Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame announces 2024 class
The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) received fifty-four nomination packets for individuals to be considered for the Class of 2024. 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 twelve 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 2024: Ken Block, Marlin Czajkowski, Johnny Greaves, Jimmy Lewis, Rod Millen, Jon Nelson, Mike Pearlman, John Rettie, Jimmy Smith, Pete Sohren, Scott Steinberger, and Evelyn Tallman-Duceshi.
The ORMHOF Class of 2024 will be celebrated at the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Gala the Sunday before The SEMA Show, Nov. 3 at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Nev.
“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.
Meet the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2024:
Ken Block, Rally, Influencer (Legacy)
“Ken Block was an entrepreneur and Pro Rally driver, but his legacy transcends business and sports.” — Jeff Haden, Contributing Editor, Inc. Magazine
A 23-time winner on the U.S. rally scene and six-time Global Rallycross champion, Ken Block garnered millions of followers showcasing his driving talent through his Gymkhana video series. He was an influential figure in the automotive industry, known for fostering a vibrant car culture community.
“For Ken, marketing was more than just an opportunity to build his name, or please sponsors, it was the ability to create passion around racing, said Ken’s wife Lucy, “He operated with an ‘all boats rise with the tide’ ethos. Even the companies he founded, DC Shoes and Hoonigan, carried on this goal, to lift the opportunities of others in motocross, rally, and off-road racing.”
Ken Block passed away in 2023 at the age of 55 in a snowmobiling accident near his home in Utah. The FIA retired Ken Block’s No. 43 in WRC for 2023 in tribute. DC Shoes proclaimed April 3 as 4.3 Ken Block Day.
“It would not be overstepping to say Ken Block was the most influential motorsports athlete of our generation.” – Travis Pastrana
Marlin Czajkowski – Industry (Legacy)
His name was Marlin Czajkowski, but everyone called him Marlin Crawler. Marlin’s first trip through the famous Rubicon Trail was in the mid-1980s with his wife Christine at his side. A “Toyota guy”, Marlin saw Jeeps being able to go slow through the Rubicon and ‘crawl’ through the rocks. Marlin wanted to be able to do the same in his Toyota. In 1994, Marlin created the first Marlin Crawler adapter plate and 4.7 gearset, vastly improving the off-road capabilities of Toyota trucks, and the Marlin Crawler Off-Road business was born.
Marlin is also credited with creating the first on-board welder, the first heavy duty Toyota axle joint, and the first heavy duty Toyota crossover steering link. Marlin, who had a heart condition, passed away in 2023 at the age of 67. He was scheduled for heart surgery this Spring. Marlin’s company, Marlin Crawler Off-Road, still operates in Fresno, California, under the leadership of his son, ‘Big Mike’ Czajkowski.
Deborah Littleton said, “Going to his (Marlin’s) memorial we were amazed at how many people had stories to tell about him helping them for many years, when they were broken down and just being there with a spare part, a welder, even going the extra mile–even in the middle of the night–to get a part that they needed so that they could get going. Marlin earned his wings that his family could now put on his Marlin Crawler turtle shell logo.”
Johnny Greaves – Short Course
“Today they all just got beat by a grandpa!” exclaimed Johnny Greaves in an on stage interview in 2022 after yet another Pro4 win, holding young grandson Jackson in his arms, giving an insight into the longevity of the remarkable short course career of Johnny Greaves. With over two hundred short course wins, including more than 100 in Pro4, Johnny has established himself as one of the winningest drivers in short course history.
2012 marked the beginning of a new era for Johnny Greaves Motorsports as CJ Greaves, Johnny’s son, took the wheel of a Pro2 for the first time. “There were times when I was like, not yet Junior,” laughed Johnny, “you know, dad’s still going to be on top.” In the 2015 Cup race at Crandon, Johnny and CJ crossed the finish line one-two, Johnny in Pro4 and CJ in Pro2, one of many highlights in their generational family racing saga.
The father son duo of Johnny and CJ Greaves have been a short course success story for more than two decades and show no signs of slowing down their competitive winning ways.
“I want to be remembered for being a huge part of short course,” Johnny said, “Not just racing, but keeping it alive, and helping it grow.”
