For the Sport; SCCA Honors Its Own As Annual Convention Closes
For Immediate Release For the Sport; SCCA Honors Its Own As Annual Convention Closes TOPEKA, Kan. (Feb. 6, 2007) - Sports Car Club of America members gathered last weekend in San Antonio, Texas for the first time in the Club's 63-year history for its annual meeting, Convention, awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremony. In Saturday night's gala awards ceremony concluding the three-day event, emcee Peter Hylton (Indianapolis Region) was presented the Woolf Barnato Award-the Club's highest honor for long-time service to the Club. A surprised Hylton, who spent the previous three days entertaining the masses, was nearly caught speechless. He recovered, however, remembering the words of the late John McGee, who would close all correspondence with "Yours, for the sport." Hylton served on SCCA's Board of Directors (and remains the youngest-ever member elected) and has been its volunteer archivist since 1996. Also presented Saturday were the highest honors in Club Racing, Solo and Rally. Spec Racer Ford National Champion Mike Miserendino (Cal Club Region) accepted the President's Cup for outstanding Club Racing driver at the National Championship Runoffs, giving a moving acceptance speech, crediting a notion introduced to him at a young age by his parents that effort brings success for his accomplishments. Paula Baker (Utah Region) was the emotional recipient of the Solo Cup, admitting to a group of nearly 400 that "microphones make me cry." Jeanne English (Cal Club Region) was presented with the Robert Ridges Award (top RoadRally honor) and Jim Rogaski (San Francisco Region) was presented the John McGill Award (top Club Racing non competition honor). In addition to the annual awards, the third class of the SCCA Hall of Fame was inducted, including living legends Marge Binks (Cal Club and San Diego Regions), Marc Gerstein (Philadelphia Region) and Carl Haas (Chicago Region), as well as the posthumous inductions of Theodore "Ted" Robertson and General Curtis LeMay. The Convention was not simply about honors though, as the Club held its annual meeting Thursday, including the popular Town Hall open discussion with the Club's Board of Directors. More than 425 members attended the Convention, which ran from Thursday through Saturday and included dozens of seminars on Club-related activities. "The amount of energy and enthusiasm for the Club by those attending the Convention was astounding," SCCA President and CEO Jim Julow said. "While it was only my second SCCA Convention experience, the consensus from the attendees was that it was excellent on all accounts-from the accommodations, to the Club Business and, of course, the social functions." Members will be able to access convention materials through the SCCA Web site later this week. An announcement will be made on scca.com when materials are available. 2006 Awards Presented at the SCCA National Convention, Feb. 1-3, 2007 General Woolf Barnato Award - Peter Hylton Hall of Fame Inductees - Marge Binks, Mark Gerstein, Carl Haas, Curtis LeMay, Ted Robertson Board of Directors Special Recognition Award - JoAnne Jensen for GCR redesign Club Racing President's Cup - Mike Miserendino John McGill Award - Jim Rogaski David Morrell Award - Mike West Martin Tanner Award - Arizona Emergency Services Team Kimberly Cup - Bryan Golay Mark Donohue Award - Jesse Prather Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year Award - Andrew Caddell RallyCross Regional Achievement - Oregon Region Divisional Achievement - Southeast Division RoadRally Robert Ridges Award - Jeanne English Arthur Gervais Award - Old Dominion Region, Old Dominion Rally 1 Norm Hill Award - Arizona Border Region, Great Canyon Rally Regional Achievement - Arctic Alaska Region Divisional Achievement - Northeast Division Manufacturer of the Year - Subaru Solo Solo Cup - Paula Baker ProSolo JCJ Cup - Andy Hollis Johnson Spirit of the Sport - Team Underdog (Heyward Wagner accepting) Rookie of the Year - Bryan Heitkotter Driver of the Year - Kevin Wentzel Driver of Eminence - Tommy Saunders Divisional of the Year - Finger Lakes Region/Western New York Region Region Communications Honorable mention - Florida and Reno 3rd - Oregon Region 2nd - Indianapolis Region 1st - Wichita Tom Burke (for Outstanding Membership Recruiting) Small Regions - River Cities Medium - Utah Medium Large - Glen Large - St. Louis Jumbo - Central Florida Region Achievement Small Regions - Big Island of Hawaii Medium - Blue Mountain Medium Large - Kansas City Large - Philadelphia Jumbo - Washington DC -30- Attached: Peter Hylton takes a moment to reflect Saturday after receiving SCCA's highest honor-the Woolf Barnato Award. (SCCA/Prill Image) _______________________ Eric Prill Vice President, Marketing & Communications Sports Car Club of America SCCA Pro Racing/SPEED World Challenge 785-357-7222, 785-232-7228 fax 800-770-2055 toll free 785-250-7920 mobile eprill@scca.com www.scca.com <http://www.scca.com> , www.world-challenge.com <http://www.world-challenge.com/>