PCA-GGR Awards
GGR LIFE MEMBER
The Board may recognize sustained membership in and service to GGR by designating individuals as GGR life Members. The individuals so honored are:
1995 Karl Keller
1995 George Neidel
1996 Shirley Neidel
2004 James & Jean Ohl
2011 William Benz
2024 Terry Zaccone
ENTHUSIAST OF THE YEAR
An Enthusiast of the Year is only selected by the Board of Directors when an individual’s service to GGR so warrants. Past GGR (PCA National Lazar-Blanchard Memorial honorees designated with *) honorees are:
1966 Burt Propp *
1971 Dwight Mitchell *
1975 John Clever *
1979 John Johnson
1981 Bill Patton *
1990 Michael Lommatzsch *
1991 K. C. Sharp
1992 Larry Sharp
1994 Chet Martin
1995 George Neidel *
1996 Lloyd DeMartini
1997 Sharon Neidel
1998 Louise Sousoures
1999 Mike Mitchell/Donna Sylvanovich
2000 Howard Yao
2001 Larry Adams
2002 David Leong
2003 Dean & Laura Thomas
2004 Neil Librock
OLEN CREECH AWARD
The Olen Creech Award is GGR’s highest award. It honors members who have made extraordinary contributions to the club over a period of years. It is named in honor of Olen Creech who, for many years, has handled the arduous task of completing GGR’s federal and state tax returns and has never charged the club for this service. The Olen Creech Award is not intended to be awarded every year, but only when merited.
2011 Olen Creech: First recipient, for service as noted in the description of the award above
2013 Bubba Gong: For organizing and directing 4 years of charitable fundraising events for GGR
2022 Michael Sherman: For serving 12 consecutive years as Membership Director
2024 Ed Hunter: Past President, Autocross Director, Track Instructor, Alameda Liaison
PERC BLISS AWARD
This award honors Perc Bliss, the first President of Golden Gate Region. Each year, the President selects the member(s) who has made the greatest contribution to the club during the year. The recipients of this honor are:
1982 Felix Oramas
1983 Michael Lommatzsch
1984 Sandi Candlin/Barbara Maas
1985 George & Shirley Neidel
1986 Michael Lommatzsch
1987 Chet & Lyn Martin
1988 Gary Walton/Bert Wall
1989 Shirley Neidel
1990 Gary Ringen
1991 Paula Evans
1992 Gerry Brown
1993 Chet Martin
1994 David Kimes
1995 Steve Group
1996 Bill Newlin
1997 Carolyn Lusk
1998 Louise Sousoures
1999 Dave & Sheila Dunwoodie
2000 (not awarded)
2000 (not awarded)
2001 Howard Yao
2002 Larry, Linda & Greg Adams
2003 Louise Sousoures & Susan Angebranndt
2004 Ken Park & Harold Williams
2005 Doug & Dana Ambrisko
2006 John Celona
2007 Andrew Forrest
2008 Matt & Carl Switzer
2009 Warren Walker & Mike Cullinan
2010 Claude Leglise
2011 Carl Switzer, Mike Cullinan, Warren Walker, and Andrew Forrest
2012 Michael Sherman
2013 Andrew Blyholder
2014 Elaine Macey
2015 (not awarded)
2016 Brad Kellett
2017 Bryan Phan
2018 Michael Griffin
2019 Bubba Gong
2020 (not awarded)
2021 (not awarded)
2022 (not awarded)
2023 Himanshu Patel
2024 Scott Kalkin
DON LANG MEMORIAL AWARD
