Michelle Smith, first female to win championship at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, dies

Michelle Smith’s intensity was always what impressed veteran drag racer Louie Hall the most.

“Sweet as sugar, tough as nails,” said Hall, of Portage. “That’s what she had written on the back of her Camaro.”

Mrs. Smith of Belmont died Thursday of liver cancer.

Mrs. Smith, who was the first female to win a track championship at the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, was 46.

Mrs. Smith was a veteran Martin competitor, and she won the track’s Street Tire championship in 2004 and 2005. Mrs. Smith never backed down from the boys -- not even her husband. In fact, Mrs. Smith edged out her husband, Daniel Smith, to capture her first title. Daniel also is a Martin veteran.

“She was a quite a gal and a great racer,” said U.S. 131 Motorsports Park spokesperson Stephanie Peterson.

“I remember when we had our second lady’s race, Michelle Smith was the first one in the lane, and there was no one in the other lane because no one wanted to race her. They were hanging back.

“Her and husband are here every Saturday bracket racing. She will be greatly missed.”

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Michelle Smith Memorial Fund.

Visitation is scheduled 7-9 p.m. Sunday and 2-4 p.m. and 7:30-9 p.m. Monday at the Pederson Funeral Home, 127 North Monroe Street, Rockford. A reading of the rosary is 7 p.m. Monday.

The funeral is 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Assumption Catholic Church, 6369 Belmont Ave. NE, Belmont.


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Championship-Winning Auh Motorsports Announces Its 2010 European Racing Programme

Abu Dhabi-based racing team, AUH Motorsports, have today announced their European Racing Programme for 2010. The championship-winning team will be taking four Radical Supersport cars to compete in the Radical European Masters Series. In addition, the team will compete in the FIA GT 4 European Championship and selected Endurance races with its two factory-built Aston Martin Vantage GT 4 race cars.

The driver line up for the European Racing Programme is yet to be announced as the team is currently evaluating race applications from a number of drivers and there is still time for new drivers to register their interest with the team.

Team Principal Carl Rolaston said; "We had a fantastic debut season in Europe and we are very keen to return with a strong line up of Emirati and Emirati-based drivers. We expect to be the only Middle East-based team running in both series and our participation gives local drivers the chance to compete with (and beat) strong European competition in their own backyard. Both series will see drivers race at some of the most famous tracks in Europe - including Spa, Silverstone and the Nurburgring - and competing at these circuits for any Middle East driver is an opportunity not to be missed."

AUH Motorsports last week won the GT 4 class in the Dubai 24 Hours against stiff local and international competition. Racing in the winning car was local Abu Dhabi driver Humaid al Masaood, who is also a major shareholder in the race team, and who will be looking to continue his winning streak in Europe.

Last week’s success comes on the back of the team’s Championship-winning debut in the Radical SR3 European Series in 2009. The winning drivers were Bassam Kronfli and Christophe Hissette, both locally based in the Emirates and who will be looking to defend their title in 2010.


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