George Follmer, Can-Am champion, Trans-Am champion and a winner in virtually every form of racing he tried, was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club with its 2012 Phil Hill Award at the RRDC dinner prior to January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. RRDC president Bobby Rahal presented the award.
Since 1993 the Phil Hill Award has annually honored those the RRDC feels have rendered outstanding service to road racing. The recipient may be a driver, entrant or outstanding member of a sanctioning body. Named in honor of America’s first Formula 1 World Champion, it is a tribute not only to his masterful accomplishments on the racetrack, but also recognizes his contributions as an ambassador for the sport. California native Follmer is the only professional racing driver from the United States to have competed in Indycars, Formula 1, Can-Am, Trans-Am, the World Endurance Championship, IMSA and NASCAR.
Photo: RRDC
At the same dinner, five-time SCCA National Champion Don Knowles was honored with the RRDC’s Bob Akin Award, the top award in motorsports for amateur, vintage/historic or semi-professional drivers. Knowles was selected by a panel including Akin’s son Bobby and RRDC members Brian Redman and Archie Urciuoli, then approved by RRDC president Rahal.
Conceived by the RRDC in 2003 to honor the memory of longtime member and past president Bob Akin, who lost his life in a racing accident in 2002, the distinctive trophy was designed by Steuben Glass in Corning, N.Y., and is given to the driver who best exemplifies the extraordinary qualities and characteristics that Akin represented, including a passion for motorsports and automobiles, a high level of sportsmanship and fair play.
For further information about the RRDC or these awards, please visit www.rrdc.org
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