Jim Still remembered: founder of Hall ‘N Still Racing and WERA endurance champion

Jim Still, a respected competitor and team owner in American endurance motorcycle racing, died on February 14 at 73. He built a national endurance team and spent decades as a hands‑on mechanic, rider and mentor. Teammates and rivals remember him for mechanical precision, competitive focus and a household centered on family and racing. Industry experts confirm his efforts helped raise the profile of club endurance racing in the United States. Those in the paddock recall a man defined by teamwork and technical skill.

Origins of a team and racing achievements

In 1989, Still partnered with racer Kurt Hall to form a WERA national endurance outfit called We’re Human Too. The collaboration yielded immediate competitive results and, in 1990, evolved into Hall ‘N Still Racing. The team became known for consistent race finishes and meticulous bike preparation. Observers praised Still’s mechanical acumen and his steady leadership during long events. Team members credit him with developing durable setups that balanced speed and reliability across multi‑hour races.

Team members credited him with developing durable setups that balanced speed and reliability across multi‑hour races. The partnership with Kurt Hall evolved from a lighthearted team name into a focused racing collaboration. Industry experts confirm the pairing combined Still’s mechanical discipline with Hall’s consistent riding, producing a methodical approach to endurance events. The alliance kept its informal identity off the track while treating competition with professional rigor. The result was sustained performance rather than flash, a defining quality for long‑distance motorcycle racing teams.

The duo first attracted attention during the 1989 WERA National Endurance Series, where their disciplined program yielded the Mediumweight Production class championship. The title reflected both racecraft and machine reliability across extended stints. Team personnel emphasized meticulous preparation, quick service intervals and conservative power delivery to preserve components over hours of racing. Those practices underpinned the squad’s ability to finish strong in endurance formats and helped establish Still’s reputation as a builder of resilient race machines.

Photo memories and early highlights

In the beauty of motorsport photography, certain frames freeze an era. Historic shots from Road Atlanta show Still on the Suzuki No. 60, Hall on Yamaha No. 1 and rivals such as Team Suzuki Endurance’s Mike Smith trailing close behind. Those images capture more than speed. They document an era when rider adaptability and mechanical resilience decided endurance outcomes as often as lap times did. Team tactics, pit discipline and contingency support converted steady finishes into tangible rewards for outfits and riders alike.

Photo memories and early highlights

Photographs from endurance events illustrate who and what mattered on race day. Riders doubled as technicians. Crews practised rapid, repeatable pit routines. These visuals show helmets, wrenches and tire stacks in the same frame as wheel-to-wheel action. Contemporaries noted that this hands-on approach reduced mechanical failures and shortened turnaround times. The result was not spectacle alone but a competitive advantage that translated into podiums and accrued team reputation.

The mechanics of success

Success in endurance racing required a holistic model. Durable component selection and conservative tuning reduced the risk of retirements. Clear pit protocols ensured consistent service under pressure. Contingency plans—spares, tool kits and trained back-up personnel—kept teams on track after incidents. Those factors, reported by observers at the time, mattered as much as outright pace. They defined an operational standard that smaller teams could emulate to punch above their weight.

Expert insights

Industry experts confirm that endurance racing rewarded systems over singular brilliance. Reliability engineering, repetitive practice and cross-trained crew members lowered variance across long stints. The trend that’s taking over in contemporary endurance categories still echoes these lessons. Modern outfits still prioritise predictable pit windows and modular parts to limit service time. The practical takeaway for teams remains unchanged: speed wins headlines, but durability wins races that last hours.

What this era means today

Those who follow historic endurance racing see a clear legacy. The era captured in these images set operational norms that endure in current championships. Manufacturers and privateers alike study past setups to balance performance and longevity. As technology evolves, the core lesson persists: mechanical resilience and coherent team systems remain decisive factors in endurance success.

A name change that signalled continuity

As technology evolves, the core lesson persists: mechanical resilience and coherent team systems remain decisive factors in endurance success. When Kurt Hall moved teams the following year, the original naming link to The Human Race Team was no longer applicable. The partnership adapted, and We’re Human Too was rebranded as Hall ‘N Still Racing. The change signalled continuity rather than an end. The crew kept its focus on endurance formats, where reliability, strategy and pit execution determine outcomes over long stints.

