[h=2]"Tribute to the USRRC" event set for Wally Parks Museum[/h] Friday, 15 January 2016


Image by LAT
Organizers of the new "Tribute to the USRRC," celebrating SCCA's first pro racing series of 1963-'68 and the precursor to the fabled Can-Am have announced that a gala dinner and gathering set to take place on Saturday, April 9th at the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif. The event will be emceed by noted automotive journalist, Rick Titus, host of driverstalkradio.com, an accomplished driver in his own right and son of former Shelby driver and Sports Car Graphic editor Jerry Titus.


"We're really delighted to have Victory Lane Magazine, the Historic Can-Am Association (HCAA) which organizes historic Can-Am races, the USRRC Senior Tour, Drivers Talk Radio and Autobooks-Aerobooks, the celebrated automotive bookstore in Burbank; all onboard as sponsors for this very special event," said organizer and Racing History Project head Dave Wolin.
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 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 roundtable 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 9 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 induction of new members into the USRRC Hall of Fame and 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 Peter Bryant Award Challenger Award, named for the legendary racing engineer and designer, which 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. Former Formula 1 and Can-Am driver Ganley, the first recipient of the award, will have the honor of announcing the winner and presenting the award at this event.
USRRC 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 Pete Lyons, Dave Friedman, Mike Martin, Rod Campbell, Howden Ganley, and Allen Kuhn, with more to be announced.
As befitting the occasion, a number of priceless racecars 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.
A total of 100 guest tickets will be made available for this intimate event. Each attendee will receive a unique gift bag, a commemorative medallion, and a limited edition poster depicting the glory years of the iconic racing series.
"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 in April will be a truly memorable occasion for both," - Event organizer Dave Wolin.

The Wally Parks Auto Club Museum, though operated by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), is truly dedicated to the preservation of the history of all forms of motorsports and boasts a unique collection of historic racecars and associated memorabilia. Attendees for this event are invited to arrive early and wander through the exhibits when they come to Pomona on Saturday, April 9.


Proceeds from the event will benefit a number of motorsport-related charities.
For additional information or to purchase tickets, go to www.tributetotheusrrc.com.