for individuals to be considered for the Class of 2025. A committee of off-road industry professionals was convened to evaluate and review the submissions. At the end of a day-long discussion and review, a vote was taken by secret ballot, and the eight nominees who received votes from a minimum of two-thirds of the committee members were submitted to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame board of directors for ratification.
The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame is proud to announce the Class of 2025: Frank Currie, Bob Fox, Nate Hunt, Mike Julson, Lonnie McCurry Sr., Keith Purmal, Clyde Stacy, and Dan Vanden Heuvel.
The ORMHOF Class of 2025 will be celebrated at the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Gala on the Sunday before The SEMA Show, November 2, at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 600 guests are expected to attend. Tickets, program ads, and sponsorship opportunities are available at ormhof.org.
“The ORMHOF Gala is off-road’s biggest night of the year. It’s the off-road reunion and celebration everyone looks forward to attending,” said ORMHOF chairman and inductee Mark McMillin. “We’re excited to welcome the Class of 2025 to the Hall of Fame on November 2 at Michael Gaughan’s South Point in Las Vegas.”
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Meet the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Frank Currie, Industry (Legacy)
There are but a handful of people who have had the impact on the motorsports world as a young Air Force aviation mechanic from Southern California. After serving Uncle Sam during the Korean War, Frank Currie’s career trajectory would guide him from building chicken carts for Taylor Dunn Manufacturing to Bonneville speedsters, championship rock crawlers, and dragsters.
With a passion for anything with tires and an engine, and a palpable entrepreneurial spirit, he launched his first business in his garage. “I was working as a machinist making rear ends for chicken carts. I made a deal with Mr. Taylor that I would go out and buy rear ends on the weekends. I’d buy an old Ford for $5 and sell it for $15. So that’s how Currie Enterprises started.” His side work building axles expanded to the street and track scene, and in 1964, he opened his first brick-and-mortar shop.
His sons began working with him as machinists in their early teens. Paying them piecework for what they built rather than by the hour, he taught them how to be efficient without compromising quality. During the following decades, Currie Enterprises became a household name in the drag racing, hotrod, and Jeeping communities, synonymous with premium axles and components.
Frank was in the game for more than just a quick buck; he was an enthusiast at heart, spending his weekends Jeeping in the backcountry and participating in rock, desert, and drag racing events, including building a custom roadster for Bonneville, driving it out to the salt, and after going over 200 miles per hour, driving it home. His mantra of supporting clubs, organizations, and events was handed down to his sons, and the Currie name continues to be ubiquitous on sponsor rosters.
Many say a person’s legacy will be defined by the quality of character and the impact they had on others. Overhaulin’s Chip Foose said Frank was, “a man whose contributions helped shape the industry into what it is today. His innovation, craftsmanship, and unwavering passion for performance set a standard that still influences the industry.”
When asked about his secret sauce to success during a 2011 interview, Frank said, “Quality is what I strive for, and taking care of the customer. Treat every customer as your friend, because he is your friend, and we want him to come back. I’ve done this all my life and pounded it into every one of my sons’ heads.” Frank passed away in 2016, but conveying this message was a job done well. Multiple generations of Curries continue to embrace his professional ethos, as well as playing in the dirt and on the track the world over.
Like the bow wave of a ship at sea, the diverging ripples of Frank’s influence have impacted countless. We are honored to include Frank Currie in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame with the Class of 2025.
Bob Fox – Industry
If we delve into the chronicles of off-road motor sports, there are a few names that rise to the level of luminary in a given genre. They were pioneers and innovators, often developing far-fetched ideas under a shade tree on a shoestring budget. Yet decades after they clawed their way onto the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, their names and products remain at the forefront of our industry. Enter Bob Fox, founder of The FOX Factory and member of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
An engineer by trade and an amateur motocross racer on weekends, Bob realized that the big-travel suspension movement of the 1970s presented an opportunity for someone who could build a better mousetrap. In an interview, Bob said, “The need was created by broken shocks and disappointed racers. I thought they need better shocks, and maybe I can do it. I started designing with pencil and paper and manufactured my first shocks in a friend’s garage…you don’t know any better when you are young. They were called Fox Airshox, and racers started using them.”
