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2016 Inductees To USRRC HOF Announced
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The names of the 18 men who are the 2016 inductees into the United States Road Racing Championship Hall of Fame have been announced.
Among them are great drivers, dedicated car owners, and highly-skilled mechanics, each adding their own special style to the remarkable series of races that ran from Canada to Mexico and in every corner of the USA from 1963 to 1968.
Presented by Victory Lane Magazine, this year's class includes Gerry Bruihl, Bob Challman, Don Devine, Jerry Entin, George Follmer, Davey Jordan, Bill Krause, Dave MacDonald, Frank Monise, Lothar Motschenbacher, Wally Peat, Paul Reinhart, Swede Savage, Tony Settember, Ike Smith, and Jerry Titus.
Special plaques commemorating the occasion will be presented at the annual Tribute to the USRRC dinner on Saturday, April 9, at the Wally Parks NHRA Museum in Pomona, California. A number of the drivers and/or family members will be on hand to accept the honors and reminisce about the times.
Previous USRRC Hall of Fame Inductees include: Mark Donohue, Parnelli Jones, Jim Hall, Hap Sharp, Roger Penske, Charley Hayes, Bob Holbert, Dan Gurney, Chuck Parsons, Ed Leslie, Ken Miles, Skip Hudson, Bud Morley, John Cannon, Peter Revson, and Doug Hooper.
"We honor these men as the real deal in American road racing," said event organizer Dave Wolin. "They were the working components of a great new era in racing, when true professionalism became part of the sport and public recognition levels shot skyward. These honorees all had a part in the process, and we owe a great deal to their legacy. I was lucky enough to know a number of them, and even luckier to have entered a few USRRC races myself ... and I want it on my permanent record that always tried my damnednest to stay out of the way of everyone on this remarkable list!"
The gathering will present a rare opportunity to hear stories of the celebrated series from the people who were there and making the history. The event includes a world class dinner and a slide presentation from the glory years of the series by noted writer Mike Martin, the author of the definitive work on the USRRC.
In addition, there will be a round table discussion with drivers and other luminaries of the era, an exclusive autograph session and, a silent auction featuring vintage memorabilia. All of the above is squarely aimed at making Saturday, April 9th a unique evening filled with all the sights, sounds, and memories of an indelible era in American motorsports.
One of the highlights of the evening will be the presentation of two very special awards; the Road Racing History Award recognizing historic accomplishment and personal dedication to the sport, recognizing a worthy participant from the USRRC era, and the highly regarded Peter Bryant Award Challenger Award, named for the legendary racing engineer and designer, will be presented to the crew chief, car builder, or team mechanic who best epitomizes the unlimited spirit of the sport. Previous Bryant Award winners include Alwin Springer, Howden Ganley, Phil Remington, Trevor Harris, and Bruce Burness.
Dinner guests will not only hear from many of the people who competed in the USRRC Series but also from a number of the people who built and maintained the incredible unlimited beasts. Invitees include 1965 USRRC Champion George Follmer and his crew chief Bruce Burness, 1964 champion and Chaparral builder Jim Hall, retired Porsche Motorsports head Alwin Springer, drivers Parnelli Jones, Jerry Entin, Dave Jordan, John Morton, Paul Reinhart, Harry Heuer, Bill Krause, Oscar Kovaleski and Lothar Motschenbacher and engine builders / crew members such as Gary Knutson and Ike Smith, plus authors like Pete Lyons, Dave Friedman, Mike Martin, Rod Campbell, and Allen Kuhn, with more to be announced.
As befitting the occasion, a number of priceless race cars representing the era will be on display at the museum for the night of this event and Autobooks, the official booksellers of the "Tribute to the USRRC" will also be on hand.
"We truly understand just how very passionate USRRC fans are and how passionate the people who took part in this fabled series are as well. We know that bringing them together at the Wally Parks Museum on April 9th will be a truly memorable occasion for both," Wolin concluded.
