Rolex Bob Snodgrass Award of Excellence announced for 2011
and beyond
(EDITORS: Attached is a digital image of Bob Snodgrass, courtesy of the
Snodgrass family.)
THE GORSLINE COMPANY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net
ROLEX BOB SNODGRASS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE ANNOUNCED FOR 2011 AND BEYOND
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 29, 2010) - The Rolex Bob Snodgrass Award of
Excellence presented by The Gorsline Company, the first of which will be
awarded in 2011, was announced today at the Rolex Watch USA's Grand
Marshal's dinner. The event kicks off the 2010 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car
Series at the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, Jan. 30-31.
This inaugural award, a Rolex Stainless Steel and Platinum Yacht-Master
Watch, engraved with the words "The Bob Snodgrass Award of Excellence," will
be presented at the end of the 2010 Grand-Am Series to the team owner or
team manager who has demonstrated the qualities of integrity, passion for
the sport and the love of cars that have been synonymous with the late Bob
Snodgrass throughout his life and career.
The Award of Excellence will be presented in perpetuity and supported by The
Gorsline Company, the premier insurer of high-risk professionals. A
blue-ribbon panel of motorsports professionals will make the selection.
Snodgrass passed away in 2007 at the age of 64. He was president of Brumos
Racing, and president and CEO of the Brumos auto dealerships in
Jacksonville, Fla., where he lived for 35 years. As a team owner he has
three Rolex 24 at Daytona wins (Brumos Racing has eight) and a total of 10
wins at Daytona. He was a driving force behind the formation of the Grand
American Road Racing Association and the Daytona Prototype class. Born in
Elmira, N.Y., he saw his first race at Watkins Glen, N.Y., and was hooked.
Famous for his humor and wit and an accomplished vintage-car racer,
Snodgrass, with Peter Gregg, who owned Brumos Porsche from 1965 until his
death in 1980, were instrumental in Brumos' entry into motorsports.
Hurley Haywood, the winningest driver at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with five
victories, and a co-driver with Peter Gregg in Brumos-backed cars since
1971, made the announcement.
"I am privileged and honored to have had Bob Snodgrass as a longtime and
enduring friend and business associate," said Haywood, who is Vice President
of the Brumos automotive dealerships. "There are many team owners and
managers in the Grand-Am Series who exemplify Bob's passion for the sport,
so it will be a tough decision for the panel to select just one."
Said John Gorsline, principal of The Gorsline Company, "Bob Snodgrass was a
remarkable individual, who had an uncanny business and racing savvy to bring
Brumos into the championship spotlight for so many years. We are honored to
present this award which will help keep his memory alive for many, many
years."
"Bob was a great friend to so many in this sport, whether in the Grand-Am
Series or in other forms of automobile racing in which he was involved for
so many years," commented Allen Brill, Rolex USA President and CEO. "We look
forward to presenting this special award at next year's event."
About Rolex Motorsports:
Rolex is involved in sponsorships of some of the most prestigious events in
the motorsport industry. Endurance races such as the Rolex 24 At Daytona,
The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the European Le Mans Series and the Rolex Sports
Car Series have been a critical piece of the Rolex portfolio. In addition,
Rolex has supported the bygone era of racing by celebrating design, speed,
passion and endurance in sponsoring historic races such as the Goodwood
Revival and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion as well as concours
events such as The Pebble Beach Concours dčElegance, the Pebble Beach Tour
dčElegance presented by Rolex, and The Quail, a Motorsport Gathering.
About The Gorsline Company:
The Gorsline Company, headquartered in Rochester New York, pioneered the
business of providing insurance for high-risk professionals. The company
specializes in providing racing drivers and owners creative, custom designed
insurance packages and estate planning strategies.
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