Former ARCA Technical Director Terry Oliger Passes Away at 79

Terry Oliger, whose motorsports officiating career spanned decades as the WWAR Midget Series Director of Competition and ARCA Menards Series Technical Director from the late 1970s until his retirement as a full-time ARCA employee in 2002, passed away at his home in Temperance Michigan under the care of Hospice of Northwest Ohio on Sunday August 26 at the age of 79 after a lengthy illness.

Oliger had been a race team member prior to signing on as an official with Dave Bruce and his WWAR Midget Series in 1979. He became the lead competition official for the series and continued in that capacity through 1988, when ARCA acquired WWAR. Bruce and Oliger remained in charge of the ARCA Midget Series and eventually Oliger moved full time to the ARCA Menards Series. Oliger was a key figure in the technical inspection, safety and official training areas, and drove the series official transporter rig for several seasons prior to his retirement from full time ARCA employment. He continued in the sport working part-time for ARCA Menards Series race teams as a transporter driver and spotter. He also served on the advisory board for the ARCA Safety Initiative and held a seat on the ARCA Appeals Board until his health required him to retire from the sport completely.

Prior to his full time employment in racing, his skills as an auto tech service technician elevated him to auto tech service manager for Lakeport VW, Thayer VW and Moore Ford.

Terry Oliger is survived by his wife of 43 years, Peggy; daughters Kim (Neal) Hopkins and Shelly (Rick) Gorowski; grandchildren Tanner Hopkins, April (Nathan) Devos, Jake Gorowski and Josh Gorowski; three great-grandchildren; and mother-in-law Janette Selfe.

Memorial services are scheduled for Friday, August 30 at Morocco United Brethren Church, 1633 W Morocco Rd., Temperance Michigan 48182 with visitation at 3pm and services at 4pm.