Summit Point Raceway Officially Dedicates Finish Line for Al Wilcox

The Mid-Atlantic Roadracing Club (MARRC), in conjunction with Summit Point Raceway (SPR) in West Virginia, officially dedicated the Summit Point Start-Finish Line in honor of longtime WERA starter "Airborne" Al Wilcox on June 10 at SPR. The ceremony included the unveiling of a large steel sign, bolted to the starter's bridge. Announcing the ceremony at the start of the WERA riders' meeting was WERA Race Director George Mood, who introduced Starter Al Wilcox and reminded everyone of Wilcox's racing heritage. Mood then introduced MARRC President Roger Lyle who formally made the dedication.

"I'm in the Speedway Hall of Fame with a lot of other racers", Wilcox said. "But none of them guys have a start-finish line named after them." Wilcox's racing experience dates back to the early 1940's, and considered this one of the highest honors of his career. He thanked Roger Lyle, Bill Scott, the owner of SPR, and all the members of MARRC.

Lyle spoke on behalf of the club and recalled his long friendship with Wilcox, and the many races and events he has worked. Lyle then read a letter from another MARRC member and PACE Motorsports National Roadracing Manager Kenneth Abbott. "The sport of motorcycle racing owes Al a debt of gratitude for his many years of service. Racing would not be the same without people like Al Wilcox." wrote Abbott, who had raced many times under Wilcox's green flag before moving into racing management.

In the photo, Al Wilcox demonstrates his well-practiced checkered flag technique on the starter's bridge, above the sign in his honor. From left to right: WERA Race Director George Mood, Assistant Race Director Buford Scott, WERA Starter Al Wilcox, MARRC President Roger Lyle, and MARRC Associate Safety Director David Rickman.

Thanks go out to MARRC member and vintage motorcycle racer Larry Dinmore, who built and permanently mounted a steel and iron sign to the starter's bridge alongside the track. Dinmore donated the parts and built the beautiful sign himself.

Several hundred riders and spectators in attendance endured the sweltering heat to watch the event, and clapped and cheered when Wilcox was introduced. Many of those same riders had already spent the morning congratulating Wilcox in person.

Al Wilcox has been flagging races for over 42 years, and has been the starter for hundreds of AMA and WERA national events, including the WERA Grand National Final. As a motorcycle racer, Wilcox has won many national level races, and numerous regional TT, flattrack, and hare-scramble championships. Wilcox retired from active racing in the early 60s as his flagging duties increased. Wilcox has become a well-known and beloved icon at Summit Point, known as much for his clockwork-like starts along with his multi-colored starter outfits. Wilcox earned his moniker "Airborne Al" for his unique checkered flagging style while jumping 2-feet in the air for a race winner. Wilcox is an honorary life member of MARRC since 1983 when the club first started.