Within three years, FOX had helped motocross icons Kent Howerton, Brad Lackey, and Marty Smith win AMA Motocross Championships and the Motocross Grand Prix, and sales went from 200 to 10,000 units that year. Bob continued, “The long-travel revolution of the 70s is really what made FOX the company it is today.”
During the 1980s, the company expanded its product lines to include shocks for four-wheeled vehicles, snowmobiles, and a new craze called mountain biking. Partnering with top-tier athletes, FOX added numerous victories and championships to its resumé.
The following decades found FOX developing damping devices for OEM offerings, such as the Ford Raptor, as well as prosthetic limbs for water and snow skiers, and, of course, motocross riders. Whether it has been King of the Hammers rock racing, SCORE Baja events, Indy 500, CART World Series, or AMA Championships, Bob’s grassroots upstart from the 70s has worked hand-in-hand to help teams achieve not only their dreams, but top rungs on the podium. Bob said, “When you do what you love doing, you do it well.”
ORMHOF inductee and racing legend Roger Mears said, “I’ve had the privilege of knowing Bob for decades, and few individuals have had as significant or lasting impact on the evolution of off-road racing as he has. His relentless drive to improve performance made a direct impact on my success on the track. Beyond the hardware, Bob has always embodied the spirit of off-road. He’s a racer at heart, an engineer by trade, and a pioneer by nature. His fingerprints can be found on nearly every major advancement in off-road suspensions over the past 40 years.”
After 50 years of industry-leading innovation, we are pleased to welcome Bob to a well-deserved place in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Nate Hunt – Industry
Although you may have frequented events like SCORE, King of the Hammers, The Mint 400, and Crandon, there is a good chance you’ve never seen our newest inductee to the Hall of Fame with the Class of 2025. For decades, he’s been the guy working beyond the bunting to make stuff happen, and his connection and contributions to our sport are undeniable.
After cutting his teeth as a seasonal warehouse hand for Jackson-Dawson Motorsports, he was quickly promoted to managing Michelin race tires, then on to event coordinator, managing programs for OEMs like Volvo and BMW, as well as celebrities such as Richard Petty. Knowing talent when he saw it, Hall of Fame inductee Frank DeAngelo brought Nate into his team at Jackson Motorsports. He excelled in the new position of Program Manager for BFGoodrich Tires, one of the company’s largest clients. It was here that the dust, grit, sweat, and tears of desert racing permeated his genetic makeup.
Providing key support to BFG’s efforts in short course, desert racing, and rock sports, Nate was the guy behind the scenes, managing logistics and putting out fires. His next assignment, which he mastered over the past 15 years, was working with SCORE International in developing race routes, defining pit locations, access tracks, driver notes, and creating GPS files.
“Baja is probably one of my favorite places in the world. The people first, they are great. They allow us into their homes, they want to cook for us, they want to show us their country. I instill in my teams that we are guests in their land and the importance of being respectful.”
Nate’s passion for Baja and its people goes beyond the usual armchair referee. He has been an active participant in south-of-the-border charities supporting disaster relief, schools, and missions. Recently helped raise significant funding for a young girl fighting cancer, as well as a cattle ranching family that had lost nearly everything to a hurricane.
Sal Fish, Hall of Fame inductee and 40-year President of SCORE International, said, “From the very beginning of his time in the desert, Nate was filled with passion, dedication to the industry, working diligently for the betterment of the sport. The effect has been significant growth in our industry while at the same time putting together programs that give back to the people of Baja.”
Nate has volunteered his time to work with ORMHOF’s Nomination Committee and currently serves on our Board of Directors. We couldn’t be happier to welcome him to our esteemed list of Hall of Fame icons.
Mike Julson – Industry
In the 1960s and 70s, Southern California became the epicenter of off-road racing, home to dozens of grassroots events and a petri dish for creative minds to develop means-to-an-end products. In 1975, Mike Julson found himself in the mix when his father Jim built a one-off Class 9 chassis for them to race. They did well, were soon inundated with orders, and moved from the family garage to a new shop; Jimco Racing Products was born. A quick study, Mike worked with his dad developing new products and managing race programs, and eventually took the reins.
