Golden Wheel fetes m'sports top achievers

MANILA, Philippines - Rep. JV Ejercito will be the guest of honor as the ninth Golden Wheel Awards Night fetes the top motorsports achievers of 2011 tomorrow at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Ejercito, member of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, will keynote the affair together with AAP Motorsports Committee chairman and director Jose Armando Eduque and USRA president Al Camba as they head the awarding of Golden Wheel trophies to all the champions of various motorsports disciplines.

The Golden Wheel Awards, a brainchild of RP Motorsports godfather Johnny Tan, has been distinguished as the biggest gathering of motorsports stars and aficionados in the country.

The main highlight of the night is the announcement of this year’s recipient of the prestigious Golden Wheel Driver of the Year plum, which will be selected from among the champions of nine motorsports disciplines. 

They are Jean Stefano Marcelo (karting), Audel Sison (drifting), Noel Rivera (slalom), Vincent Floirendo (grand touring), Reynan Jayme (4x4 offroad), Martin Manalo (drag racing), Glenn Aguilar (motocross), Anthony Roman (underbone racing) and Dashi Watanabe (scooters).

The Golden Wheel board of judges will determine the winner of the coveted plum based on the relevance of his title-clinching feat and its impact to the development of Phl motorsports in general.

Sharing the limelight is Francisco “Paco” Ventura, a racing icon during the 60’s who will be elevated to the Golden Wheel Hall of Fame.

Plaque of Citation will be handed to corporate sponsors that backed motorsports and ensured the success of last year’s racing season.  Likewise, special awards will be given to media practitioners and organizations that provided significant support to the promotion and development of local racing.

This year’s theme “Transforming Differences Into Renewed Solidarity” stresses the importance of unity and cooperation among motorsports leaders in coming up with compromised thrusts for the development of local racing.

The Golden Wheel Foundation will also be handing out club awards for the overall winners in the Petron Karting Super Series, The Yokohama Philippine GT Championships, the 2011 Pioneer Mighty Gasket Philippine Scooter Racing Championships, the 2011 Philippine Underbone King Championships, the NASFOR 4x4 Offroad Racing, the 2011 Petron Northern Series-National Drag Racing Championship, the Southern Series Drag Racing Championships, the Circuit Showdown 2011, 2011 Phil. Mini Racers, the 2011 MSCC Classic Sports Car Racing Championships, the Sel-J Sports Philippine Motocross, the 2011 Inside Racing Grand Prix, Lateral Drifting and the 2011 Karting Perpetual trophies.

For details, call the Golden Wheel Foundation c/o Rose Feria or Meann Daliva at (632) 729-7241-42, 729-5365 or fax 844-7766.