“It’s really quite an honor. I’m proud of it but humble, too.”
That’s how Luverne’s Ron Fick described his feelings about being inducted into Huset’s Hall of Fame at the Brandon speedway on Sunday, July 17.
Fick joined Jon Barger, Jay Masur, Cliff Koidahl and Steve Rubin in the Huset’s Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
“It was a great day,” Fick said. “I’ve heard from people all over. It was a lot of fun.”
Fick began his racing career right out of high school in 1972, drag racing at Thunder Valley Dragways.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve always liked motors and it’s just kept going,” Fick said.
He continued his love of racing on snowmobiles while also working on race cars for drivers such as Lyle DeVries, Don Reiners and others.
In the early 1980s, Fick began racing mini-sprints. In 1982 he began Fick Racing Enterprises and built more than 20 mini-sprint cars for drivers in many states.
Through the 1980s Fick won numerous sprint car races at various tracks, including the 1987 1-80 Nationals in Nebraska and the 1988 Rapid Speedway Nationals.
“In those years we were racing Friday nights in Rock Rapids, Saturday nights in Madison, and Sunday nights at Huset’s,” Fick said. “It was a grind, but it was a lot of fun.”
According to the Huset’s Hall of Fame, Fick began racing 360 sprint cars in 1991 and was named the Rookie of the Year at Rapid Speedway. He also won the Huset’s season championship that year.
In his final season of racing, Fick raced a 410 sprint car and finished tenth in points.
In all, Fick earned 42 feature wins from 1972-1994 in various classes of racing at numerous speedways.
When asked what he enjoyed most, Fick first answered honestly, “Winning.”
“We always ran a conservative, low budget operation,” he said, “We made a lot of our own stuff and did our own work. I’m proud of that”
According to Fick, none of his success would have been possible without the support of many.
“I really have to thank my pit crew guys, family, friends and sponsors,” Fick said. “Without them I couldn’t have done any of it. I appreciate them.”
Fick said he continues to be involved in racing by restoring vintage race cars, many for World of Outlaws drivers.
“It still keeps me busy,” he said. “I’ve rebuilt cars for guys from all over the country and as far as New Zealand. It’s a lot of fun.”