Each year at the SCCA® National Convention, the RoadRally Board (RRB), RallyCross® Board (RXB), and Solo® Events Board (SEB) gather to celebrate some of the greatest achievements by members, Regions, and Divisions in their respective programs. Those awards include everything from outstanding rookie performances to season-long success to exceptional Regional and Divisional programs, with some based on 2024 performance and others based on long-term effort.
Several of the recipients were on hand during the Jan. 18, 2025, presentation to accept their awards, and notably this year, one member was recognized via two separate (and significant) awards – a grand achievement, to be sure.
Who were the recipients? Read on to find out.
RoadRally Awards
Best New Regional RoadRally Program Award
Presented in recognition of a Region’s development of a new RoadRally/Trek program as demonstrated by organizing events for two consecutive years, or two or more events in one year, and establishing an independent program by having a licensed RoadRally Safety Steward within the Region’s membership. The recipient is selected by the RRB based on recommendations from any SCCA or RRB member.
This year’s winner of the Best New Regional RoadRally Program Award went to Buccaneer Region; Philip Cheshire, program chair.
Regional RoadRally Achievement Award
Presented in recognition of a Region’s activities in RoadRally for a new or on-going program. This may include events, promotions, attendance, innovation in public relations, event participation, etc. Nominations clearly indicating the qualifying details may be made by any rally participant, with the recipient being selected by the RRB.
The Regional RoadRally Achievement Award for 2024 was presented to Cal Club Region; Jeanne English, rally chair.
Divisional RoadRally Achievement Award
Initiated in 1992, this award is presented in recognition of a Division’s activities in RoadRally for a new or on-going program. This may include events, promotions, attendance, innovation in public relations, etc. Nominations clearly indicating the qualifying details may be made by any rally participant, with the recipient being selected by the RRB.
The Divisional RoadRally Achievement Award for 2024 was presented to Great Lakes Division; Robert Moran, Divisional RoadRally Steward.
David Teter Touring Rally of the Year
W. David Teter was the editor of the modernized and comprehensive RoadRally Rule Book, rallymaster of 17 consecutive March Lamb Regional rallies, and an outstanding competitor on the National Tour rally circuit. This award is presented annually in recognition of the outstanding National Tour rally from the previous year. The selection is made by vote of the top 20 competitors in each class who have competed in at least three National Tour rallies that year.
The David Teter Touring Rally of the Year for 2024 was presented to Friday Press On Regardless; Detroit Region; Bruce Fisher, rallymaster.
Arthur J. Gervais Course Rally of the Year
Arthur J. Gervais was a longtime rallymaster of the Historic New York National RoadRally, with this award being presented annually in recognition of the previous year’s outstanding National Course rally. The selection is made by vote of the top 20 competitors in each class who have competed in at least three National Course rallies that year.
The 2024 Arthur J. Gervais Course Rally of the Year was presented to Little Appalachian 51; Philadelphia Region; Clyde Heckler, rallymaster.
Robert V. Ridges Memorial Award
Robert V. Ridges was Secretary of the RoadRally Board (RRB) from the inception of the National program in 1957 until his passing in 1965. This award is presented to the SCCA member who exemplifies the highest degree of dedication and sportsmanship during the preceding year, making an outstanding contribution to the success of an event during its execution; who has made an outstanding contribution to the program as a whole; who has exhibited exceptional sportsmanship involving personal sacrifice; or who has undertaken physical risk for the preservation of life or property.
This award is not intended for sitting RRB members, official observers, rallymasters, or officials unless they have clearly demonstrated extraordinary dedication, achievement, and/or sportsmanship above and beyond the duties and responsibilities of their office. Contestants shall only be eligible in cases involving exceptional sportsmanship, personal sacrifice, or risk. The recipient is selected by the RRB based on recommendations of any rally participant or Board member. An individual may only receive this award once. This is the highest honor within the SCCA RoadRally Program.
This year, Clyde Heckler from New England Region was presented with the Robert V. Ridges Memorial Award.
RallyCross Awards
Dirty Cup
Presented annually to recognize an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the sport of SCCA RallyCross, this award recognizes contributions over time, made as a competitor, organizer, worker, administrator, or similar. The winner's contribution shall have had a positive impact on the program nationwide.
The 2024 Dirty Cup was presented to Western Ohio Valley Region’s ZB Lorenc.
Gonzalo San Miguel, chair of the RallyCross Board, noted that selecting the recipient of the Dirty Cup for 2024 was a difficult choice due to so many fantastic individuals in the RallyCross community, but Lorenc shined in the last year through the incredible job he did for his work surrounding the RallyCross National Championship, which included considerable behind-the-scenes work to make everything come together.
Spark Plug Award
Recognizing an outstanding effort in promoting and publicizing SCCA RallyCross using multimedia to further the recognition and growth of RallyCross, this award can be earned by an individual, a Region, or an entire Division.
The 2024 Spark Plug Award was presented to Tennessee Valley Region’s Jennifer Samardak.
Samardak attends RallyCross events at Hollytree Off Road (the location of the 2024 and 2025 RallyCross National Championship) with the Tennessee Valley Region, and is part of the reason for the growth of the program in that area. To encourage participation, Samardak rents out her car to offer opportunities for others to try the sport. She's also begun a program helping novices (especially women) to learn how to work on their own cars; she also helps guide the novices through RallyCross events.
Divisional and Regional RallyCross Achievement
For their efforts in the promotion, growth, and awareness of RallyCross, the following are recognized as leaders in SCCA's Regions and Divisions:
Divisional RallyCross Achievement: Central Division; Kyle West, Divisional Steward
Regional RallyCross Achievement: Arizona Rally Association; Sean Spring, chair
Solo Awards
Solo Rookie of the Year
Recognizing an outstanding performance at their first Tire Rack SCCA Solo® National Championships, the winner of the Solo Rookie of the Year award will have far exceeded everyone’s expectations at the prior year’s National Championship event based on their limited competition experience.
The 2024 Solo Rookie of the Year is Land O’Lakes Region’s Mitchell Welker.
Welker has competed in SCCA Road Racing competition wheeling a Spec Miata and assisted his local Region in autocross course design and setup, but 2024 was his first time attending the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships. There, he entered the 38-driver-strong E Street, a class known for stiff competition. His event began humbly, with Welker scoring a DNF on run one, but his second run was good enough to put him in the hunt, and his third run was faster still. By the end of day one, he was the only driver in the field to break into the 68s. While his second-day time wasn’t fastest of the group, his overall time still held up as fastest by 0.109sec over class titan Bartek Borowski.
Driver of the Year
The Solo Driver of the Year will have demonstrated exceptional skill or overcome major obstacles to produce an outstanding performance at the prior year’s Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships. The winner is selected by the Solo Events Board from nominations submitted by the membership at large.
The 2024 Solo Driver of the Year is Red Hills Region’s Robert Lewis.
The Solo Events Board’s Nick Dunlap revealed during the award’s presentation that Lewis, who joined the SCCA in 1995, has been in the running for Driver of the Year multiple times, but this year he finally claimed the award after he won C Prepared at the 2024 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships by an astounding 3.129sec and claimed the fastest overall time on Index. This marked Lewis’s third consecutive CP title in the class.
Photos by (left to right) Joe Akerman, Jeff Loewe, and Dante Donati
