Seven-time BCRA champion Floyd Alvis received the "Open wheel Oval Track Driver of the Year" award from the Motor Sports Press Association. Former MSPA president Floyd Busby made the presentation. Dennis Mattish photo

ALVIS AND SHANOIAN HONORED BY MOTOR SPORTS PRESS ASSOCIATION

Two names synonymous with the Bay Cities Racing Association
were honored by the Motor Sports Press Association at the annual
Green Flag Dinner and 41st Annual Awards Presentations in Oakland,
California on March 3.
Floyd Alvis, a seven-time BCRA Midget driving champion and
five-time car owner titilist, was awarded the Open Wheel Oval Track
Driver of the Year honors. Alvis accepted his award from former MSPA
President Floyd Busby. The festivities were attended by a number of
BCRA members to show their support, and included BCRA president and
car owner George Chandler, his driver Jim Silva, former champion Tim
Joyce, owner/driver Cliff Servetti and officials Tom and Linda
Manning, as well as Tom and Virginia Palmer.
This marked the fourth award that the MSPA has bestowed upon
the 69-year-old champion over the years. In 1978 he received the Most
Improved Driver award, in 1997 the Athlete of the Year, in 2001 the
Motorsportsman of the Year, and for 2003 the Open Wheel/Oval Track
award.
The late Art Shanoian was inducted into the MSPA Hall of
Fame. The former Sprint Car and Midget car owner's cars had been
driven by many of the top California, as well as national drivers. In
his later years he ran the famed "Shanoian Offy" in the BCRA vintage
division events. Shanoian's daughter Marietta and her husband, former
BCRA champion Ken Nichols received the award in honor of Art.
Grandson Chad Nichols spoke on behalf of the family.
Also inducted into the MSPA Hall of Fame was Jim Chini.
Chini, one of the nation's foremost auto racing photographers, had
shot many BCRA races in the 1970s.