Throughout his career, Mike has been more than just a fabricator and business owner. From his early days, he learned that the best way to evaluate a product was seat time on the track. During his tenure, he claimed numerous overall wins and championships at Primm, SCORE, Pro Dirt, Fud, and Best in the Desert. The resumé of accolades attributed to Jimco chassis and products, however, reaches the world over. As the brand celebrates its Golden Anniversary, it has chalked up an unprecedented 25 Chassis Manufacturer of the Year Awards from SCORE International.
Former SCORE President Sal Fish said, “The opportunity to endorse the nomination of Mike Julson is one that I certainly could not pass up. Under his guidance, for decades, Jimco firmly set the bar on performance and excellence. Mike, and his father Jim – not to mention son Matt – are yet another example of off-road racing’s real strength. Like the McMillins, the Herbsts, the Gordons, and many more, family is at the heart of it all.”
Jimco was also the breeding ground for some of our industry’s greats, such as ORMHOF inductee John Marking and Alumicraft founder John Cooley. The late great Hall of Fame inductee Robbie Pierce purchased Jimco in 2018, and the company was later acquired by the Navarro family. Rafael Navarro IV recalled, “When I was a youngster and didn’t have enough money to build a new car, Mike always took the time to speak with me. He was always great with me, and I loved that.”
It is with great excitement that we can now include Mike Julson on the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame’s exclusive roster of Class of 2025 inductees.
Lonnie McCurry, Sr. – Industry
We at the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame love the fact that so many of our inductees began their story under a backyard shade tree or in the family garage, and Lonnie McCurry Sr.’s chronicle represents the epitome of a home-brewed American dream. While spending weekends with friends “mud digging” in the Louisiana backcountry, he realized the only way to win was with larger, taller tires and began designing suspension products. In 1971, he and his wife Nell built a small cinderblock garage behind their house, and it was here that Lonnie McCurry’s 4Wheel Drive Center was born.
During an interview with Hall of Fame inductee Rick Péwé, Lonnie said, “I thought I’d died and went to Heaven. I could crawl under a Jeep and lay on concrete. We even had electricity and lights. My sweet wife was our marketing agent, and I made parts. Those were good times.” In 1973, they opened their first brick-and-mortar storefront and created Skyjacker Suspensions. From these humble origins, the duo developed a company and brand name that became permanently embedded in the lexicon of the off-road industry.
Lonnie pioneered innovative industry firsts, including products for Fords, Chevys, mini truck conversions, Jeeps, and Scouts. Reflecting on those early days, he said, “Others said it was impossible, but impossible is what I enjoy. It’s what we do.” It was this ethos that ultimately led to building custom suspensions for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
From the beginning, Skyjacker gained a reputation for sponsoring and often competing in nearly every mud drag, four-wheel drive, and rock crawling event around the country. ORMHOF inductee Curt Leduc said, “Like so many founders of our sport, he saw a need for products that did not exist. With determination and the help of family and friends, he built a brand that still stands for quality and performance. He’s not the man with a wall of trophies, but with his support, he allowed many in our sport to fill rooms with trophies. A truer mentor I have never met.”
Walking through the Skyjacker lobby, you will find shelves of awards from SEMA, auto manufacturers, and publishing companies, and in 2004, Off-road Business Magazine named Lonnie one of its Top Five Most Influential People. Equally impressive are the accolades he has received for supporting various ministries, homeless shelters, and the Salvation Army.
In 2024, Skyjacker celebrated its 50th anniversary, and although it had expanded its shop several times, the cornerstones of that original store still lay beneath its current 80,000-square-foot facility. With three generations involved in managing the still-family-owned business, and a loyal staff of more than 50, Lonnie credits his success not only to his family, friends, and industry partners, but also to his faith in God.
Among the ranks of Class of 2025 ORMHOF Hall of Famers, Lonnie McCurry Sr. will be an excellent addition.
