Spirit of the Event

Honoring the Spirit of the Great Race

Way back when Tom McRae owned and operated the Great Race alongside his old car buddy Norm Miller, he devised an award known as the “Spirit of the Event” award. It commended diehard enthusiasts for their dedication and contribution to the hobby, so it was a highly acclaimed award from day one.

In fact, the Spirit of the Event award was given at the first Great Race in 1983 and has been presented during every event since then. What started as an impromptu award for a deserving racer became one of the most meaningful honors of the Great Race, and it still carries tremendous weight during the awards ceremony today.

McRae had good reason to create the award during the 1983 event. One competitor went out of his way to help a fellow participant, even though that person was his direct competitor. That racer was Robert “Doc” Fuson.

After that inaugural year, the award carried Fuson’s name as an example of the sportsmanship and camaraderie that define the Great Race. The Doc Fuson Spirit of the Event award became one of the most highly anticipated honors of the event, despite carrying no prize money. Traditionally presented as the final award of the banquet, receiving it became a distinction all its own.

Through the years, the award continued to gain recognition, and rallying greats such as Curtis Graf received the honor. Following the death of Great Race founder Tom McRae, the prestigious title was renamed the Tom McRae Spirit of the Event award, giving it even deeper meaning within the Great Race community.