Jimmy Lewis – Motorcycle
Jimmy Lewis began racing motorcycles at 8 years old and reached the top levels of competition in America, and globally. His wins include Class and Stage wins at Dakar, Overall Wins at Dubai Rally, Baja 1000, and Incas Rally. Jimmy is a 4-Time International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) Gold Medalist, AMA 125cc National Champion, 250cc National Champion, Enduro National Champion, multi-time AMA District 37 125cc and 250cc winner, and the ISDE Jr World Champion.
After retiring from competition, Johnny remains an absolute motorcycle enthusiast. He has continued a long and highly respected career as a known coach, journalist, product test rider, race and rally promoter, course director, land use advocate, trail ambassador, and dedicated mentor. Johnny has purposefully worked to advance American riders to top success globally, coaching and helping them to surpass his impressive record.
“What is important to know is that Jimmy is a person of few words,” said Rebelle Rally founder Emily Miller, “he is not into surface appearances, fluff hospitality, or small talk. He has dedicated his life to the sport, performance, the equipment, the development of talent, the trails and terrain. He expects nothing less than absolute grit, determination and excellence. Talk is cheap. Jimmy cares about the walk the journey and the outcomes of dedication.”
Rod Millen – Rally
“It’s the challenge and adventure that drives us.” – Rod Millen
Starting his professional rally career in his home country of New Zealand, Rod won the New Zealand Rally Championship three years in a row, including the inaugural event in 1975. He continued his winning ways after moving to the United States, becoming a five-time SCCA National Rally champion in the 1980s, including three straight in 1987, 1988, and 1989.
In the 1980s, Rod also began racing the Mickey Thompson Stadium Series events, winning two events in 1988. He joined Team Toyota in 1991 and went on to win twelve main event titles and becoming the only driver in series history to capture three consecutive Grand National Sport Truck titles, 1992, 1993, 1994.
Rod had also set his sights on becoming “King of the Mountain,” competing in the Pikes Peak International Hill Club. He started competing at Pikes Peak in 1981. He won his first crown at Pikes Peak in 1994, setting a record for the fastest time ever recorded on the all-dirt course, a record that will never be broken, as portions of the course were paved the following year. Rod didn’t seem to mind racing on pavement, returning to Pikes Peak to run the fastest overall time four years in a row from 1996 to ’99.
In the early 2000s, Rod competed in rally, hill climb, and enduro events, but he raced other disciplines off-road as well, having success in short course behind the wheel of a Pro4, and racing Baja behind the wheel of a SCORE Trophy Truck. He finished third at the SCORE Baja 2000, the marathon version of the traditional Baja 1000, doubled in length to commemorate the new millennium. Racing runs in the Millen family — Rod would compete in Baja several times, with sons Rhys and Ryan, and Rod’s younger brother, Steve, also enjoyed a successful racing career.
Rod’s son Rhys said, “Racing was his start and his outlet of which he was very successful behind the wheel of multiple vehicles and multiple disciplines of Motorsport, but engineering was a pathway for his business to expand and grow. Building a successful brand led to Disney and military design and engineering that in return exposed him to new technologies and opportunities. To witness the peaks and falls, the rewards and near failures is to understand the man behind the wheel. His ‘press on regardless’ approach was as strong in the car as it was behind the desk.”
Jon Nelson – Innovator (Legacy)
“Jon Nelson was one of the greatest fabricators and masterminds of off-road truck racing.” – Justin Nguyen, The Checkered Flag.
In 1986 Jon Nelson founded Nelson & Nelson Racing Products with his brother Eric, and his father Keith (“Pops”). With his family working by his side, Jon created some of the most iconic vehicles ever to race off-road.
High praise for Jon Nelson, who started his career in the late 1970s working for top off-road racer Walker Evans. In 1982, Larry Minor and Parnelli Jones hired Walker Evans Racing to build them a Class 8 truck. The truck was designed by Walker Evans, Larry Minor, and Randy Anderson, with Jon Nelson as one of the lead fabricators. After the truck was built, Jon stayed with the truck and moved from Walker Evans Racing into the role of team manager for the Miller American team. Steve Kelley joined the team as driver in late 1984 and won the first race he entered, the HDRA Frontier 250. He won the opening race of the 1985 season at Parker and went on to win the Class 8 Championship as well as the Heavy Metal Championship that year.
