The Badger Midget Auto Racing Association Hall of Fame is proud to announce the Badger Hall of Fame trophy has an off season home. In cooperation with the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame, Badger has reached a handshake agreement with that hall to display the trophy. Badger will feature it at special club events, but most other days of the year the trophy will be available for view in Hartford, Wisconsin.
The Badger trophy is nestled between the nose and left front of Badger Hall of Famer Landy Scott’s beautifully restored number 17 midget with the famed Studebaker engine. Two other iconic Badger midgets are parked beside it.
The short track hall recognizes certain tracks in southeastern Wisconsin for consideration of membership into their hall. While Angell Park Speedway, the staple of a Badger Midget Series season is not among them, several Badger drivers including Billy Johnson, Miles Melius and Billy Engelhart are SWSTHoF inductees.
The SWSTHoF is located in an annex of the Wisconsin Automotive Museum. While the former is a must for any fan of short track racing, the bigger picture is the Wisconsin Auto Museum. Two stories of automobiles and auto industry history are on display. It also houses a vintage locomotive. Add in some fun vintage advertising of gas and oil brands and it’s an auto enthusiasts dream.
The Wisconsin Auto Museum with its Short Track Hall of Fame area would make a perfect day trip during the cold months. Another option is to specifically plan a visit when the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame has an event. The next one is slated for February 1st when they and the Wisconsin Auto Museum will play host to the Winter Get Together and Memorabilia Show. For details on this and future events, please find that hall of fame’s media pages for full details.
Located just a couple of blocks north of highway 60 on Hartford’s west side, it’s easy to find at 147 N. Rural St.
The BMARA would like to thank Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame President Dick Melius for making this arrangement possible. Badger would also like to thank Lyco Manufacturing of Columbus, WI for designing and creating the trophy. If it was not for the work of former Badger driver Brad Weber and his dedicated staff who worked during off hours, this iconic memento would not have been possible. It is truly a unique work of art and a fitting tribute to those whose names appear upon it.
- William Blumer on Jan 09, 2025
- Article Date: 1/9/2025