Mark Schellinger has raced his way into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame with a remarkable career in Motorcycle competition. Like many young men, Mark loved riding a street bike and tried his hand at dirt racing as a kid. While on a Sunday ride with his wife in 1988, Mark happened to drive past Second Creek Raceway as a motorcycle road race was on the track. Something clicked and later that summer he had purchased a race bike and participated in his first road racing event. Acquiring a newer bike over the winter led to a summer of winning amateur races, followed by a move to racing in the expert classes the next year.
Throughout the early 90’s, Mark steadily improved his racing resume at the professional ranks, competing at tracks throughout the Rocky Mountain region with the Motorcycle Racing Association. He earned a “Number 2 Plate”, designated by his finishing place in the season championship, and an MRA Sportsman of the Year Award, then raced his way to MRA “Number One Plate” Season Championships in 1994 and 95. In national events, he competed in American Motorcyclist Association events at Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio, Heartland Park Kansas, and made two podium appearances at Daytona. In a testament to his competitive versatility, Mark pushed a motorcycle to a 10.64 second run at 138 miles per hour on the Bandimere Speedway quarter mile, and stood on the podium of a flat track race at the Budweiser Center in Loveland. To be sure, there were a few crashes, including a big one at Daytona and another at Laguna Seca that required a ride out in a helicopter, but they represent comparatively minor blemishes on a stellar racing record.
As Mark stepped out of his role as a racer, he assumed a new role as coach and mentor as the New Rider Director with the MRA, a position he held for 12 years. He then became one of the founding members and Senior Instructors of the Yamaha Champions Riding School, conducting advanced riding instructions at facilities around the country. An important and rewarding aspect of this position has involved training United States Marines in a “Thrive and Survive” program on Motorcycles in courses held on Marine bases across the country. His positive impact on the motorcycle community in these teaching roles has been immeasurable.
As a racer, Mark Schellinger set a high standard for competitive drive and on-track success. Through his role as instructor, he has mentored countless numbers of riders, improving their skills and helping them to become more accomplished, skilled and safer motorcycle operators. In recognition of this exceptional career and dedication to his sport, Mark was inducted into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame with the class of 2024.
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