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SCCA Names Richard Hayes Mechanic Of The Year
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The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) awarded the 2016 SCCA Mechanic of the Year to Richard Hayes of Colorado. Hayes is the crew chief for Formula F driver Andy Melvin.
The honoree is chosen each year by the technical staff at SCCA based on submissions received through a survey completed at SCCA.com or through an e-mail invitation.
The SCCA Mechanic of the Year demonstrates a commitment to his craft and to the drivers he supports. Hayes has been an SCCA member since 1993 and is said to display an unparalleled work ethic. He prepares, transports, coaches and puts his driver in a position to win during every single SCCA weekend, according to SCCA.
In their first full season together, Hayes and Melvin have made great strides. After a first-turn incident at Road America in 2015, Hayes repaired the heavily damaged racecar in time for an event the following weekend in Kansas. In 2016 at the June Sprints, the mechanic and driver worked together to achieve an amazing victory, a first for Melvin at the Chicago Region's iconic event.
As evidence of the bond Hayes and Melvin share, consider the 2015 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Daytona International Speedway. While belting Melvin into the racecar, Hayes’ phone rang and he briefly took the call to learn of his mother’s death. He bent down into the cockpit and informed Melvin of the news. The driver then stood up and gave Hayes a huge hug. The duo then got right back to work to put Melvin out on track.
The honoree is chosen each year by the technical staff at SCCA based on submissions received through a survey completed at SCCA.com or through an e-mail invitation.
The SCCA Mechanic of the Year demonstrates a commitment to his craft and to the drivers he supports. Hayes has been an SCCA member since 1993 and is said to display an unparalleled work ethic. He prepares, transports, coaches and puts his driver in a position to win during every single SCCA weekend, according to SCCA.
In their first full season together, Hayes and Melvin have made great strides. After a first-turn incident at Road America in 2015, Hayes repaired the heavily damaged racecar in time for an event the following weekend in Kansas. In 2016 at the June Sprints, the mechanic and driver worked together to achieve an amazing victory, a first for Melvin at the Chicago Region's iconic event.
As evidence of the bond Hayes and Melvin share, consider the 2015 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Daytona International Speedway. While belting Melvin into the racecar, Hayes’ phone rang and he briefly took the call to learn of his mother’s death. He bent down into the cockpit and informed Melvin of the news. The driver then stood up and gave Hayes a huge hug. The duo then got right back to work to put Melvin out on track.