Hall of Famer Larry Ragland raced a Nelson truck named “Butch” and started his streak of five overall Baja 1000 wins in 1991, moving up to a Jon Nelson build considered to be one of the first Trophy Trucks: “Arnold” had a mid-engine connected to a “V” drive, and in the 1990s, with Larry Ragland behind the wheel, the Jon Nelson engineered truck won four SCORE Baja 1000s in five years, setting the fastest overall time ever recorded in an off-road race at the time.
In the early 2000s, the newly emerging sport of rock crawling caught Jon’s eye, and once again the sport of off-road would be forever changed by Jon Nelson, when he debuted his rock crawling rig, “Tiny”. Deemed radical at the time, the little VW powered rear engine car dubbed the “moon buggy” drew stares and jeers when it rolled off the trailer, but the doubters were quickly silenced when Tiny won a record setting 23 competitions, three series’ championships, and the Supercrawl World Championship.
A family man with three children and four grandchildren, Jon spent his last years in Arizona enjoying RZR rides with his grandkids, using his innovative mindset to teach them to drive and maintain their off-road vehicles, and always finding ways to go faster. In March of this year, Jon’s son Kyle wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of my father’s recent passing. Despite a valiant battle, cancer claimed his body, yet his indomitable spirit remains etched in my heart forever. While many of you knew him as a brilliant fabricator and engineer, to me, he was simply Dad.”
Mike Pearlman – Industry
Son of Hall of Fame legacy inductee and ORMHOF founder Ed Pearlman, Mike is perhaps best known for the resurrection of the original National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) that his father established in 1967. Mike announced the return of NORRA in 2009, only to have the event shift from a Rally to a relief effort as Hurricane Jimena ravaged the peninsula, leaving thousands homeless and without food or clean water.
It’s been smoother sailing for NORRA since then, with the organization providing enthusiasts of vintage off-road a place to gather, reminisce, and make new memories as they travel down the Baja Peninsula in rally stage style at the NORRA Mexican 500 and Mexican 1000. Mike made sure that NORRA lived up to its billing as the “Happiest Race on Earth” with well-organized rallies highlighted by parties and events at nearly every stop. The NORRA Mexican 1000 cumulates in an incredible beachfront awards ceremony and party on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, complete with fireworks.
Mike has lived off-road his entire life. In fact, he is widely credited with coming up with the term “off-road”, and he still owns – and drives – the Land Cruiser his father Ed bought brand new in 1966 to try and break the record and be the fastest down the Baja peninsula. With a fresh V8 engine and a set of Armstrong farm implement tires purchased from Dick Cepek, the Land Cruiser was transformed into “El Toro Verde”, the Green Bull. Mike’s dad set off down the Baja Peninsula in the Land Cruiser with Cepek as co-driver. The duo had plenty of time to think on the run, coming up with the idea for Dick Cepek’s off-road business, and plans for the first Baja 1000.
“Without Mike and his father off-road might never have existed,” wrote ORMHOF inductees Lynn Chenowth, and Johnny Johnson (who has since passed away), “We are grateful for Mike’s lifelong commitment to off-road.”
John Rettie – Media Pioneer (Legacy)
In a career spanning more than a half-century, British-born photojournalist John Rettie provided exposure for off-road events, individuals, and manufacturers in North America and around the world.
“Depth of character, exceptional performance, ethical conduct, life-long dedication, and respect amongst the industry — John Rettie checks each of these boxes with high ranks,” said ORMHOF inductee Chris Collard, “John was one of those modest, behind-the-camera guys. Whether it happened in Kenya, China, Morocco, or Mexico, John’s lens was focused on the action.”
With images and articles published the world over, John’s writing has been translated into multiple languages. His work has appeared in dozens of publications, including the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, plus major industry periodicals Road & Track, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Autoweek.
ORMHOF inductee Ivan “Ironman” Stewart told ORMHOF, “I liked John for his enthusiasm and love of motorsports and would often see his magazine articles. He is one of the most traveled people I know, and probably knows more about off-road motorsports than all the other people I know.”
