AARWBA’S Beginnings

Editor's Note - Terri Russo Freeman, a fellow member and board member, sent along the history on how her father started the legendary AARWBA, the groundwork to SPMJ today.

In 1955 after AAA decided to drop their sanctioning of auto racing, Tony Hulman was facing the challenging need for a racing sanctioning body like AAA.  Tony and then Speedway Treasurer, Joe Cloutier met with my father Bob Russo.  Bob, was at the time, considered one of the most knowledgeable people on the subject of major racing because of his travels and pure love of this sport.  Bob’s travels included attending events at all the premier racing speedways and events as well as having strong relationships with all the major players throughout the racing industry.  Bob was one of the few “outsiders” that was allowed to travel and “hang out with all the drivers.” My father started his career with an article that he wrote entitled “Basement Bessie.” The article was about the race car that was built by Paul Russo and Ray Nichels in the basement of Paul Russo’s Indian home.  After the car was completely built and they were trying to get it out of the basement, they had to face the realization that they had misjudged the size of the car and they could not get it out of Paul’s basement in one piece.  This is an article that has been read consistently through-out the years and is known to this day by many racing fans. Bob continued his career covering races and doing test drives and reviews of different makes and models of cars with Speed Age Magazine, which at the time, along with Speed Sport News, were the only two racing publications.  My father not only covered open wheel racing but he covered the Mexican Road Race, was a participant of The Mobile Gas Economy Run, He was instrumental in working with NHRA and Wally Parks, he worked with Les Richter at Riverside International Raceway, and was one of the Key people in the creation and running of Ontario Motor Speedway.  My father’s career also included working directly with Mickey Thompson and assisted in the formation of Micky Thompson Entertainment Group which was the catalyst for all the stadium Motocross racing. Bob was with Mickey and his challenger when Mickey broke the land speed record.  Tony valued Bob’s knowledge and enthusiasm for racing and especially the Indianapolis 500-mile race but also the venues where the talent for the races came from.  While USAC was going through their pains of being born, Bob could see the need for a major organization that would raise auto racing to a higher level of national interest through the major news media.

Bob decided that there was no better place than Indianapolis to start such an organization.  He needed a place that would provide privacy as well as a place that would be known to all who were invited to attend.  The place that my dad chose was the basement of the White Front Bar and Grill owned by the Mates family.  Sons Mike and Nick gave him their blessings for the meeting.  This bar and grill was the watering hole and meeting place for most of the drivers of that era.  

Bob invited several media people that he knew and respected and felt would be a perfect fit for this yet to be named organization.  The people in attendance were, Charlie Brockman from the local radio station, Jep Cadou Jr., from the Indianapolis Star, Bill “Dutch” Eggert and Jim Smith both from the Indianapolis Times, William F. “Bill” Fox, Sports Editor for the Indianapolis News, George Moore of the Times, Bob Laycock and Bill Marvel both of whom ran the IMS Press Room, Al Bloemaker, Public Relations Director for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway whom my dad worked for.  Everyone except for Al Bloemaker became board members, Al passed due to his position at IMS.  My father was elected President, Jep Cadou Jr. was elected Vice President, Bill Marvel Secretary and Charlie Brockman Treasurer.  After a lengthy discussion the decision was made to call the organization, The American Auto Racing Writers until Charlie Brockman pointed out that the name needed to include broadcasters such as himself.  With the point well taken the name was changed to, The American Auto Racing Writer and Broadcasters Association or AARWBA for short. With the decision being made on the name the next step was to create a mission statement. The official Mission Statement for ARWBA became, “Dedicated to Increasing Media Coverage of Motor Sports.”

Over the years AARWBA grew by leaps and bounds and became the premier and largest organization of its type.  Awards were given each year to members for “The Best” in several categories including, writing, broadcasting, best stories, photographers, etc.  At various facilities and during major racing events such as the Indy 500 and Daytona, breakfasts were held for the membership with some of the competitors in attendance.  AARWBA was very fortunate to have had many great sponsors for each of their events.  There was also a Scholarship given in honor of Dave Overpeck, who was a reporter for Indianapolis Sports who passed away from cancer.  These sponsorships were awarded to aspiring students of journalism.  In addition, the Angelo Angelopolous Award was created to honor a former Navy pilot who was considered an outstanding writer for the Indianapolis News.  

AARWBA annually named an Auto Racing All American Team which was selected by members of the organization.  Each team included seven categories, Open Wheel, Stock Car, Road Racing, Drag Racing, Short Track Racing, Touring Series, and At Large.  Two drivers were normally named in each individual category.  Another award that was given was the Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy.  The trophy consisted of a typewriter and a helmet used by the late Jerry Titus, a motorsports journalist and Trans-Am-Series racer who was killed at Road America. As the organization grew the Awards were presented at an Annual Dinner which was supported by two major sponsors.   

Another award that was created by Bob was The Jigger Award.  This started the year that Jigger Sirios was called off his Indy qualifying run when the crew decided that his speed was not going to be fast enough for him to qualify for the race.  Unfortunately, as soon as he came into the pits it started raining and qualification was ended for the day.  The rules then called for the fastest qualifier of day one to hold the Pole Position and it very soon became apparent that not only would Jigger have qualified but he would have had the pole position.   This award was created for a driver who has had a “different experience of sorts or simply said a bunch of bad luck,” during qualifying for Indy.  

In 2005 the Bob Russo Founders award was created.  This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated profound interest, tireless efforts, and unwavering dedication to auto racing and is still awarded every year to a dedicated person who exemplifies these qualities.  My father unfortunately passed away in September of 1999 and could not see the fruits of his dedication and tireless efforts and unwavering dedication to Motorsports.  In 2000 my father was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame and “The Bob Russo Heritage Award” was created in his name.  Since its inception, The Bob Russo Heritage Award has been given in recognition of lifetime contributions to motorsports.  Next to induction, it is the highest honor the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America bestows.

Unfortunately, AARWBA has ceased to operate for a multitude of reasons but the legacy of the glory it once enjoyed is being recreated by a group of race enthusiasts who come from all aspects of Motor Sports.  The new organization is The Society of Professional Motorsports Journalists.  It is our hope to bring my father’s vision, ideas, innovation, and dedication to all types of racing into this new era of racing by being a catalyst to help all motorsports journalists foster industry relationships and be a valuable resource for the motorsports journalism community.  It is my sincerest hope that SPMJ will be as successful as AARWBA was in its glory days.