By SEMA Editors
 Linda Vaughn | |
 Ron Cizek |
The 2014 Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama will induct the first lady of motorsports Linda Vaughn, ISCA General Manager Bob Millard and the 2013 Ridler winner Ron Cizek into the Circle of Champions—a tribute to iconic auto enthusiasts, builders, journalists and others who’ve been instrumental in the growth of the Detroit Autorama.
The inductions into the Circle of Champions are an annual event at the Detroit Autorama, which is scheduled for March 7–9, 2014. The inductees are selected by their peers for their contributions and support of the event. Recipients of the Don Ridler Memorial Award are automatically elected to this group.
Last year’s Circle of Champions inductees included industry leaders Chip Foose, Bob Larivee Jr., Dwayne Peace and Bob Vivian.
Linda Vaughn
Georgia-born Linda Vaughn, known as the first lady of motorsports, kicked off a career as an automotive ambassador in 1961, when she was named Miss Atlanta International Raceway. After being featured in Esquire, she won a national contest coordinated by Hot Rod and took the role as Miss Hurst Golden Shifter. In 1979, she represented major Detroit speed shop Gratiot Auto Supply as “Miss Gratiot Auto Supply” in national and local campaigns. She remains an icon of the performance and racing worlds and continues working today with Chevrolet Performance, making appearances at automotive enthusiast events across the country.
Bob Millard
As general manager of the International Show Car Association (ISCA), Bob Millard has worked tirelessly over the last 50 years, judging vehicles entered at ISCA-sanctioned events, including the Detroit Autorama. In 1979, he was named competition director and wrote and enforced the rules to ensure that judging was performed correctly. Today, Bob is the general manager of the ISCA, and still oversees its day-to-day operations, injecting his passion for custom cars into the ISCAs long-term planning.
Ron Cizek
To build a car worthy of being a Ridler contender can be a daunting task, but Ron Cizek never wavered from his dream of capturing this prestigious award. His ’40 Ford, named “Checkered Past,” was built by Andy Leach and Cal Automotive Creations.
For more information on the Detroit Autorama, visit www.autorama.com.