The Bill Hanna
"Passion and Dedication To The Sport" Award
Bill Hanna was one of the founding members of Auto Racing Research Associates! Bill, Steve Barrick and Bill Skinner combined to take an idea that myself (Fred) and Bill Braga Jr. had and helped us to move forward into what is now an organized group of dedicated historians who work together to document our sports history so it isn't lost to time. Bill was one of the more active historians...always having his hands in some project that would eventually make it to the pages of ARRA's website. Former NJ modified car owner Rolfe Schnur contacted me with the original idea of how to honor Bill after his untimely passing. It was to create this annual award to be given to someone who exhibited a strong passion for the sport and also a healthy amount of dedication to its growth and health. I loved the idea and immediately went into plans on creating a design for the plaque and in conversation back and forth with Rolfe...we came up with the decision to present the initial award to Northeast based Andy Belmont.
Inaugural 2020 Bill Hanna Passion and Dedication To The Sport Award
Andy Belmont
Inaugural recipient of the Bill Hanna "Passion & Dedication" award went to local and national competitor, promoter and general all around good guy Andy Belmont. ARRA President Fred Voorhees makes the presentation to Andy at the Bridgeport Speedway. Joining Fred are Daughter of Bill Hanna Megan and Bill's Wife, Susan.
Congratulations to Mandee Pauch for being named the 2021 ARRA Bill Hanna "Passion and Dedication" award winner!
2022 Bill Hanna Passion and Dedication to the Sport award winner Allan E. Brown accepts the award at his Comstock, Michigan home office with his Wife Nancy joining him in the celebration.
It is with great pleasure that Auto Racing Research Associates – ARRA – announces their 2022 Bill Hanna “Passion and Dedication to the Sport” award to Michigan’s Allan E. Brown!
It was back in the ‘70’s that Brown hooked up with Publisher Larry Yard who had published the 1972 Midwest Auto Racing Guide. Yard and Brown continued to collaborate on the effort until 1977 when Yard went off in another direction and Brown continued the idea and soon added the publication the National Late Model Annual to his list of publications. He soon bought in Ross and Nanette Ferguson as partners in his publishing effort and together, they went on to annually print the publication, added the National Speedway Directory of which Allan is probably most notably recognized for. The National Speedway Directory was and still is considered THE bible of finding out the information on just about every auto racing facility in the country. The National Sprint Car Directory was also added to their list of popular racing publications snatched up by racing fans across the country. The Ferguson’s eventually parted ways with Brown to go on to promoting their own speedway and Brown brought in his wife to help out with the daily operations.
In 2002, Allan Brown was awarded the Stew Reamer Award for lifetime service to the weekly racing industry. The husband and wife team continued to publish the annual directory until 2009 when they decided to cut back on their activities and sell the publication to Tim and Margo Frost, but remained on the staff as the publications editors.
A dedicated historian of the sport, Brown has published the book the “History of America’s Speedways”. He is also on the Board of Directors and Secretary/Treasurer of the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a voting member of the National Motor Sports Hall of Fame, an Auxiliary Board Member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, a board member of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Michigan Speedway Promoters Association. In 2009, Allan was honored as an inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame!
Finally, Allan E. Brown has honored the Auto Racing Research Associates by becoming one of their current 39 members and has contributed some of his work to their vast library of researched subjects. ARRA is very honored to have him among their ranks! Plans are underway for presenting the award to Allan. of the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame, a voting member of the National Motor Sports