Keith Purmal – Volunteer
There are hundreds of people working behind the scenes at any given off-road race. They volunteer to manage logistics, pit stops, tech inspections, scoring, staging, registration, and contingency. These unsung heroes of our sport are sometimes seen, but rarely heard. Unless, of course, you are Keith Purmal.
Keith’s voice is the one that crackles to life over the radio when the world goes pear-shaped. Akin to ORMHOF Hall of Famer Bob Steinberger, aka The Weatherman, for more than 40 years, he has organized race communications for events such as the Silver State Classic, Whiskey Pete’s Hare and Hound, Vegas to Reno, Parker Dam 500, and Mint 400.
His story began like many others, with him volunteering on a pit crew. But as his penchant for radios evolved, his focus turned to helping race teams stay in communication with organizers and emergency medical services. Day or night, in the pre-dawn morning hour or redeye midnight, it is Keith we reach out to when we need to call in support.
It is said that you can write your own CV, but it will be the words of others that define your legacy. Mint 400 organizers Matt and Josh Martelli shared, “His deep knowledge of radio communications, coupled with his dedication to safety and operational excellence, has made him one of the most respected and relied-upon figures in the industry. He’s the guy everyone listens to when the radios crackle during the chaos of race day. Steady and clear, Keith has become a symbol of safety and order in the unpredictable world of off-road racing.”
Donald Jackson of the Legacy Racing Association commented, “There is nobody in radio communications that has a calmer demeanor and ability to think clearly in life and death situations than Keith Purmal. Never rattled by the circumstance, Keith is steady as a rock.”
Best in the Desert Owner Bryan Folks said, “My history with Keith dates back to the mid-70s when he was a teenager coming to our house and working with my father on race radio communications. I remember as a racer listening to the BITD race communications channel and being enamored by how organized the process was. It seemed to flow with real purpose and no worry. I attribute much of BITD race day success to Keith.”
After volunteering countless hours to various organizations, Keith has never pursued the spotlight, and like most behind-the-scenes members of our community, will never boast a case full of trophies. ORMHOF values much more than podiums and shiny things, and we are delighted to welcome Keith Purmal, one of the unsung heroes of our sport, with our Class of 2025 inductees.
Clyde Stacy – Competition
With deep roots in Virginia’s coal and entertainment industries, when Clyde Stacy turned his attention west toward desert racing, he took it by storm. As the co-founder of RPM Racing, he has blended his assertive management style with a passion for being behind the wheel. During his tenure, Clyde has piloted everything from Class 5-1600 buggies and Full Stock, to Class 2, 4, and 8 platforms, claiming numerous wins and championships along the way. Stepping up to the Trophy Truck league in 2013, he took home the Rod Hall Milestone Award six out of the following seven years. Whether it is a SCORE, NORRA, HDRA, or Best in the Desert event, we can usually find Clyde and the RPM team in the pits preparing for the green flag.
Prior to the green flag, however, is where Clyde has forged his mark. Embracing the Baja culture, over the years, he has worked with and supported various orphanages and struggling families, focusing on providing opportunities to aspiring local drivers and bringing them on his race team, where they might otherwise be sidelined.
“Clyde is humble and down-to-earth, never wanted to be in the limelight, and you wouldn’t know he had two nickels to rub together. But he has always been there to lend support where it is needed. One of the nicest guys you will ever meet.” — Frank DeAngelo, ORMHOF Class of 2013
High on Clyde’s bucket list has been to have an RPM driver achieve a victory in every SCORE class, and they are well on their way. But along the way, he has also invested heavily in assisting event promoters, as well as, innovated race technology such as the Geiser twin-engine all-wheel drive Trick Truck.
Motorsports icon and ORMHOF Class of 2019 inductee Robbie Gordon shared, “Clyde’s impact in off-road racing extends far beyond his impressive record of victories. As a competitor, team owner, and ambassador for the sport, he has consistently demonstrated the passion, perseverance, and commitment that defines true off-road legends. A generous supporter of the racing community, Clyde has provided countless drivers with opportunities to launch and advance their careers, helping the next generation of off-road champions.”
