2016 Justice Brothers-Shav Glick Award Nominees Announced
Duarte, California (PRWEB) February 17, 2016 -- Bill Pollack, Ed Iskendarian, Joe Huffaker, and Ricky Johnson have been nominated for the 17th Annual Justice Brothers-Shav Glick Award. The Justice Brothers-Shav Glick Award recognizes motorsports personalities who have made valuable or distinguished contributions to the various types of motorsports in California. Shav Glick, who passed away in 2007, was a highly respected motorsports writer for the Los Angeles Times and member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Ed Justice Jr., president and CEO of Justice Brothers, will present the award during the pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on Sunday, March 20.
The nominees for 2016 are:
Bill Pollack - An influential pioneer of the California sports car scene, he first raced an MG at the 1950 Palm Springs event, but he is best known as the winning pilot of Tom Carstens' famous red wheeled, Cadillac-powered, Allard J2. A winner in just about every California race there was—including the main events at Pebble Beach (two times on the original forest course), Golden Gate Park, Reno, Torrey Pines, Stockton, Madera, Willow Springs, Palm Springs, and the Santa Barbara road races. Bill is a former President of the California Sports Car Club and it was during this time that he was asked to design the Willow Springs road course. It would become the first purpose built road course in the Southern California area and continues to this day as a very historic and legendary racing venue. Bill was a contemporary of Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Jack McAfee, Ken Miles and the other early road racing figures of the Southern California area, two of which are past recipients of the award.
Ed Iskendarian – A true icon of the speed and performance industry that was established in Southern California after World War II. Born in the Central Valley of California, Ed’s family moved to the Los Angeles area pre War where Ed attended Polytechnic High School. It was during this time that Ed built his first Hot Rod and in the process became friends with the legendary Ed Winfield, considered to be the father of hot rodding. After his service in the War, Ed decided to go into the cam grinding business because the demand for cams could not be met by the existing manufacturers. By supplying quality well designed products for early racing legends and creative advertising, the “Isky” name became a hallmark. His products would go on to be used in hundreds if not thousands of record setting runs throughout all forms of motorsport. Ed was also one of the founders of the now well-known SEMA show and association.
Joe Huffaker – A northern California racing icon and respected name in national motorsport. He was contracted to build an Austin-Healey Special in 1954 and went on to become known as one of the most successful constructors of race cars in the 1960’s. Joe continued until 1992 when he retired. During the almost 40 year run he had partnered with Kjell Qvale/British Motor Cars, Ltd. to construct a very successful string of race cars which included the famous MG Liquid Suspension Specials that ran in the Indianapolis 500 in the 1960’s. After leaving BMC he established Huffaker Engineering and went on to build cars for Jensen Motors which won the SCCA D Production championship in 1973 and 74. In the 1980’s Huffaker Engineering built Pontiac cars for the TransAm and IMSA series. Huffaker Engineering continues under the management of his son, Joe, Jr.
Ricky Johnson – Whether racing on two or four wheels, Ricky Johnson found success. On two wheels Johnson was truly one of the greatest AMA Motocross and Supercross racers of all-time. During the 1980s the El Cajon, Calif., native rode to seven AMA national championships. Over the course of his motorcycle racing career Johnson rode to 61 national wins and earned championships in AMA Supercross and both 250cc and 500cc Motocross. He also was part of four winning U.S. Motocross des Nations teams before retiring from motorcycle competition in 1991 at the age of 26. Switching to off-road and stock cars, Johnson again found success, winning the Baja 1000 twice (1997, 2003) and was also named ASA Rookie of the Year in 1999. In 2009, he founded the Traxxas TORC Series before selling it to USAC to focus on his driving, competing in short-course truck and desert off-road races. Johnson was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2012.
Previous recipients of The Justice Brothers-Shav Glick Award
2015 – Tommy Kendall 2007 – Don Prudhomme
2014 – Bill Simpson 2006 – Phil Hill & Carroll Shelby
2013 – Mickey Thompson 2005 – J.C. Agajanian
2012 – Jeff Gordon 2004 – Les Richter
2011 – Robert E. Peterson 2003 – Rick Mears
2010 – Kenny Roberts 2002 – Parnelli Jones
2009 – Frank Kurtis 2001 – Wally Parks
2008 – John Force 2000 – Dan Gurney
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About Justice Brothers, Inc.
Justice Brothers, Inc. is a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of over 100 car care products, fleet, farm, and industrial lubricants and cleaners. Since their beginnings in the additive industry, the Justice Brothers Corporation has been an innovator in the development of new and better products to solve problems in the automotive service industry. During their over 75 years in the automotive industry, Justice Brothers has built a large and loyal customer base that encompasses quick lubes, dealerships, and independent auto stores.
About Auto Club Speedway
Located 50 miles east of Los Angeles in Fontana, Auto Club Speedway is California’s premier motorsports facility, hosting over 320 days of track activity each year including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 weekend March 18-20, 2016. The two-mile D-shaped oval is one of the fastest tracks on the circuit. The Speedway is also home to numerous movies, television and commercial productions, photo shoots, new car testing, club racing and a variety of racing schools. For more information on events at Auto Club Speedway call 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or visit http://www.autoclubspeedway.com.
Courtney Justice, Justice Brothers, Inc., http://www.justicebrothers.com, +1 (626) 359-9174, [email protected]
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