Engine Building Legend Ray Baker Passes

Muskegon native and longtime engine maker Ray Baker dead at 68 after accidental injuries


Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press

Longtime Berlin Raceway official Bob Marz of Walker recalls a time during the 1970s when he would walk up and down pit road, and nearly every stock car had one thing in common.

“At one time, just about everyone had a Baker Engine sticker on their car,” said Marz, whose career includes heading Berlin’s tech crew. “Guys had to have a Baker Engine. That was the place to go for your motor.”

Ray Baker, who founded Baker Engineered Racing Engines of Spring Lake in 1968 and ran it through 1989, died Friday of accidental injuries sustained while building a shop in Mooresville, N.C. Mr. Baker, a Muskegon native who lived in Mooresville with his life, Linda, was 68.

Mr. Baker graduated from Reeths-Puffer High School and Ferris State University, where he studied automotive technology. He worked at General Motors after college, then started building engines for short-track standout Bob Senneker of Dorr.

Senneker entered the 1968 Daytona 500, and finished 13th using a Baker Engine. Baker then opened his business, and it grew quickly. Prominent area drivers, including John Benson Sr. and Butch Miller, raced with Baker Engines, as did rising stars in the traveling American Speed Association, including Mark Martin and Darrell Waltrip.

In addition, he build engines for drag cars and offshore race boats. Buick even hired him to build its pace car engines that were used in the 1981 Indianapolis 500.

"Ray did a lot for the racing community with all of his innovations,” Marz said. “He knew how to make those engines livable without exploding. He was great on headwork and engine designs. He was just good at.”

Mr. Baker employed nearly 30 people. But life became so hectic that it took a toll on his health, and he eventually sold his business.

Mr. Baker continued to be spotted in the pits in recent years, giving a hand to his son, Joel Baker, who has competed at Berlin. He was inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame in 2008.

“A few years ago, we were teching motors (at Berlin), and he lent his expertise for what to look for,” Marz said. “Ray was all about helping the racer. He made a living off it, but his heart and soul was in it.

“He touched a lot of lives in racing. If anyone had any problems, he would jump right in and go to work for them. You would usually see him working under the hood on pit road.”

Visitation is scheduled for Dec. 18 and 19 at Sytsema Funeral Home, 6291 South Harvey Street in Norton Shores, with a memorial service scheduled for Dec. 20. Times are pending.