Wednesday, March 10, 2010

 

THE 3-DAY EMPA CONVENTION

JANUARY 23rd - 25th, 2004
Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
Trevose, PA.
(Just north of Philadelphia)

Press Conferences, Social Events, Seminars, Networking, Hall of Fame Introduction and more

For More Information
or Reservations

Contact
Marilyn Saxton
215.752.2392


1448 Hollywood Avenue
Langhorne, Pa. 19047-7417
215.752.7797/2392
FAX: 215.752.1518
 ESAXTON144@AOL.COM 
NEWS FROM THE EASTERN MOTORSPORT PRESS ASSOCIATION
More than 200 professional media covering motorsports
Media Contact: Ernie Saxton
215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392
Fax: 215.752.1518
Email: Esaxton144@aol.com
Cell: 267.934.7286
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS
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EMPA HONORS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES. RAHMER AND STEWART HONORED AS DRIVERS OF THE YEAR AT EMPA CONVENTION
TREVOSE, PA January 28, 2006 . . . True legends in the sport of auto racing were inducted into the Eastern Motorsport Press Association Hall of Fame on Saturday night at the Radisson Hotel & Convention Center. With more than 125 people on hand for the NASCAR/EMPA Hall of Fame Awards Dinner Modified stock car owner Dick Cozze, dirt track Modified racer Buzzie Reutimann, drag racing star Bob Glidden, three time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip, the late dirt Modified stock car owner Joe Bullock, sprint car owner Al Hamilton and the original Outlaw sprint car racer Bobby Allen were the latest to join an already impressive array of motorsports greats that are enshrined in the EMPA Hall of Fame.
Cozze, Reutimann (traveling from Tampa, Florida), Allen and Al Hamilton were on hand to accept their honors. Darrell Waltrip, his buddy Buzzie Reutimann accepted his award, and Glidden expressed their regrets at not being able to attend but offered their thanks for the honor. Mark Bullock accepted for his late father Joe Bullock.
Sprint car racer Fred Rahmer was honored with his third Richie Evans Memorial EMPA Northeast Driver of the Year Award while 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart, honored as the Al Holbert Memorial EMPA National Driver of the Year, expressed his thanks in a specially prepared video tape.
Monte Dutton, who covers the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit for a variety of publications including the Gaston, SC Gazette, Area Auto Racing News and FasTrack, was presented the Art McHugh Memorial Award in recognition of his outstanding behind the scenes support of the EMPA.
The annual Ace Lane Sr. Memorial Award, presented to an outstanding photographer each year, went to Rich Kepner. His work has appeared in many trade publications and other media.
The Philadelphia Daily News’ long time motorsports writer Bill Fleischman was awarded the Frank Blunk Memorial Award named in honor of a man who did so much to improve the coverage of the sport.
NASCAR Nextel Cup racer Morgan Shepherd, who is planning a full season of Cup competition with new sponsorship support, was on hand to accept the Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport Award.
Noted photographer Bob Yurko was presented with the annual Jerry Glase Memorial Award as a driving force behind the EMPA. He does so much for the sport and seeks little in return. The award is presented by EMPA President Ernie Saxton and his wife Marilyn.
An outstanding achievement award, not an award given on a regular basis, was announced for former New Jersey Motor Vehicle Department Captain John Wyckoff. The award was accepted by Len Sammons who told the gathering that Mr. Wyckoff had passed away just a couple of days before the convention. He had been made aware of the award and his daughter told Sammons that he was delighted. The award was long overdue and recognized much that was done by Mr. Wyckoff to improve the safety in motorsports in New Jersey.
Six time American Racing Drivers Club champion Ray Bull was given a special President’s Award for his outstanding accomplishments in the sport, his support of EMPA and his efforts as a goodwill ambassador for the sport.
Participating in the variety of press conferences offered during the convention were the American LeMans Series, DIRT Motorsports, United Racing Company, Dover International Raceway, American Racing Drivers Club, Pocono Raceway, Richmond International Raceway, ARCA RE/MAX Series, Indy Racing League, Race of Champions Series, Susquehanna Speedway along with NASCAR.
Sponsorship support for the Convention and the various contests came from Pocono Raceway, Indy Racing League, Chad Sinon Motorsports, DIRT Motorsports, Performance Racing Industry Magazine, Valvoline, SPEED Channel, NASCAR and the American LeMans Series.
The Valvoline/EMPA Writers Contest had writers from a variety of media taking awards. Included were:
Column Writing First Place: Dick Berggren, “The Real Thing”, Speedway Illustrated
Second Place: Ron Hedger, “Differing Views On Lapped Cars At Short Tracks”, National Speed Sport News
Feature Writing First Place: Chuck Givler, “Scratch At The Patch”, The Express-Times
Second Place: Dick Berggren, “How To Get A Job In Big-League Racing”, Speedway Illustrated
News Writing First Place: Joe Jennings, “Ricky Rudd goes away quietly”, Motorsports.com
Second Place: Jerry Reigle, “Pettys headline fledgling sprint group”, The Patriot-News