Proceeds from the event will benefit a number of motorsport-related charities. Ticket sales have been brisk and, as of this release (03.23.16), few remain for this unique limited-attendance event.
Among them are great drivers, dedicated car owners, and highly-skilled mechanics, each adding their own special style to the remarkable series of races that ran from Canada to Mexico and in every corner of the USA from 1963 to 1968.
Presented by Victory Lane Magazine, this year's class includes Gerry Bruihl, Bob Challman, Don Devine, Jerry Entin, George Follmer, Davey Jordan, Bill Krause, Dave MacDonald, Frank Monise, Lothar Motschenbacher, Wally Peat, Paul Reinhart, Swede Savage, Tony Settember, Ike Smith, and Jerry Titus.
Special plaques commemorating the occasion will be presented at the annual Tribute to the USRRC dinner on Saturday, April 9, at the Wally Parks NHRA Museum in Pomona, California. A number of the drivers and/or family members will be on hand to accept the honors and reminisce about the times.
Previous USRRC Hall of Fame Inductees include: Mark Donohue, Parnelli Jones, Jim Hall, Hap Sharp, Roger Penske, Charley Hayes, Bob Holbert, Dan Gurney, Chuck Parsons, Ed Leslie, Ken Miles, Skip Hudson, Bud Morley, John Cannon, Peter Revson, and Doug Hooper.
"We honor these men as the real deal in American road racing," said event organizer Dave Wolin. "They were the working components of a great new era in racing, when true professionalism became part of the sport and public recognition levels shot skyward. These honorees all had a part in the process, and we owe a great deal to their legacy. I was lucky enough to know a number of them, and even luckier to have entered a few USRRC races myself ... and I want it on my permanent record that always tried my damnednest to stay out of the way of everyone on this remarkable list!"
The gathering will present a rare opportunity to hear stories of the celebrated series from the people who were there and making the history. The event includes a world class dinner and a slide presentation from the glory years of the series by noted writer Mike Martin, the author of the definitive work on the USRRC.
In addition, there will be a round table discussion with drivers and other luminaries of the era, an exclusive autograph session and, a silent auction featuring vintage memorabilia. All of the above is squarely aimed at making Saturday, April 9th a unique evening filled with all the sights, sounds, and memories of an indelible era in American motorsports.
One of the highlights of the evening will be the presentation of two very special awards; the Road Racing History Award recognizing historic accomplishment and personal dedication to the sport, recognizing a worthy participant from the USRRC era, and the highly regarded Peter Bryant Award Challenger Award, named for the legendary racing engineer and designer, will be presented to the crew chief, car builder, or team mechanic who best epitomizes the unlimited spirit of the sport. Previous Bryant Award winners include Alwin Springer, Howden Ganley, Phil Remington, Trevor Harris, and Bruce Burness.
Dinner guests will not only hear from many of the people who competed in the USRRC Series but also from a number of the people who built and maintained the incredible unlimited beasts. Invitees include 1965 USRRC Champion George Follmer and his crew chief Bruce Burness, 1964 champion and Chaparral builder Jim Hall, retired Porsche Motorsports head Alwin Springer, drivers Parnelli Jones, Jerry Entin, Dave Jordan, John Morton, Paul Reinhart, Harry Heuer, Bill Krause, Oscar Kovaleski and Lothar Motschenbacher and engine builders / crew members such as Gary Knutson and Ike Smith, plus authors like Pete Lyons, Dave Friedman, Mike Martin, Rod Campbell, and Allen Kuhn, with more to be announced.
As befitting the occasion, a number of priceless race cars representing the era will be on display at the museum for the night of this event and Autobooks, the official booksellers of the "Tribute to the USRRC" will also be on hand.
"We truly understand just how very passionate USRRC fans are and how passionate the people who took part in this fabled series are as well. We know that bringing them together at the Wally Parks Museum on April 9th will be a truly memorable occasion for both," Wolin concluded.
Proceeds from the event will benefit a number of motorsport-related charities. Ticket sales have been brisk and, as of this release (03.23.16), few remain for this unique limited-attendance event.
