Event to Honor Son of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Speedway Racer and Former CHiPs Actor, Bruce Penhall, and Raise Awareness of the Dangers of Drunk DrivingFire up your Motors Seven-Mary Three and Four, the inaugural Connor Penhall Memorial Cup kicked off the 2015 Speedway Motorcycle Racing season last night at the Grand Arena in Industry, Calif. The packed event was hosted to honor Connor Penhall, son of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Speedway Racer and former CHiPs actor, Bruce Penhall, who was tragically struck and killed by a drunk driver while working as part of a contract crew for Caltrans in 2012. Attendees came out to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and the increasingly compromised safety of road construction workers.
The final race standings included champion Billy Janniro (1), followed by Broc Nicol (4), Billy Hamill (104) and Buck Blair (39), respectively.
Notable attendees of the event included Greg Hancock, three-time and current Speedway World Champion; CHiPs actors, Larry Wilcox and Robert Pine; A&E Storage Wars star, Barry Weiss; and legendary race announcer and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, Larry “Supermouth” Huffman.
Beyondfifteen tells us:
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WHAT:
Industry Racing will open the 2015 Speedway Motorcycle Racing Season with the inaugural Connor Penhall Memorial Cup, Wednesday, May 27, 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Arena, Industry Hills Expo Center. This special event in remembrance of Laurie and Bruce Penhall's son, Connor McDermott Penhall, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and the increasingly compromised safety of road construction workers. Greg Hancock, three-time and current Speedway World Champion, will serve as Grand Marshall of the $8500-purse, Grand Prix-style event, with other notable celebrities and athletes including CHiPs actors, Larry Wilcox and Robert Pine; A&E Storage Wars star, Barry Weiss; and legendary race announcer and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, Larry “Supermouth” Huffman; in attendance to show support for the Penhall family.
WHY:
Connor Penhall was a rising 21-year-old star in the motocross world when he was struck and killed in April 2012 by a drunk driver while working as part of a contract crew for Caltrans. His loss has become the inspiration for the inaugural Connor Penhall Memorial Cup and also a way for the Penhall family to bring attention to important issues related to drunk driving and general highway safety. The Penhall family intends to make this an annual event.
Photos: Edward Oliver, Black Bicycle Photography
Source: Bikeland.org & Connor Penhall Memorial Cup