BURBANK, Calif. – Ten motorsports figures from historic and modern eras will be recognized Friday (July 1) when the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame inducts its eighth class at Azusa Greens Country Club in Azusa, Calif.
The ceremonies, which begin at 5:30 p.m. (PDT), will bring membership in the Hall to 103.
Six inductees from the historic era – whose achievements came prior to 1970 – are Marvin Burke, Pittsburg, Calif.; Louis “Lou” Mangini, Walnut Creek, Calif.; Chuck Parko, Whittier, Calif.; Al Schmidhamer, Portland, Ore.; George Seeger, Whittier and Chuck Stevenson, Sydney, Mont. and Garden Grove, Calif.
Burke, Seeger and Stevenson all excelled as drivers; Schmidhamer as a car owner and Parko as car owner, crew chief and mechanic. All but Parko and Schmidhamer are deceased.
Four inductees from the modern era are Cary Agajanian, Beverly Hills, Calif.; Roger McCluskey, Tucson, Ariz.; Joe Ruttman, Upland, Calif. and Tim Williamson, Seaside, Calif.
Agajanian is a longtime promoter, car owner and driver agent whose father, J.C. Agajanian, was inducted with the Hall’s inaugural class in 2002. Ruttman’s older brother Troy, a winner of the Indianapolis 500, was enshrined in the same class as the elder Agajanian. Ruttman was the 1980 U.S. Auto Club Stock Car champion and won 13 times in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – all past the age of 50.
McCluskey, who died in 1993, was the 1969-70 USAC Stock Car champion as well as the 1973 USAC Championship Car champion and an 18-time Indianapolis 500 starter. Williamson, who died in a 1980 accident at Riverside International Raceway, was a standout dirt competitor and a rookie of the year in the K&N Pro Series West.
The Hall, founded in 2001, memorializes significant contributors to the sport’s development and history – including designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media.
Additional information about this year’s West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame class and the 2011 awards dinner and induction ceremonies can be obtained from Dusty Brandel, 818-842-7005 or 925-552-9887, dusty.brandel@gmail.com.
West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame
2011 Induction Ceremonies
Information Sheet
What:
West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame 2011 Induction of eighth class.
The Hall, founded in 2001, memorializes significant contributors to the sport’s development and history – including designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media. This year’s induction brings membership to 103.When:
5:30 p.m. (PT), Friday, July 1, 2010
Induction ceremonies follow dinner at approximately 8:15 p.m.Where:
Azusa Greens Country Club
919 W. Sierra Madre Ave.
Azusa, Calif.
626-969-1727Who:
Cary Agajanian, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Marvin Burke, Pittsburg, Calif.
Louis “Lou” Mangini, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Roger McCluskey, Tucson, Ariz
Chuck Parko, Whittier, Calif.
Joe Ruttman, Upland, Calif.
Al Schmidhamer, Portland, Ore.
George Seeger, Whittier
Chuck Stevenson, Sydney, Mont. and Garden Grove, Calif.
Tim Williamson, Seaside, Calif.Additional Information
Jenniffer Wentzel
Phoenix International Raceway
jwentzel@
www.westcoaststockcarhalloffame.com