What made the team competitive

The team’s edge derived from technical mastery and organized teamwork. Still’s dual reputation as a mechanic and racer meant setups prioritised longevity over short bursts of pace. Industry experts confirm that in endurance racing, consistent finishes and contingency programmes can offset a lack of outright horsepower. The crew pursued a strategy of measured pace, meticulous servicing and disciplined pit work. That combination of mechanical discipline and race management turned podiums into a viable operating model.

Personal life and a sister’s tribute

Off track, family ties shaped how the crew and community remembered contributions to the discipline. A sister’s tribute highlighted the personal commitments behind long seasons and late-night garage work. The trend that’s taking over in motorsport coverage is greater attention to those human stories alongside technical narratives. Those in the sport know that endurance success rests as much on people and routines as on machines and upgrades. Looking ahead, professionals expect continued emphasis on reliability, team cohesion and the human networks that sustain endurance programmes.

Personal steadiness behind the race team

Looking ahead to the emphasis on reliability and team cohesion, Jim’s personal life cast a similar influence on those around him. Industry experts confirm that durable personal bonds can shape professional resilience. On February 17th, 2026, his sister Mary Still published a tribute offering an intimate portrait of his private character. Mary described Jim as relentless in pursuit of excellence, whether repairing engines or preparing holiday meals. She said he bore responsibility for others with quiet resolve and constant presence.

Family rituals that mattered

Mary’s account highlights small rituals that revealed the family’s connectivity. She recalled a childhood habit of passing a five-dollar bill back and forth, a modest but enduring token of their bond. Those in fashion know how symbolism can signal belonging; in this family, the ritual did the same. Even during illness, Mary said Jim prioritized others, managed his hardships privately and remained involved in meaningful ways. The trend that’s taking over in resilience studies is attention to these everyday acts of care.

Faith, hope and remembrance

Mary framed Jim as a steady provider and protector whose faith and hope guided his conduct. Her tribute links personal courage to the quieter forms of leadership found off the track. Such testimony underlines why team cohesion and the human networks that sustain endurance programmes matter as much as technical reliability. Future reporting will track how teams integrate personal welfare into performance strategies.

An enduring tribute and the personal pledge

Following recent coverage of team processes and athlete welfare, Mary closed her remarks by framing the loss as sorrow tempered by hope. She invoked faith with a widely cited passage that urges mourners not to grieve without expectation of reunion. Her statement presented Jim’s passing as a private and public moment, and set out three guiding commitments she plans to uphold: prioritizing family, pursuing continuous personal improvement, and maintaining steadiness under pressure. Industry experts confirm these themes resonate with established leadership practices in motorsport teams.

Where to find additional information

For those seeking a formal record, the family obituary and memorial page is available online and lists services and biographical details. Longstanding fans and fellow competitors can consult archival race reports and photographic records that document Hall ‘N Still Racing across its active years. Team statements and race stewards’ reports remain the primary sources for operational and competitive records. Researchers or media seeking confirmation should rely on official notices and contemporaneous race documentation.

Implications for the racing community

The emphasis on family values and resilience has immediate relevance for teams balancing performance with welfare. Those in racing know leadership signals shape team culture and operational priorities. Expect further reporting on how clubs and sponsors respond to calls for stronger personal-support measures. The trend that’s taking over in other sports—integrating personal welfare into performance strategy—may influence vehicle teams and race organizers as they reassess support systems and succession planning.

Legacy on the track

Jim Still left a measurable mark on endurance motorcycling through races, team-building and technical mentorship. His approach combined mechanical skill and competitive drive with a focus on rider welfare.

How teams remember him

Those who worked with him cite his steady leadership during long events and his attention to detail in setup and strategy. Industry experts confirm that his methods influenced pit procedures and support protocols used by several teams.

Family and public commemorations

The family has published an official obituary and maintains a memorial page for condolences and remembrances. Readers can consult those resources for verified information and to leave messages for relatives.

What comes next

His legacy is likely to inform how vehicle teams and race organizers adapt support systems and succession planning. The trend toward formalised welfare measures in motorsport may gain further momentum as teams reassess best practices.

The final public record of his life honours a career shaped by engines, competition and care, and preserves a reference point for those who follow endurance racing and team management.