Club Racers Honored At Convention Luncheon

LAS VEGAS (February 12, 2011) €“ Lunchtime at the third and final day of the SCCA Convention and Annual Meeting at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas celebrated the achievements of Club Racers in 2010. Tire Rack€™s Woody Johnson hosted the Club Racing Awards Luncheon Presented by Mazda North American Operations, gathering the more than 440 attendees at the convention together to recognize outstanding achievement of a select group of drivers, crew members and administrators. For the first time, Time Trials were recognized as part of the Club Racing luncheon. Matt Rowe and Tony Machi, co-chairs of the Time Trials Adminstrative Council, presented awards to the top region and participant in 2010. Also presented during the annual luncheon were the David Morrell Memorial Award for Chief Stewards, Mechanic of the Year, the Kimberly Cup awarded to the most improved Club Racer, the Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year Award, and the Martin W. Tanner Award for unusual courage while exposed to danger. John Fergus, a multi-time SCCA National Champion, represented the Road Racing Driver€™s Club to award the prestigious Mark Donohue Award. The Donohue Award has been presented annually since 1976 to the SCCA Club Racing driver who best exhibits outstanding performance, sportsmanship and competitiveness at the National Championship Runoffs®. Peter Shawdowen, from the Florida Region, earned the 2010 award. Time Trial Event of the Year Drive For Babies PDX €“ Milwaukee Region Rich Shafer Time Trial Participant of the Year Award Rob Bedelis €“ Milwaukee Region David Morrell Memorial Award (Outstanding Performance by a National Chief Steward) Jim Rogaski €“ San Francisco Region Mechanic of the Year Award Randy Hartman €“ Ohio Valley Region Kimberly Cup (Most Improved Driver) Richard Shields €“ Steel City Region Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year Award Sean Rayhall €“ Atlanta Region Martin W. Tanner Award (For unusual courage while exposed to danger) Nelson Ledges Rescue Team; Denny Freeman, Chief €“ Steel Cities Region Mark Donohue Award (For outstanding performance, sportsmanship and competitiveness in SCCA Club Racing, presented by the Road Racing Driver€™s Club) Peter Shawdowen €“ Florida Region Photo: 15-year-old Sean Rayhall accepts the Rookie of the Year trophy from Jeff Dahnert.