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AutoChannel Press Release
March 19 2009
J.C. Agajanian - 2009 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee
TALLADEGA, Ala. March 19, 2009: If it had a motor and it was a sport,
J.C. Agajanian was interested in it. From the 1930s through the 1960s,
Agajanian was involved in numerous forms of motorsports, both as an
owner and a promoter, though he is most closely associated with Indy
Car racing.
Agajanian (pronounced Ag-uh-jane-ian) was a California native and
founding member of the United States Auto Club who owned two cars that
won the Indianapolis 500. But he also promoted motorcycle and boat
racing, and he was one of the first west coast organizers to embrace
stock car racing.
`He had a very broad interest,' said Agajanian's son, Cary. `He loved
anything with speed, and he loved the promotion business and the
ownership business of racing cars. He just loved every aspect of the
motor racing business, no matter what it was.'
In honor of his dedication to all forms of motorsports, Agajanian has
been named to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame induction
class of 2009. Joining Agajanian in this year's class are NASCAR Cup
driver Donnie Allison, seven-time NASCAR Modifieds champion Jerry
Cook, longtime NASCAR team owner Bud Moore and NASCAR pioneer and car
owner Raymond Parks.
The induction ceremony will be held Thursday, April 23 at the SPEED
Channel Dome adjacent to Talladega Superspeedway.
`I've been aware of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame for a
long, long time and have been through it before. I was always hopeful
that they would recognize my dad,' Cary Agajanian said. `So this is a
great honor. When you look at the inductees over the years, you know
it's a very prestigious and honored roll call. So our family has great
pride in them taking my dad in. It's a great thing.'
The son of Armenian immigrants, Agajanian was born in 1913 in San
Pedro, Calif. His birth name was Joshua James, but an aunt who did not
speak much English kept calling him Jessie instead. Jessie eventually
evolved into J.C., and the nickname stuck.
Agajanian initially wanted to be a race car driver, but his father
disapproved because of the dangers involved in the sport. So Agajanian
became a race car owner and promoter. While still in his 20s he was
named president of the Western Racing Association.
After World War II, Agajanian became heavily involved in Indy Car
racing and made the trip to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy
500 every year from 1948 through 1971. During that time, his cars won
three pole positions, set four tracks records and picked up two
victories, in 1952 with Troy Ruttman as the driver and in 1963 with
Parnelli Jones behind the wheel.
`That was without any doubt the pinnacle of his career. It was the
ultimate,' Cary Agajanian said. `He looked at it as his greatest
accomplishment. It was really a great, great thrill in 1963, to do it
a second time. He had other great finishes through the 60s and into
the 70s, but '63 was the height of it.'
J.C. Agajanian's father, who had prevented his son from pursing a
career as a driver, was a strong supporter of Agajanian's other racing
interests.
`Once he knew my dad wasn't going to drive a car and be at risk, he
was very supportive of it,' Cary Agajanian said. `He really encouraged
and helped my dad in the racing business. He took the train from
L.A. to Indy every year and walked around like the proud owner.'
Agajanian also tinkered with the mechanical side of the sport. With
the help of his crew members, he came up with several technological
and safety innovations, including the creation of the air jack.
Agajanian died in 1984 at the age of 70. Since his death he has been
inducted into a number of hall of fames, including the National Sprint
Car Hall of Fame, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the National
Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
About the International Motorsports Hall of Fame & Museum
Opened in April of 1983, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
and Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of
motorsports. Each year, the annual International Motorsports Hall of
Fame Induction Ceremony is held on the grounds of the museum to honor
those men and women chosen for induction from among the greatest names
in all of motorsports.
March 19 2009
J.C. Agajanian - 2009 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee
TALLADEGA, Ala. March 19, 2009: If it had a motor and it was a sport,
J.C. Agajanian was interested in it. From the 1930s through the 1960s,
Agajanian was involved in numerous forms of motorsports, both as an
owner and a promoter, though he is most closely associated with Indy
Car racing.
Agajanian (pronounced Ag-uh-jane-ian) was a California native and
founding member of the United States Auto Club who owned two cars that
won the Indianapolis 500. But he also promoted motorcycle and boat
racing, and he was one of the first west coast organizers to embrace
stock car racing.
`He had a very broad interest,' said Agajanian's son, Cary. `He loved
anything with speed, and he loved the promotion business and the
ownership business of racing cars. He just loved every aspect of the
motor racing business, no matter what it was.'
In honor of his dedication to all forms of motorsports, Agajanian has
been named to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame induction
class of 2009. Joining Agajanian in this year's class are NASCAR Cup
driver Donnie Allison, seven-time NASCAR Modifieds champion Jerry
Cook, longtime NASCAR team owner Bud Moore and NASCAR pioneer and car
owner Raymond Parks.
The induction ceremony will be held Thursday, April 23 at the SPEED
Channel Dome adjacent to Talladega Superspeedway.
`I've been aware of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame for a
long, long time and have been through it before. I was always hopeful
that they would recognize my dad,' Cary Agajanian said. `So this is a
great honor. When you look at the inductees over the years, you know
it's a very prestigious and honored roll call. So our family has great
pride in them taking my dad in. It's a great thing.'
The son of Armenian immigrants, Agajanian was born in 1913 in San
Pedro, Calif. His birth name was Joshua James, but an aunt who did not
speak much English kept calling him Jessie instead. Jessie eventually
evolved into J.C., and the nickname stuck.
Agajanian initially wanted to be a race car driver, but his father
disapproved because of the dangers involved in the sport. So Agajanian
became a race car owner and promoter. While still in his 20s he was
named president of the Western Racing Association.
After World War II, Agajanian became heavily involved in Indy Car
racing and made the trip to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy
500 every year from 1948 through 1971. During that time, his cars won
three pole positions, set four tracks records and picked up two
victories, in 1952 with Troy Ruttman as the driver and in 1963 with
Parnelli Jones behind the wheel.
`That was without any doubt the pinnacle of his career. It was the
ultimate,' Cary Agajanian said. `He looked at it as his greatest
accomplishment. It was really a great, great thrill in 1963, to do it
a second time. He had other great finishes through the 60s and into
the 70s, but '63 was the height of it.'
J.C. Agajanian's father, who had prevented his son from pursing a
career as a driver, was a strong supporter of Agajanian's other racing
interests.
`Once he knew my dad wasn't going to drive a car and be at risk, he
was very supportive of it,' Cary Agajanian said. `He really encouraged
and helped my dad in the racing business. He took the train from
L.A. to Indy every year and walked around like the proud owner.'
Agajanian also tinkered with the mechanical side of the sport. With
the help of his crew members, he came up with several technological
and safety innovations, including the creation of the air jack.
Agajanian died in 1984 at the age of 70. Since his death he has been
inducted into a number of hall of fames, including the National Sprint
Car Hall of Fame, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the National
Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
About the International Motorsports Hall of Fame & Museum
Opened in April of 1983, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
and Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of
motorsports. Each year, the annual International Motorsports Hall of
Fame Induction Ceremony is held on the grounds of the museum to honor
those men and women chosen for induction from among the greatest names
in all of motorsports.