MARRC 2000-01 Season Awards

The MARRC annual awards are voted on by the members, consisting of riders, cornerworkers, team members, and enthusiasts. These awards were presented at the MARRC Banquet on January 27, 2001 in Laurel, MD. All awards are presented based on the votes from MARRC members, except the President's Award, whom are selected by the MARRC President.

Cornerworker of the Year	Art Sears
Heavyweight Expert	Timothy Bemisderfer
Middleweight Expert	Quentin Mise
Lightweight Expert	David Yaakov
Heavyweight Amateur	James Gaal
Middleweight Amateur	Michael Garofalo
Lightweight Amateur	William Siemens
Professional Rider	Timothy Bemisderfer
Endurance Team	SBR/Semoff Brothers Racing
Twins Rider	Bernie Huntt
Vintage Rider	Richard Lucas
Tuner/Mechanic	Eric Knight
Best Looking Motorcycle	Bemisderfer Racing
Crash and Burn	Chris Eklund
Hard Luck	Richard Johnson
Sportsmanship	Rick Beggs
	The person who has most demonstrated the values of sportsmanship throughout the season as voted by the membership
MARRC Cup	Randy Dalmas
	Presented to the person who has contributed the most to MARRC over the past year as voted by the membership
Harry E. Morse Cup	Ron Peddicord
	Presented to the person who has demonstrated lifelong achievement and service to motorcycle roadracing and the racing community
President's Awards	Al Wilcox
	Kevin Elliot
	Jim Allen
	David Yaakov
	Chosen by the MARRC President to those who have contributed to the sport and deserve recognition for their efforts

Bemisderfer Racing arrived at the MARRC banquet after another outstanding season, and left with three top awards to the team. Timothy Bemisderfer won the HW Expert of the Year, Professional Rider, and the team won for Best Looking Bike, as voted by the membership of the Mid-Atlantic Roadracing Club (MARRC). Although they were the only multiple award recipients, many riders and teams were no strangers to MARRC recognition.

When Tim Bemisderfer accepted the HW Expert award, he took the opportunity in the spotlight to thank his girlfriend, Nicole Biava, for her support. And then he kneeled down and proposed to her. Of course she said yes. Congratulations to the happy couple!

David Yaakov, SBR, and Bernie Huntt have all earned rider of the year awards in the past, with a special distinction to Yaakov, who has now won in every expert rider category. SBR has won the Endurance Team award several times, and no doubt won this year for their convincing win at Summit Point, especially after emphatically promising to do just that at last year's MARRC banquet. Quentin Mise also gave an emotional speech after accepting the MW Expert award, and thanked his friends, sponsors, and MARRC.

Racer Chris Eklund received the infamous Crash and Burn Award, given to the most spectacular single bike crash of the year, for his tumble that resulted in the frame on his Honda RS125 splitting in two. Fortunately, only the motorcycle was seriously injured in the crash.

MARRC's Cornerworker of the Year went to an individual who was committed to the club all season. Art Sears rarely missed a race, never complained when the weather conditions were poor, and handled every hectic situation with his usual calm and precision. Art has become a key member of the safety crew through his hard work and effort during the entire 2000 season. His leadership by example as a corner captain all season make him more than worthy of this award.

The President's Awards are chosen by the MARRC President to those individuals who have contributed to the sport and deserve special recognition for their efforts. This year, President Roger Lyle recognized four men who started as racers who have now moved into the business side of roadracing. Kevin Elliott raced for 22 years and now manages the Championship Cup Series (CCS), and recently hosted a 3-day race operations school for 40 officials from all over the country. Al Wilcox, a former Harley-Davidson factory racer, has been starting races for WERA since 1973 (ERA). Al is an honorary life member of MARRC and will be starting and flagging races at Summit Point, VIR, Rausch Creek, and Pocono this year. David Yaakov of Cycle Accessory Discounters in Gaithersburg, MD, sponsored the MARRC Roadracing School (RRS) in 2000. Jim Allen, of Dunlop Tires, also sponsored the MARRC RRS by providing instructors racing tires at a considerable savings. Both sponsors went above and beyond expectations and were invaluable resources to the race school staff.

MARRC Director and owner of Fast Lane Cycles, Rick Beggs, received the Sportmanship Award for the 2nd year in a row, demonstrating his dedication to the sport and his willingness to help newcomers to the sport. Beggs shop services racers from all around the Virginia and DC area, and he personally spends countless hours introducing riders to the sport of motorcycle roadracing. Many racers in MARRC owe their entry into the sport to Rick. Ron Peddicord received the Harry E. Morse Cup not only for his long career in motorcycle roadracing, but in managing the MARRC Roadracing School, and for his sportsmanship throughout his life in motorcycle roadracing. Ron has exemplified the spirit sportsmanship and excellence in his many years in the sport.

MARRC's highest award, the MARRC Cup for outstanding service to the club, went to board member and Webmaster Randy Dalmas. Randy may be best known for spearheading and shepherding MARRC's presence on the Internet. He has also been in charge of publicity for the club and organized booths at open houses and bike shows, avidly cornerworked, and also had time to win a WERA roadracing championship, all during the 2000 season.

Congratulations to the award winners, and to all riders and cornerworkers, for a great season of motorcycle racing!

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