John passed away unexpectedly in June of 2024, just days after learning he would be inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame inductee Sue Mead told ORMHOF, “Others will speak to John’s professional accomplishments. There is a long list. I would like to point out his value as a man who has great character and integrity. He has spent 50 years in the background of our field bringing personalities, racers, and races to the foreground through his images and storytelling. It is how the world sees us and knows about off-road.”
Jimmy Smith – Competition, Industry
“Jimmy represents the very best our sport has to offer.” – Walker Evans
Jimmy Smith has contributed a great deal to the sport of off-road in the past forty years. He co-founded Ultra Wheel Company in 1984, and the company remains strong to this day, as one of the largest U.S. aftermarket wheel manufacturers. The Fullerton, California based company engineers, designs, produces and distributes wheels internationally. The company’s website credits Jimmy’s “aggressive passion for truck racing” as the core principle behind the company’s success in delivering strong, durable, championship quality wheels.
In 1994 Jimmy organized his industry friends to start a fundraising group, Wheel Friends of Childhelp, supporting the efforts of Childhelp, a non-profit dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. The group raised more than $2.25 million to support the organization’s efforts.
SCORE created the first Trophy Truck class in 1994, and Jimmy Smith took the title at the SCORE Baja 1000. That same year, Jimmy Smith and a group of off-road friends, including Hall of Fame inductees Frank ‘Scoop’ Vessels and Dick Landfield, approached NASCAR about putting trucks on an oval track and letting them race. They were told to build a truck before NASCAR would consider it. A prototype truck was built, and Jimmy tested it on the track at Daytona Speedway. The Super Truck Series was born. Jimmy Smith’s Ultra Motorsports team won the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship and a total of 31 races in the truck series.
Since he retired from racing, Jimmy has sponsored many racers and teams, and continues his philanthropic ways by donating to many charitable organizations.
Ed, Tim, and Troy Herbst sent a letter to ORMHOF saying, “As a fellow Hall of Fame family, we know what a great honor it is to be part of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame legacy and we can’t think of anyone more deserving than Jimmy Smith.”
Pete Sohren – Desert (Legacy)
“Pistol Pete” Sohren has left his mark on the off-road industry by being himself. He was loud; very, very loud. And he was relentless. His words were used strategically; he wasn’t a bully; he stopped the bullies. He fought for what he believed in. He loved the sport, speed, and always wanted to see his competitors at the finish line…alive. Pete inspired people of all ages and all walks of life to dream big, and to always ‘go for it’. “He made dreams come true,” said Pete’s daughter Paige, “I am absolutely confident that he gave the sport more than it ever gave him. It gave him hell and he gave it back; maybe it’s a tie.”
Pistol Pete was certainly an innovator, and he had a little P.T. Barnum-style hustle in him. His Geiser Brothers trucks had three-seats, built with the driver seat in the center, with the GPS navigator on the right and the gauge reader on the other. His idea was to provide the driver with better visibility on both sides. It also allowed the navigator to stay more focused on the course, and the gauge reader more focused on the truck’s performance. The biggest bonus of the three-seat orientation was that two people could hop out for tire changes and neither of them was Pistol… (He would never admit that this was his whole reason behind the three-seat idea.)
The History Channel was looking for hosts for their new show, Truck Night in America, and Pistol Pete got the call. Truck Night in America made its debut in 2018, with Pete as one of the hosts — iconic wrap-around sunglasses, signature mullet, and unmistakable voice. We’ll never know how far Pete would have been able to take his television career, as he was tragically killed in a non-racing accident in Baja on January 18, 2019. He was driving his youngest daughter, Farrah, to her first local race qualifier along with older daughter, Paige, in a UTV when his vehicle was struck directly on the driver’s side by another UTV and he was pronounced dead on the scene. His daughters, Paige and Farrah, were transported to a hospital across the border in California for evaluation and treatment.
“My dad changed the lives of friends, family, neighbors, racers, and strangers,” said Pete’s daughter Paige, “He treated everyone with the same authentic, honest, genuine spirit. It might have been a little spicy, but he never treated anyone like they were less than him. He was a self-made man, and he faced every challenge that the world would throw at him. He was courageous, authentic, extraordinary, influential, legendary.”
