MotorSports
Huston
'The
Champ'
passes:
A love
of
family
and
automobiles
(1933 to
2018)
SOUTHFIELD,
MI -
Huston
Martin,
family
patriarch
who
represents
5
generations
and more
than 70
years
dedicated
to
motorsports
racing,
passed
away on
Tuesday,
November
6, 2018.
A native
of
Marion,
Alabama,
he
married
his wife
Connie
in1952,
and
moved to
Detroit
and
launched
an
automotive
career
that
included
34 great
years at
General
Motors.
Martin
would
later
establish
his own
successful
business,
Martin
Trucking
(Southfield),
along
with
developing
the
foundation
of
MARTIN
MOTORSPORTS,
which
today
has
become a
multimillion-dollar
global
corporation.
The
viewing
is
scheduled
for
Sunday,
November
11,
2018,
from 2pm
to 6pm
at the
Kemp
Funeral
Home,
24585
Evergreen
Road,
Southfield,
MI
48075.
The
Funeral
service,
Monday,
November
12 at
10:30am,
New Hope
Missionary
Baptist
Church,
23455 W.
Nine
Mile Rd,
Southfield,
MI
48033.
Martin
recognized
his
ability
to drive
fast
when he
was a
teenager.
In 1957,
after
purchasing
his
first
new car,
you
would
often
find him
at
Detroit
Dragway
on most
weekends
showcasing
his
latest
performance
gain. A
long
story
short,
after a
few
challenging
weekends,
he
learned
that he
needed a
“racing
only”
car. By
1958, he
purchased
a used
Chevy
and
modified
it for
racing,
naming
it
“Little
Kim,”
after
his
daughter.
A
replica
of the
car was
presented
to him
60 years
later at
the 2017
Detroit
Autorama.
That
was the
start of
a
historic
era in
which
Huston
built
and
campaigned
a total
of 29
racecars
bearing
the
“Little
Kim”
trademark
that was
recognized
on and
off the
racetrack
by
motorsports
enthusiasts
across
the U.S.
In his
prime
years,
he was
known as
the
Weekend
Warrior
at four
different
tracks.
He
challenged
every
Ford and
Mopar
with his
“MARTIN
tuned”
Chevys.
He is
renowned
for
having
had
great
reflexes,
consistency
and
ability
to
navigate
any race
track.
Martin
has been
honored
by NHRA
(National
Hot Rod
Association),
IHRA
(International
Hot Rod
Association),
AHRA
(American
Hot Rod
Association),
UHRA
(United
Hot Rod
Association),
MHRA
(Michigan
Hot Rod
Association),
and
inducted
into the
NMA
(National
Motorsports
Association)
Hall of
Fame.
Martin’s
racing
accomplishments
include
being
honored
for the
most
wins in
history
at the
Detroit
Dragway.
In 2018,
a drag
racing
street
was
named
after
him at
the
Detroit
Autorama,
along
with
clone of
his 1968
Camaro
racecar
on
display.
Martin
had a
winning
streak
that
lasted
so long
that he
was
dubbed
"The
Champ.”
His
legacy
will
continue.
Martin
passed
his
legacy
to his
son
Harold,
in
particular,
as he
observed,
learned
and
yearned
that
same
desire
for
family,
speed
and
added
technology.
Harold
is a
renowned
engineer,
successful
racecar
driver,
former
GM
employee,
now
leading
as CEO
of a
global
automotive
company,
Martin
Technologies
headquartered
in Novi,
MI.
Until
his
passing,
Martin
remained
an
engaged
motorsports
mentor,
attending
events
and
often
visiting
any
number
of
Martin
facilities.
Martin
leaves
to
cherish
his
memories
his
loving
wife of
more
than 65
years,
Connie;
two
sons,
two
daughters
and
numerous
relatives;
and a
host of
friends
and
fans.
In
lieu of
flowers
a fund
has been
established
in
Huston
Martin’s
name in
honor of
fostering
automotive
tech
education.
Please
make
check
payable
to
Martin
Technologies
- Huston
Martin
Scholarship
Fund.
For more
information,
call
Harold
Martin
at
248-314-3400
or email
haroldmartin@haroldmartin.com
I
HI TECH NEWS
I
SPORTS
I
