BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame will memorialize its first Pioneers of Speed later this spring, celebrating the accomplishments of 10 stars and industry figures from the Golden Age of motorsport.
Introduction of the inaugural Pioneers of Speed will be a featured event of the 2024 Induction Gala, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, on June 6 at Sonoma Raceway’s Turn 11 Club.
“I am excited as never before of the introduction of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsport Hall of Fame’s new and third category, Pioneers of Speed, which recognizes those whose accomplishments created the foundation of the racing we know today,” said Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame. “This first year we’ve gone back to the late teens and 1920s forward, recognizing 10 persons.
“The newest category will be determined each year by a committee of our Board of Directors and will continue on an annual basis until we have covered every person worthy of such an honor. On another note, the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is on course to reach a goal of $1 million in gifts by the spring of 2025 – if not sooner.
“This philanthropic effort began in June 2017 and recognizes charities that have been selected by an executive committee with suggestions from the public and our generous supporters.”
The 2024 Pioneers of Speed are:
• Johnny Boyd competed in 56 American Automobile Association and U.S. Club championship races between 1954-’66, finishing 31 time in the top 10 with a best placing of second in 1959 at the Milwaukee Mile.
• Jack Dill supervised the racing tire division of Bruce’s Tires from the early 1950s until his retirement in 1974.
• Fred Frame set his first record, covering a one-mile track in San Luis Obispo in 43.4 seconds. Frame finished second in American Automobile Association points in 1931-32, winning the 1932 Indianapolis 500 – just the third competitor to win at more than 100 miles per hour.
• Ted Horn became the first to win three consecutive American Automobile Association national championships (1946-48) but was killed at age 38 in a crash at the DuQuoin Ill. Fairgrounds.
• Frank Lockhart entered and won the 1926 Indianapolis 500 at age 23 in a Miller and won the pole the following year. In all, Lockhart won nine American Automobile Association races and finished second in points twice.
• Rex Mays became the Indianapolis 500’s youngest pole winner (age 22, 1935). He won four poles and twice finished second, in 1940 to Wilbur Shaw and 1941 to Floyd Davis/Mauri Rose. Mays led nine of 12 Indianapolis starts.
• Jimmy Murphy’s 1922 Indianapolis 500 victory was the first by a pole winner. His 1921 French Grand Prix victory for Deusenberg marked the first triumph by an American competitor in an American-manufactured car until Dan Gurney won the Belgian GP in 1967. He is memorialized in multiple halls of fame.
• Bob Swanson won the National Midget Racing Association title in 1935 and American Automobile Association Pacific Coast championship in 1939.
• Ernie Triplett won the first American Automobile Association-sanctioned race at Legion Ascot Speedway in Los Angeles and became the AAA Pacific Southwest champion, winning races on six of seven tracks and 17 times overall. He repeated as champion in 1932.
• Following World War II, Louis Vermeil was instrumental in getting promoter Charley Curryer to bring his American Racing Association to Calistoga. Vermeil’s Black Beauty Special won the 1950 ARA championship.