DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In a blockbuster announcement at the onset of Tuesday’s Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 35th Induction Ceremony presented by Toyota Racing, representatives of the Panoz Family and members of the MSHFA’s executive board of directors jointly unveiled the new Don Panoz Endowment for The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Made possible by the Panoz Family, the endowment brings valuable funding for the MSHFA’s ongoing and non-profit mission of preserving the legacy and history of all facets of American motorsports. The gift provides a lasting memorial of the late Dr. Don Panoz in the MSHFA Museum, which is located on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway and just across the street from headquarters of the International Motor Sports Association.
The Panoz family members taking part in Tuesday’s announcement included his son Dan and two of Dr. Panoz’s daughters.
“I and the Panoz family, are proud and honored to help support what we like to think of is the ‘Church of Motorsports,’ which recognizes all forms of motor sports history,” said Dan Panoz, who with his dad started the Panoz journey into motorsports. “The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America pays the greatest tribute to any and all forms of motorsports. It is amazing to see the depth of subjects covered under one roof. I know that Don Panoz himself would be a huge fan and a patriot of the efforts going on there.”
The endowment additionally calls for a new and long-term display at the MSHFA Museum titled “Don’s Garage,” that will showcase Panoz race cars and memorabilia from the decades of Panoz involvement in motorsports.
In a preview of things to come in “Don’s Garage,” the first two vehicles to be displayed are already on location at the MSHFA. The duo is the popular Stars-n-Stripes Panoz LMP1 roadster – that constantly harassed and occasionally beat the factory Audi LMP1 cars – and the revolutionary Stars-n-Stripes Deltawing.
“A major goal of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America after joining the world in enduring the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic was the establishment of a significantly funded endowment to provide the MSHFA with unprecedented financial stability,” said MSHFA President George Levy. “We are honored and humbled that the Panoz family has agreed to provide this major gift to the MSHFA and look forward to showcasing the amazing accomplishments of ‘Dr. P’ in the exciting new ‘Don’s Garage’ display.”