Clyde Stacy has the stuff legends are made of, and we are excited to welcome him as one of our Class of 2025 inductees in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Dan Vanden Heuvel – Competition
Known as The Flying Dutchman, the trajectory of Dan Vanden Heuvel’s high-altitude career defines the epitome of a well-rounded champion. Entering his first race at Crandon at age 15, little did he know he would spend the next 40 years embedded in the Midwest short-course culture. His resumé is impeccable, filling several pages in small-font bullet points. SODA, CORR, WSORR, TORC, he has won them all. But if we drop down to his philanthropy bio, we are humbled by the amount of time, energy, and resources he has poured back into the off-road community.
While he was flying high and filling his trophy case, Dan volunteered with various sanctioning bodies to build tracks, drive water trucks, emcee banquets, direct contingency programs, and even mow the pits. During his downtime, he brought his race vehicles to after-school “Just Say No” programs, parades, and community events. Dan hosted CORR’s first organizational meeting, co-founded the Midwest Off-Road Racing Association (MORR), serving as its first president, and donated his time and resources to develop the Short Course Kart Series for local youths. His race team became a platform for up-and-coming drivers, and he and his wife, Nancy, helped MORR develop its Injured Driver Fund program.
Dan’s nomination package came with a hefty stack of Hall of Famer endorsements, and we’d like to share a few.
“He was instrumental in helping to start the sportsman series, giving back as his career was winding down and running the contingency program only to help the other racers.” — Curt Leduc, ORMHOF Class of 2015
“I was one of the many that Dan had a chance to influence and bring into short-course racing. He has been a figurehead and spokesperson for the grassroots racer, always finding a way to help promote the sport regardless of money.” — Brad Lovell, ORMHOF Class of 2022
Motorsports in the Midwest are defined by the personalities that helped shape it. While Dan is best known for being a short-course champion, his larger contributions have been as an advocate, his selfless involvement in leadership roles, and his ongoing mentorship for competitors, young and old.” — Cliff Flannery, ORMHOF Class of 2017 and President of Crandon Motorsports
Short-course was not something Dan did; it was something he lived. His dedication to its ongoing success, unwavering integrity, and level of sportsmanship, and belief that a rising tide lifts all boats are traits that have permanently etched the name Dan Vanden Heuvel in the annals of off-road motorsports. We are proud to include Dan in our esteemed Class of 2025 roster of Hall of Famers.
About the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame
The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame was established in 1978 by racing promoter and NORRA founder Ed Pearlman to recognize and honor those individuals and organizations whose lifelong contributions to off-road motorsports have set a standard for others to follow. In 1995, legendary off-road racer Rod Hall became ORMHOF chairman, a position he held for more than twenty years, before selecting current chairman Mark McMillin as his successor.
The mission of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame is to educate and inspire present and future generations of the off-road community by celebrating the achievements of those who came before. Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees represent excellence and achievement in many areas of off-road, including advocacy, journalism, industry, rock sports, desert racing, short course, and rally.
ORMHOF maintains a collection of vintage off-road vehicles that are displayed at museums around the country, as well as an extensive online archive of print, images, video, and audio, with more content added as funds become available. The Hall of Fame Off-Road Registry invites clubs, organizations, events, businesses, and individuals with fifty years or more of history in off-road to apply for Hall of Fame heritage status in the official archives of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame is funded through donations, individual memberships, and industry partners. A 501(c) non-profit organization, ORMHOF has earned a Gold Seal of Transparency for 2024 from non-profit rating service Candid.
ORMHOF is guided by an all-volunteer board of leaders in the off-road community, including Chairman Mark McMillin, Frank ‘Butch’ Arciero Jr, Jim Bramham, Chris Collard, Frank DeAngelo, Jeff Furrier, Josh Hall, Bob Ham, Gary Haugley, Nate Hunt, Rich Klein, Emily Miller, Rafael Navarro III, Fardad Niknam, Bonnie Vessels, Rory Ward, and Cal Wells III.
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