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J Michael Hemsley

More articles by J Michael Hemsley

Runoffs

Giving Back has Led Joseph Menowsky III from the Driver’s Seat to Scrutineering, and becoming an SCCA Worker of the Year

If you were to pick a scrutineer for your tech shed, wouldn’t you want someone who has built race cars and has read the GCR cover to cover? If so, you’d probably pick Washington DC Region’s Joseph Menowsky III. He has built race cars, he’s very familiar with the contents of the GCR, and often […]

Trackside

Details are Key for DC Region’s Betty Harrison, Recipient of SCCA’s Registration Worker of the Year Award

Betty Harrison’s introduction to SCCA® came in a roundabout way that is both unique and familiar. She had a horse, and a friend of hers who also had a horse was married to an SCCA racer. Her friends and another racing couple arranged a blind date for Harrison with a fellow who was also a […]

Trackside

From Working Pro Events to Helping Relaunch her Region’s Road Racing Program, 2023 Race Admin Worker of the Year Julie Hammons Has Quite the Resume

Julie Hammons started volunteering with the Sports Car Club of America® at a Memorial Day event in 1981. “In those days, you worked on a logbook before you were approved,” she explains. “I didn’t become a member until 1986.” Since then, though, she’s gained skills that are to be admired, ultimately being presented with SCCA’s […]

Runoffs

2023 Starter Workers of the Year: John and Beth Burkhard

It all began in the 1960s when Beth Burkhard’s parents, Sheila and Josh Cockey, were invited to a race at Marlboro Speedway by a cousin who was a Formula Vee® racer. They were hooked and started working Flagging & Communications in the fall of 1969. Years later, they’ve raced and volunteered in numerous positions, with […]

Runoffs

A Trip to the Track Has Turned into a Lifelong Adventure for Kathy McLeod, SCCA’s 2023 Steward Worker of the Year

Kathy McLeod’s first experience with sports car racing came as a spectator at the Chicago Region June Sprints at Road America in 1966. Three years later, she was dating a gentleman who was going to Road America to race, so she tagged along. “It was fun to be a guest because I could run around […]

Runoffs

Todd Heilicher Has Done a Lot, and Now He’s SCCA’s 2023 Race Data Tech Worker of the Year

It’s likely that many SCCA® members, including a lot of drivers, have no idea what the Club’s Race Data Technician does. In short, the job is to collect the objective vehicle dynamics data needed for the performance of a car, so Club Racing Board (CRB) committees have a solid foundation to build upon when considering […]

Trackside

How Brian Williams Became SCCA’s 2023 Pit & Grid Worker of the Year

Brian Williams went “straight” into motorsports, but it took some curves before he was introduced to SCCA. “I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and there was no road racing,” he says. “It was either dirt track, round-d-round, or drag racing. I gravitated toward drag racing and motorcross.” That road eventually led to SCCA, working Pit […]

Runoffs

Meet Don Drennon, the 2023 F&C Worker of the Year

Don Drennon first spectated at Road Atlanta at a Can-Am race in 1974. In 1987, while spectating at the SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, he heard a recruiting pitch that was often repeated over the PA system: “Want to get involved? See what it’s like on the other side of the fence and join us as […]