West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame honors its seventh class on Friday

8,500 Oakland fans watched as Woody Brown flipped his Mercury stock car during the ARA 300-lap race on 7/27/52. Unhurt, Brown did some hurried repairs and returned to finish 10th, that's Fred Steinbroner in the #16. John Soares won the event. Caption & Image Credit: WCSCHOF website

West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame honors its seventh class, July 2nd

The people who will be inducted into the 2010 West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame, by tradition, come from two main categories - Historic Era (achievements that came prior to 1970), and Modern Era. This year will also see the addition of a new category - Career Contributor (for members of the media and public relations professionals of any era).

The West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame was founded in 2001 to memorialize significant contributions to the sport’s development and history. Inductees are drawn from people who have served in its many disciplines including designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, and most recently, publicists and members of the motorsports media.

Yakima Speedway - Yakima, Washington in June, 1961 Image Credit: WCSCHOF website

The twelve motorsports figures from historic and modern eras that will be recognized Friday (July 2, 2010) when the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame inducts its seventh class at Azusa Greens Country Club in Azusa, Calif are as follows:

Historic Era (6 inductees) - Driver Bob Caswell of Walnut Creek, Calif., Car Owners Bill “Tiny” Clinton of Los Angeles/Joe Mangini Jr. of Walnut Creek, Calif., Crew Chief Herb Nab, Tire Provider/Specialist Duane Edwards of Southgate, Calif. and Starter/Race Chief Steward Mel Fernandes of San Leandro, Calif.

All of the above awards will be honored posthumously.

Modern Era (4 inductees) - Driver Mike Chase of Redding, Calif., Car Owner Allen Beebe of Modesto, Calif., Car Owner Rod Osterlund of Plumas County in Northeast California, and James “Jimmy” Smith of Newport Beach, Calif

Career Contributor (2 inductees) - The late Gordon Martin, long-standing motorsports writer and columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and Mel Larson, longtime spokesman for the sport of stock car racing.

Turn #11 (?), Laguna Seca Raceway (now, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) near Monterey, California. Image Credit: WCSCHOF website

The ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. (PDT) and this seventh class will bring the total number of inductees in the West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame to 93.

... notes from The EDJE