"Garagiste! Assembliatore! "
John Streets, Garagiste, vintage racing legend and Jay and Skip’s dad
In the early 60's, Enzo Ferrari coined what he thought of, as a derogatory term for the little "shed in the back" upstart British Teams, who massively challenged him and the rest of the Formula 1 establishment.
In our world, the term is now a point of pride for someone who does it on their own, through grit, hard work, consistency, and efficient use of resources.
One of our very own Garagistes, Jay Streets, is enjoying his time in the Crossflow Program and decided to add to the fun, by creating The John Streets Garagiste Award... inspired by and named after his dad, John Streets. Jay sees in the massive, and sometimes un-recognized commitment his fellow Garagistes make to the sport, much of what his dad taught and inspired him about life, hard work, commitment, generosity.
So, huge thanks to Jay and his family, this kind of thinking is what makes this program and this community so special.
The award is a $1000 cash prize and trophy that will go to the self-supporting Crossflow Driver that completes the most laps (Friday if there is a timed test session, Saturday and Sunday) in the 2020 season. To be eligible drivers need to be, self-supporting at the races, need to enter 4 out of 5 races, can't have any black flags, contact or other issues. In the event of a tie, the prize will be divided.
The award will be presented by Jay and the man himself, his dad John, at the 2020 Charity Challenge Podium Party.
About John Streets in his Son's words….
"John Streets emigrated from The UK to the United State in April of 1959 bringing with him his new bride, my mother Maggie, and a Norton Manx powered 1953 Staride Formula 3 car. He raced with SCCA on all the west coast tracks and airfields. In 1962 after my younger brother was born, he put the car in the rafters of our garage and that is where it stayed as we were growing up. In 1974. When Steve Earl announced the 1st Monterey Historics, The car came down from the rafters and was refreshed for the event. My father became very active in West Coast vintage racing on many different levels. He bought, sold and raced many many cars over his years with vintage racing. He always drove, prepped and transported his cars to and from the tack and he often prepped cars for his friends. I grew up coming to the track with my father and he taught me not only how to prep race cars but how to be a good racer, on and off the track. He was always there to help any other driver with anything he could, be it a spare part, a cold drink, and a sandwich or mechanical know-how. Often we would leave the track late because my father was working on not his but a friend's car. When I think of what vintage racing is about for me, it is prepping your car to the best of your ability, showing up to all the races, helping everyone you can any way you can, eating well, enjoying yourself and staying to the end."