The Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC) named longtime track owner, race promoter and racecar driver Jim Haynes as the 2006 recipient of the Bob Akin Motorsports Award at the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway in January.
Each recipient of this honor, considered the top award in motorsports for non-professional drivers, is selected by Akin’s son Bobby and RRDC members Brian Redman and Archie Urciuoli and approved by RRDC president Bobby Rahal.
Redman, Rahal and Urciuoli, along with Ellen Akin, presented the fourth annual award to Haynes during a dinner at Daytona USA, prior to the start of the Rolex 24 race-week activities.
Born in Port Huron, Mich., in 1933, Haynes turned his BS degree in Industrial Administration into a successful profession as an IBM Methods Analyst from 1955 to 1960 before forming Lakeville (CT) Precision Molding in Salisbury, CT. He sold that company to General Time in 1964 and purchased a controlling interest in Lime Rock Park, the unique road-racing circuit in Northwest Connecticut. Haynes continued as General Manager at LRP until 1986 when he accepted a position as Vice President of Special Projects with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in Denver, CO. In 1988, he became CEO and General Manager of the legendary Road America racetrack in Elkhart Lake, WI, then retired in 2000 with a consulting contract.
During this time, Haynes had become a highly regarded, successful race promoter at Lime Rock Park, Sebring and Road America. He also helped form the Vintage Sports Car Club of America and was a pioneer instrumental in revitalizing the now extremely popular sport of vintage racing.
His other achievements include a 1959 SCCA National Championship in Formula III, and a 1963 National Championship in Formula Junior.
“I’m very honored,” said Haynes. “Bob and I were friends for nearly 50 years and, during that time frame, he became one of my closest friends. He was a tremendous competitor, a gentleman above all, a friend through everything. He had some bad times. I had some bad times. We were there for each other. He was a true gentleman, an amateur sportsman and an individual who should be admired by every coming generation. I won a lot of things in my life, and this is probably the best.”