The Don Lang Memorial Award is presented annually to the GGR member who most exhibits the spirit of good sportsmanship and service to the Club as shown by Don Lang, in whose memory the award is presented. The recipient is selected by nomination of the Track Director and/or Board of Directors and approved by vote of the Board of Directors. The honorees are:
1981 Charlie Arolla
1983 Diane Kimes
1985 Ed Clement
1986 Cecil & Carol Beach
1987 George Neidel
1988 Troy Lothrop
1989 Ken Mack
1990 Dennis Tholen
1992 Dan Cowell
1994 Brian Perry
1995 Bill Newlin
1996 Larry & K. C. Sharp
1997 Pattie DeMartini
1998 Masuo Robinson
1999 Scott Yeaman
2000 Bill Benz
2001 Laurie Yonk
2002 Bill Benz
2003 Hank Watts
DON MATTHEWS MEMORIAL AWARD
The Don Matthews Memorial Award is presented annually to the new member(s) who most represents the enthusiasm and spirit of Don Matthews, in whose memory the award was presented. The honorees are:
1976 Rosemary Humphreys
1977 Robert Sherman
1978 Keenan & Donna Jean Cassidy
1979 Michael Lommatzsch
1980 Mark Gang
1981 Felix & Reina Oramas
1982 Danielle Maddox
1983 Jack Kuhn
1984 Rick Guide
1985 (not awarded)
1986 Teresa Neidel
1987 Bob & Karen Crookshank
1988 David & Diane Kimes
1989 Stacy Lynd
1990 Anne West
1991 Lloyd & Pattie DeMartini
1992 John & Lynn Chakel
1993 Esther Ho
1994 Ross & Lauren Merrill
1995 Dennis & Lisa Yearton
1996 Bob & Marianne Gardner
1997 (not awarded)
1998 (not awarded)
1999 (not awarded)
2004 Karen Neidel
2005 Jay Dugan
2006 Gary Dorighi
2007 Mike Cullinan
2008 John Seidell
2009 Ross and Paulette Johnson
2010 Paul Marty
2011 Heath Spencer
2012 Tim Smith and Kim Garcia
2013 Paul Larson
2014 Milo & Diane Dorr
2015 (not awarded)
2016 (not awarded)
2017 Paul Marty
2018 Sharon Neidel
2019 John Teasley
2020 (not awarded)
2021 Dan Thompson
2022 (not awarded)
2023 (not awarded)
2024 David Bunch
2000 Olen Creech
2001 (not awarded)
2002 Robert Murillo
2003 Howard Yao
2004 (not awarded)
2005 Chet Bottone
2006 Jim McClelland
2007 Larry & Loren Burgess
2008 Laura Mercier
2009 (not awarded)
2010 Carl & Matt Switzer
2011 Mike Koozman
2012 (not awarded)
2013 Ralf Dossman
2014 Linda Adams
2015 John Seidel and Howard Yao
2016 (not awarded)
2017 (not awarded)
2018 (not awarded)
2019 (not awarded)
2020 (not awarded)
2021 John Ahearn
2022 (not awarded)
2023 Jie Mao & Diana Bogorodskaya
2024 Omar Portigliatti
COMPETITIVE EVENT OF THE YEAR
The Competitive Event of the Year is selected by the Board of Directors. Past winners are:
1990 Parade Autocross
1991 Time Trial
1992 High Speed Drive, David Kimes
1996 Inaugural Club Race, David Kimes
1997 Urban Assault Rallye, Bob Gardner
1999 Time Trial Series, Masuo Robinson
2000 Autocross Series, John Seidel
2001 Autocross at Candlestick, Bill Newlin
2002 Sears Point Club Race, Masuo Robinson
2003 Autocross Series, David Leong
2004 Sears Point Time Trial, Ken Park
2005 Carlsen Concours
2006 PRC/TT: Andrew Forrest & Masuo Robinson
2007 Carlsen Concours: Larry Adams
2008 (not awarded)
2009 Warren Walker & Mike Cullinan for club race at Thunderhill
2010 Autocross Series, Joe Lee & Chris Hamilton
2011 (not awarded)
