Progressive AFT - News - Honorary Grand Marshal Named for AMA Pro Flat Track Hagerstown Grand National

Honorary Grand Marshal Named for AMA Pro Flat Track Hagerstown Grand National

July 22, 2009

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 22, 2009) - AMA Pro Racing and Hagerstown Speedway announced today that Al Wilcox will serve as the honorary Grand Marshal for the Hagerstown AMA Pro Grand National Flat Track races on Saturday, July 25.

Wilcox, of Trenton, N.J., raced Flat Track from 1947 to 1966. He competed in more than 3,000 races, racing three-to-four times each week on more than 360 tracks throughout the United States and Canada. He competed on the Daytona Beach, Fla. course 11 times and finished third in the 1949 amateur Daytona Beach race, besting nearly 150 competitors.

In 1950, Wilcox earned the National No. 49 plate, a position he held for 15 years. The Harley-Davidson Motor Company sponsored Wilcox from 1948 to 1951.

Following a successful racing career, he began working at AMA on the East Coast as a starter. Wilcox flagged AMA dirt track races for 22 years with the honor of flagging the Daytona races with Duke Pennell for 15 of those years. This year marks 50 years for Wilcox as the "Starter to the Stars."

Wilcox signed up as an AMA member in 1942 and is Life Member No. 107. He is the official starter for Roger Lyle's Motorcycle Xcitement Track Days and Racing School. In 2000, "The Al Wilcox Start/Finish Line at Summit Point Raceway" was dedicated with a beautiful sign made of iron and stainless steel on the starter's bridge at Summit Point.

At 90 years old, Wilcox will be commended for his lifelong dedication to motorcycle racing during the opening ceremonies at Hagerstown Speedway.