Personality Profile First Place: Jerry Reigle, “Pride - Rahmer can’t stand losing” - The Patriot-News
Second Place: Mike Lloyd, “Rex White: NASCAR’s Oldest Living Champion”, Area Auto Racing News
Race Report First Place: Jeremy Elliott, “Kurt Busch warms up” The Patriot-News
Second Place: Lenny H. Sammons, “A Linda’s Speedway Tale Of Different Emotions”, Area Auto Racing News
In the Performance Racing Industry Magazine Broadcast Contest first place in Radio went to Erik Thomas for his Raceline Radio Network broadcast from Sunday, November 6th of the Champ Car races from Montreal.
Matt Thomas (Thomas Productions) earned a first in the Television category for his “Oswego 2005 BUD Classic.” His dad, Mel Thomas, took top honors in the Independent Videos with his “2005 Smash ‘n Crash Volume #17.”
Winners in the Chad Sinon Motorsports Photography Contest were:
Crash Action: Bob Armbruster, Area Auto Racing News
Action Crash Sequence: Jim Smith, Program Dynamics
Portrait and Personality: Harold Hoch, Junior Dragster Publication
Action: Todd Dziadosz, Hot Rod Magazine
Pure Art: Todd Dziadosz
Feature: Bob Yurko, Area Auto Racing News and South Jersey Dirt Racing.com
Picture Story: Ace Lane, Ace Lane Photo.com
Unpublished Color: Todd Dziadosz
Best of Show: Todd Dziadosz
Portfolio: Harold Hoch
In the election held on the final day of the convention, Ernie Saxton (Bucks County Courier Times, Area Auto Racing News and other publications) was elected to another two year term as president of the EMPA. Saxton, one of the founders of the organization back in 1969, has served as president every year except for one.
Saxton again brought his own slate of officers in for another two years including:
Len Sammons (Area Auto Racing News), Vice President
David Moulthrop (Gater Racing News), Northeastern Vice President
Monte Dutton (Gaston, S.C. Gazette), Southern Vice President
Bill Yoder, Treasurer
Marilyn Saxton, Secretary
Board of Directors include: Herb Anastor (Area Auto Racing News), John Snyder (Area Auto Racing News), Ron Hedger (National Speed Sport News), Jeff Gromis (Lancaster, PA News Intelligencer, Ace Lane (Ace Lane Photos), Bob Yurko (freelance photographer) and Jerry Reigle (Harrisburg, PA Patriot News).
CONVENTION NOTES: Don Radebaugh, public relations director of the ARCA/REMAX Series, got a taste of history while in the Philadelphia area while attending the EMPA Convention. Don, seen on SPEED Channel coverage of ARCA, made his first visit to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.
Todd Fisher, promoter of the successful Susquehanna Speedway, had help at the convention. His 8-year-old daughter was busy giving out track schedules and helping dad with his promotional efforts.
Dr. Joe Mattioli has introduced his own diversity program for youngsters at his South Boston, VA Speedway. He has taken delivery of 20 go-karts from Mark Dinsmore to be used by school children as part of the new program in the spring.
Andy Harpell, making his first visit to the EMPA Convention, announced schedules for his Race of Champions Series.
The NASCAR Luncheon Press Conference featured Mark McFarland, driver of the U.S.Navy sponsored Dale Earnhardt Jr. owned Busch Series car, as he talked about his rookie season. He also displayed a brand new “short” haircut he was given when part of a U.S. Navy was training session.
NASCAR Whelan Modified Tour champion Tony Hirschman talked about the 14 race schedule for the 2006 season and the excitement of having his son Matt race with him this season. Matt is the Race of Champions Asphalt Modified champion for 2005.
Sprint car ace Fred Rahmer had many great things to say about Bobby Allen when presenting a Hall of Fame statue to the “original outlaw” sprint racer. And Allen talked of the days when he raced in Europe something that was not known to many in the audience.
Al Hamilton, inducted into the Hall of Fame, plunked down $1500 cash to buy a beautiful silver autographed helmet from Darrell Waltrip. Proceeds of the helmet auction are being shared between the Checkered Flag Fan Club and Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Camp.
The American LeMans Series made their first appearance at the Convention. Bob Dickinson, Director of Communications, educated the attendees on the Series and racer Liz Halliday talked about her auto racing efforts and her Olympic Team Equestrian hopes for 2008.
Gary Tomkins, 2004 DIRT Super Series champion, talked about his “tentative” plans for 2006 with firm plans expected to be announced in a week or so.
There was a great deal of interest show in the presentations made by Tom Skibinski (DIRT Motorsports Northeast Modifieds) and Chris Dolack (DIRT World of Outlaws Sprints).
NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Morgan Shepherd talked about his exciting plans for a full season of Nextel Cup competition and his Morgan Shepherd Charitable Fund.
Others making presentations include Barry Angstadt and Andy Martin of the American Racing Drivers Club; Gary Camp on behalf of Dover International Speedway; Bob Miller, John and Cher Zimmerman for the United Racing Company and Keith Green for Richmond International Raceway.
Plans for the 2007 Eastern Motorsport Press Association Convention, open to organizations, speedways and race teams, will be announced in the very near future. For information on the EMPA write to Ernie Saxton at Esaxton144@aol.com or telephone 215.752.7797.