Scott Steinberger – Industry
“Weatherman, Weatherman, got a copy?” – Every racer in Baja.
Son of the original Weatherman, ORMHOF inductee Bob Steinberger, Scott has been a part of the off-road racing family since an early age. Bob founded PCI Race Radios in 1972. The weatherman nickname came about in 1974, when Bob was putting communications in race vehicles for Bill Stroppe, Joe MacPherson, and Walker Evans – all three now Hall of Fame inductees. To make a makeshift antenna, Bob sent up three weather balloons with five hundred feet of coax attached, and the first successful radio relay from an off-road race pit was made. The story goes that it was Joe MacPherson who couldn’t remember Bob’s name, so he dubbed him “Weatherman” on the radio.
Bob provided often lifesaving radio relay communications from high atop El Diablo mountain during SCORE races for over 30 years. When Bob became ill with cancer in 2016, Scott stepped into the role of Weatherman for his father, who passed away in 2017. Scott continues to fulfill the Weatherman legacy in Baja and at other off-road races, in memory of his father.
While Scott had success as a racer and successful businessman with the family business, PCI Race Radios, it is his work to continue the Weatherman legacy that will also be his legacy. He has added his own style to the Weatherman and his communication relays and coordination have saved countless lives both in the US and Mexico. The Weatherman coordinates not just for the safety of the racers and race teams, but for everyone on the course, including local traffic. Scott has stopped and checked in on people injured or hospitalized that he has helped and his concern for them doesn’t stop once he leaves the mountain.
Mad Media CEO Matt Martelli told ORMHOF, “Scott Steinberger was born into off-road racing culture as the son of the legendary ‘Weatherman’ Bob Steinberger who was the godfather of off-road radio communications and safety. Scott quickly followed in his father’s footsteps, taking the fledgling family business and growing into the backbone of communications in off-road racing. When his father became physically unable to execute his role as ‘The Weatherman’, Scott stepped in and not only took over the reins but modernized the communications at SCORE and The Mint 400. His contribution undoubtedly saved hundreds of lives. A racer, a businessman, and a father, Scott continues to contribute to the value of off-road racing culture on multiple levels.”
Evelyn Tallman-Duceshi – Advocacy
Evelyn Tallman-Duceshi is a true off-road pioneer. Known as ‘the Purple Lady of Pismo’, Evelyn has been actively involved in recreational off-roading on the beaches and dunes of Pismo Beach since 1960.
In the 1960s, Evelyn worked with Vic Hickey, a designer and engineer for General Motors, testing the United States Army ‘Sidewinder’ vehicle and General Motors ‘Moon Rover’ on the sand dunes of Oceano. Evelyn’s input was instrumental in the redesign of the Rover before its voyage to the moon. Vic Hickey was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1978.
In the 1970s, Evelyn worked to bring 4-wheel drive and buggy organizations together to create the California Off Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) for the betterment of the sport and was recognized by the State of California for her efforts.
Evelyn was appointed twice by the California governor in the late 1970s to the California Trails Advisory Committee. While serving on the committee, she saw California’s need to create, maintain, and KEEP OPEN safe places for families to enjoy the great outdoors.
Hollywood frequently called on Evelyn to provide technical knowledge of sand dunes and vehicles in many movies and commercials that were filmed in the dunes. Her work was so appreciated that Stunts Unlimited made Evelyn an honorary member.
In 2018, at the age of 91, Evelyn was chosen to serve as grand marshal of the Old School Dune Buggies and Sand Dunes Reunion. More than 450 buggies attended the event held at the Oceano Sand Dunes, with many people anxious to share stories about ‘The Purple Lady’.
Evelyn is still going strong at the age of 97, serving as an inspiration to generations of women and men to get and stay involved with keeping recreation areas open for all to enjoy.
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 501c 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, Dave Cole, Frank DeAngelo, Bud Feldkamp, Jeff Furrier, Josh Hall, Bob Ham, Gary Haugley, Nate Hunt, Rich Klein, Emily Miller, Rafael Navarro III, Fardad Niknam, Bonnie Vessels, and Rory Ward.
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