Over 125 attendees witnessed pioneering racecar driver Janet Guthrie – the first woman to compete at the Indianapolis 500 and in NASCAR – received the second annual “Spirit Of Competition” Award from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. Presenting the award was David Donohue, winner of this year’s Daytona 24-Hour endurance race, and son of the late Mark Donohue. Guthrie joins Mario Andretti, last year’s honoree, in being a Spirit of Competition Award recipient. The awards dinner program also included the premiere unveiling of the newest addition to the Simeone Museum collection: a Corvette Grand Sport, number 002 of 5 built and considered to be the most original of all. “Auto racing is the one of the very few sports where women can compete equally with men – and win,” commented Dr. Frederick A. Simeone, executive director of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. “More than 30 years ago Janet Guthrie paved the way for women drivers to be able to participate today in events like the Indy 500 and NASCAR. Her quote, which we have on the wall in our lobby, says it all: ‘Racing is a matter of spirit, not strength.’ Before becoming the first woman ever to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500, Janet Guthrie was a pilot, flight instructor, and an aerospace engineer – a modern day Amelia Earhart. In 1977, she became the first woman to qualify for and compete in the Indianapolis 500. That same year she was also the first woman and Top Rookie at the Daytona 500. She finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500 in 1978. Janet Guthrie was one of the first athletes named to the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, and her driver’s suit and helmet are on display at the Smithsonian Institution. After Guthrie addressed the group, Dr. Simeone announced the newest addition to the Museum collection: a 1963 Corvette Grand Sport. First he unveiled the duplicate, replica body created so the chassis could be vintage raced without damaging the original body. Then he gave the signal for Curator Kevin Kelly to drive the original car in from the shop to the front of the stage as all 125 attendees covered their ears to protect them from the noise of the unmuffled 427 cubic-inch Chevrolet V-8. Presenting sponsors for the Second Annual Spirit of Competition Awards Dinner included: Chapman Chevrolet, Grundy Worldwide, Lincoln Financial Advisors and Philadelphia Magazine.
