WEST COAST STOCK CAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTS FIRST 30 MEMBERS

WEST COAST STOCK CAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTS FIRST 30 MEMBERS
By Tim Kennedy 
MONROVIA, Calif., The first annual West Coast Stock Car Hall of 
Fame banquet took place Friday at the Sheraton-Four Points Hotel here on the 
eve of the NASCAR Winston West Jani-King 200 at nearby Irwindale Speedway. 
The initial 30 inductees were honored in ceremonies attended by approximately 
200 persons, including NASCAR Chairman Bill France, Jr, NASCAR executives 
Brian France and Paul Brooks who flew from Florida for the ceremonies. 
Winston West executive Mike Verlatti also attended. 
The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame honors drivers, car owners, 
mechanics, officials and race promoters/organizers who have made significant 
contributions to the success and colorful history of stock car racing in the 
West. Tim Meyer, editor/publisher of Racing News West in Utah, was 
instrumental in making the hall of fame a reality. The second annual 
induction ceremonies and third West Coast Stock Car Reunion are expected to 
take place in 2003 on a Winston West race weekend at Irwindale. 
Honorees and guests attended the NASCAR Winston West race and second 
annual West Coast Stock Car Reunion Saturday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.at 
Irwindale Speedway. They met fans and signed autographs again this year in 
the track's chalet village area. Jack McCoy's purple No. 7 winged Dodge 
Daytona, a vintage No. 29 Hudson Hornet that still started, and Don Basile's 
No. 15 1946 Ford coupe post-WW II stock car were on display. 
Following dinner Friday at 7:00 p.m., the Hall of Fame ceremonies 
commenced at 8:00 p.m. Most of the inductee and family members were able to 
attend. Admitted were 20 drivers, five car owners and five 
officials/promoters. Drivers inducted were: Ray Elder, Bill Amick, Danny 
Letner,Eddie Gray, Lloyd Dane, Marvin Porter, Ron Hornaday, Sr, Marvin Panch, 
Hershel McGriff, Scotty Cain, Bill Schmitt, Jack McCoy, Jimmy Insolo, Jim 
Robinson, Roy Smith, Parnelli Jones, Troy Ruttman, Johnny Soares, Sr, Lou 
Figaro and Ernie Conn. 
Car owner inductees were: Cos Cancilla, Carl and Jim Dane, Bill Stroppe 
and tire innovator Bruce Alexander. Race organizers/officials inducted into 
the hall of fame were: J. C. Agajanian, Ken Clapp, Bob Barkhimer, Charlie 
Curryer and Les Richter--track manager of Riverside International Raceway, a 
founder of IROC and NASCAR vice-president. 

Sorry that we don't have any photos to accompany Tim Kennedy's story ... Contact Tim Meyers at Racing News West for shots.  Let us add how very honored and proud that Irwindale Speedway was chosen as the location for this group's Reunion again this year ... -Stokes