LINCOLN, Neb. (September 9, 2015) – Each of Wednesday’s trophy winners from the Tuesday and Wednesday session of the 43rd Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals presented by Garmin VIRB were awarded their trophies at the Nationals banquet on Saturday night at the Lancaster Events Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, but the stars of the show were the winners of the top SCCA Solo awards.
Brian Peters earned the Driver of Eminence award, which goes to the Solo driver who has consistently demonstrated excellence behind the wheel and an exemplary degree of sportsmanship, dedication and unselfishness. Peters, the E Street Prepared Champion, earned his sixth National Championship in as many different classes on Wednesday and his 11th trophy in 12 attempts.
“This is pretty cool,” an emotional Peters said as he stared at his crystal trophy in disbelief. “We compete for plastic trophies, and this is better than plastic.”
The Solo Cup is a service award, which goes to the SCCA member who has made outstanding contributions to the Solo Events Program.
Mari and Eric Clements earned the award as a couple, after contributing over the years on both coasts as their family moved across the country. Mari has served on the Solo Events Board, Eric is a Tire Rack Starting Line instructor, and both have co-chaired Nationals three times and have shown a willingness to pitch in anywhere necessary to make any Solo event a success.
“I tell the people I work with, when they say why are you going to Nebraska, to spend a week with 1,200 of my closest friends,” Mari said. “I’m unbelievably honored, along with Eric, to receive this. I think I really am speechless.”
The Johnson Spirit of the Sport Award, named in honor of the inaugural recipient Roger E. Johnson, is selected annually and presented “by the Royal Order of the Sheep to a member of the flock that upholds the spirited virtues of fun, camaraderie, and tomfoolery.”
Van Townsend, Charlie Davis, Danny Kao, last year’s winners, presented the award in a very, very loose rendition of a reworked, unique cover of Billy Joel’s “For The Longest Time.” A very loose rendition, in the true soul of the award, to photographer Perry Bennett.
Bennett is a regular at Tire Rack National Tour events, and his photo was used on as the backdrop of this year’s Solo Nationals trophies.
“I’m not sure I deserve this honor, I think there are people who deserve this more,” Bennett said. “I’m flattered and humbled and honored. Support your photographers. We come out and have fun, and take pictures of people having fun. Thank you guys, I’m speechless.”
John Rogers from the event’s longtime title sponsor, Tire Rack, welcomed the attendees and congratulated the crowd on what appears to be record-breaking attendance this year.
“When you get back home this week and your friends or other Region members ask you, ‘what was it like to be at the largest Tire Rack Solo Nationals ever?’, tell them to come experience for themselves next year,” Rogers said.
Mark Walker, of the Nebraska Region, continued their annual fundraiser, taking donations for the practice course and tire cleaning station to support the SCCA Foundation. Walker, on behalf of the Region, presented a check to the SCCA Foundation for $11,500, which included donations from Mazda and BFGoodrich Tires.
The Tire Rack Solo Nationals presented by Garmin VIRB continues with another round of classes during Thursday and Friday competition. More information can be found at SCCA.com/SoloNats.
Image: An emotional Brian Peters examines his Driver of Eminence trophy.
Credit: SCCA Images
