[Fot] [Fwd: [cvar_general] Hallet promoter]

Thu Jul 5 04:30:38 MDT 2007

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Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 01:55:08 -0500
Subject: [cvar_general] Hallet promoter
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>From the Tulsa World....

Hallett owner fulfilled life's passion

      LIFETIME IN RACING
      Mike Stephens: The Hallett Motor Racing Circuit promoter died at age 65
on June 23.

By GLENN HIBDON
7/4/2007

MIKE AND CONNIE Stephens were newlyweds 42 years ago when a vision was
formulized. Mike knew then where destiny was leading him.

"We talked about our dreams and he told me he was going to own a race track,"
said Connie. "He would draw pictures of it and I was like, 'Yeah, sure, Mike.
I hope you keep a real job.' In 1975 his father passed away and he bought a
race car three days later. He said, 'Life's too short,' and we've continued
gung ho from there."

Life was indeed too short for Mike Stephens, who died at age 65 on June 23
from an undiagnosed neurological disorder. His passion always centered around
road racing in general and Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in particular.

I remember a robust man who never passed up a chance to talk about the sport
he loved. His wife and sons, Shayne and Scott, were always by his side.

"I think without him Hallett would have ceased to exist," said Connie. "He
took it at a time when it was run down and he put his heart and soul into it.
Now that Shayne, Scott and I have it, we will work really hard too keep his
dream alive. He took a lifelong dream and made it happen and we will miss him
a whole bunch."

Mike began his racing career at Hallett and was involved in some way since the
track's opening in 1976. His sons were members of his pit crew at ages 10 and
7, and Connie saw her first race and worked a corner with Mike on their
honeymoon in 1965. He started his High Performance Driving School at Hallett
and began managing the facility in 1989. The family now owns the track.

Mike was a racer until the end, closing his career at Heartland Park in
Topeka, Kan., in June of 2006.

"He was hurting, but he needed to qualify," said Connie. "When he got off the
track he was placed in an ambulance and taken to a hospital. His colon had
burst and all the poison went through his system.

"He had emergency surgery at 2 a.m. on June 11. On June 11, 2005 we celebrated
our 40th anniversary and on June 11, 2007 he was in the hospital again. It's
been an odd couple of years and we've had to struggle so hard to do everything
to make it through this."

Mike had been in and out of the hospital for more than a year while medical
personnel attempted to diagnose the cause of his health problems. An autopsy
will be performed to determine the reason. Ironically, Mike's mother died
three days before he passed away.

In remembrance, Connie and her family have planned a celebration of Mike's
life to be held at the track on Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m.

Stories will be shared by those who knew him and will feature the music of
Three Dog Night and Neil Diamond. Mike always played the songs "Sweet
Caroline" and "Joy to the World" before suiting up to race. The official
ceremony begins at 6:45 and a five-minute moment of silence will precede
Mike's ashes making a final lap of the track.

Around 8 p.m. the Finish Line Cafe will provide a cookout and fireworks will
follow at dark. Mike wouldn't have wanted it any

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