Past, present and future honoured in V8 awards
4/12/2001 15:37 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
The past, present and future of V8 Supercar racing was recognised for their achievements at last night’s gala awards dinner in Melbourne.
Held at the lavish Crown Casino before more than 800 people, the annual presentation awarded the year’s best performers from this year's series – and of yesteryear.
Recent retirees Dick Johnson and Peter Brock were immortalised in AVESCO’s ‘Grid of Champions’ Hall of Fame.
Johnson, a five-time winner of the national Touring Car championship, and Brock, a three-time champion and nine-time Bathurst winner, join an illustrious list including Norm Beachey and Bob Jane as Hall of Fame inductees.
Mark Skaife was the night’s biggest winner, receiving his crown – the original 40-year-old CAMS Australian Touring Car Championship trophy – for his title win.
He was also recognised for his Bathurst victory with Tony Longhurst, and took home the Bridgestone Pole Award for the most pole positions during the year (four).
Marcos Ambrose, surely a future champion of the sport, was predictably named as the Mike Kable Rookie of the Year.
Jason Bargwanna had a forgettable year, but his storming drives from the rear of grid won him the Hard Charger Award.
With nine round victories and the top four drivers in the championship, Holden won the manufacturers award from Ford, while their crack Holden Racing Team unit won Team of the Year.
Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 was awarded as the year’s best V8 Supercar carnival, while Canberra’s GMC 400 won the award for the best volunteers group.
AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane said the night was “a fitting climax to a sensational 2001 season.”
A complete list of winners is available here:
http://www.conrod.com.au/news/620.shtm
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