The World of Speed Motorsports Museum celebrated motorsports personalities who have a connection to the Pacific Northwest on Saturday night.
I attended with SCMer Michael Pierce and World of Speed two-time summer program alumnus Bradley Martin.
Located just south of Portland in Wilsonville, Oregon, the World of Speed is a hub for car activities of all kinds.
It hosts a weekly Cars and Coffee. There is a different focus each Saturday, ranging from Porsches to Hot Rods to 4x4s.
This was the third class of inductees into the Hall of Fame.
This year’s class included Tom Sneva (open wheel) who won the Indy 500 in 1983, John Kieper (stock car) and Harry and Mike Eyerly (sports car) who won the SCCA E-Production Championship in 1968 driving a Porsche 356.
Mary Ann Method (drag race) won three NHRA (National Hot Rod association) divisional championships in 1981, 1992 and 1993. She is a member of the NHRA Hall of Fame.
Chuck Son (motorcycle) won seven 500cc Nationals and the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) national championship. He is a member of the AMA Hall of Fame.
Bruce McCaw (person at large). Bruce, a long-time SCMer and personal friend, joined the SCCA in 1963 and raced a Bugeye. Founder and owner of PacWest Racing, Bruce fielded a successful Indy Car team from 1993-2002, winning five times. He is noted for collecting and preserving great historical cars. In 2017, he won Best of Show at Pebble Beach, showing a 1929 Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer. This is arguably the most significant award that can be achieved in the car world.
Also in the audience was Hershel McGriff, who won the first Carrera Panamericana in 1950, driving an Oldsmobile 88. One of the closest finishers to McGriff was Bill France, who went on to found NASCAR.
The World of Speed continues to grow in importance locally and nationally. They are currently exhibiting the 1967 Ford GT MK IV that was driven to victory at the 1967 12 Hours of Sebring by Mario Andretti and Bruce McLaren.
I hope you have “lost” your cane!!