2012 Carlsen Concours: Larry Adams
2013 (not awarded)
2014 Laguna Seca DE: Kim Garcia, Craig Lisowski, Tim Smith, and Heath Spencer
2015 (not awarded)
2016 Carlsen Concours: Larry Adams
2017 Autocross Series: Andrew Blyholder
2018 (not awarded)
2019 (not awarded)
2020 (not awarded)
2021 Sonoma DE/CR: Jim McClelland
2022 Sonoma DE/CR/Tour/Cars&Coffee: Howard Yao and Gilbert Bouzeid
2023 Time Trial Series Returns: Howard Yao
2024 Autocross CCF at Alameda: Himanshu Patel
SOCIAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
The Social Event of the Year is selected by the Board of Directors. Past selectees are:
1990 Death Valley Tour
1991 Christmas Party
1992 Time Trial Awards Banquet, Charlie Arolla
1996 Tech Session Series, David Blanchard
1997 Death Valley Tour, Croom Family
1998 New Member Socials, Louise Sousoures
1999 GGR Night at Altamonte, Larry Sharp
2000 40th Anniversary Party, Karen Neidel
2001 Agricultural Tour, Rob Neidel
2002 Krote Tour, Larry & KC Sharp
2003 Adopt-a-Highway, Jean Ohl
2004 Yosemite Tour, Alfred Abken
2005 Boxster Brunch, George Grialou
2006 New Member Social: Louise Sousoures
2007 Team visits at Infineon and Laguna Seca: Mark Powell
2008 Vasona Picnic, Mark Powell
2009 Awards Banquet, Mark Powell
2010 50th Anniversary, John Celona & Bubba Gong
2011 Volunteer Appreciation Day, Bubba Gong
2012 All of Them, Joe Sweis
2013 (not awarded)
2014 Highway 1 to Wine Country: Sukesh Mohan, Thom Ruben, and Alice Yeh
2015 (not awarded)
2016 Fun Run to Santa Barbara: Gilbert Bouzeid, Robert Habibi, Brad Kellett, and Sanjay Rao
2017 2017 Holiday Party
2018 (not awarded)
2019 (not awarded)
2020 (not awarded)
2021 Gilbert’s Drive Event: Gilbert Bouzeid
2022 Sonoma DE/CR/Tour/C&C: Howard Yao & Gilbert Bouzeid
2023 Annual Awards Lunch: Wen Shen
2024 Cars and Coffee at Stanford, hosted by Breitling: Kate Efremova
FAMILY OF THE YEAR
A Family of the Year is only selected by the Board of Directors when a family’s service to GGR so merits such recognition. Past GGR (PCA National honorees designated with *) honorees are:
1975 Neidels *
1978 Johnson/Candlins
1982 Zaccones *
1985 Neidels *
1990 (not awarded)
1991 Kuhns
1992 Arollas/Yeartons
1996 (not awarded)
1997 Creeches
1998 Dugans
1999 (not awarded)
2000 (not awarded)
2001 (not awarded)
2002 Murrays
2003 Ambriskos
2004 McGuigans
2005 Adams
2006 (not awarded)
2005 John Seidell
2006 Paulette Johnson
2007 Andrew Blyholder
2008 Paul Larson
2009 Larry Adams
2010 Andrew Forrest
2011 (not awarded)
2012 Elain Macey
2013 (not awarded)
2014 (not awarded)
2015 (not awarded)
2016 Alice Yeh
2017 Himanshu Patel
2018 Eric Portzline
2019 Vincent Piccelli
2020 (not awarded)
2021 Tim Collins
2022 Ed Burghardt
2023 Connie Lu
2024 Christian Stangier
2007 Johnsons
2008 Kosts
2009 Gershs
2010 Hamilton Racing
2011 (not awarded)
2012 Tavernettis
2013 John Celona & Bubba Gong
2014 Sharon Neidel & David Bunch
2015 (not awarded)
2016 (not awarded)
2017 Castles
2018 Neidels
2019 (not awarded)
2020 (not awarded)
2021 Wittrocks
2022 (not awarded)
2023 Hekmatys
2024 Patels