GREG SHARP BIO - Special Founder's Award
Greg Sharp has been described by several magazines at the “go to guy for data on the history of Street Rodding and Drag Racing”. When it comes to knowing the history of our sport and having written documentation and photos to back up his knowledge, Greg is the man. Greg’s love affair with hot rodding began when he was a highly curious “car crazy” 12-year-old who devoured the pocket-sized enthusiast magazines of the 1950s. Absorbing their contents like a sponge, he has since become an expert on the history of hot rodding and virtually all forms of motorsports.
Beginning in the early ‘70s, Greg used his storehouse of knowledge to write hundreds of magazine articles ranging from the history of “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” to pieces on historic Indy cars, and personality profiles from A.J. Foyt to George Barris. Over the years, Greg developed the ability to identify people, places, and cars in vintage photographs and even negatives. He possesses an extensive collection of historic hot rod and custom car photography and has thereby assisted in the restoration of numerous historical hot rods and race cars.
Greg isn’t just another historian either, he is a participant. In 1969 Greg joined the L.A. Roadsters driving a ’29 roadster pickup he had owned for over three decades. In 1971 fellow Roadsters member Dick Scritchfield invited him to go to Bonneville. He was lucky enough to drive the roadster on his first visit to the salt and qualified it for record runs at 166.97 mph. He had the privilege of being asked to announce the Bonneville Nationals in 1972 and ’73 and was there for the 25th Anniversary meet, getting to know many of his idols. He was inducted into the Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame as Historian of the Year in 2006.
Greg displayed his roadster at the Grand National (Oakland) Roadster Show in 1971, and after showing for years was asked to become a judge. He became an ISCA Official and Judging Supervisor for over ten years, and helped select America’s Most Beautiful Roadster at Oakland. In 1989, Greg began acting as MC and historian for the Grand National Roadster Show and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1993.
After serving for 28 years as a motorcycle officer with the LAPD, Greg retired in 1995 and became director of the recently developed NHRA Historical Services. There, he played a key role in the formation of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and has served as curator since it opened to the public in April, 1998. Working hand-in-hand with International Drag Racing Hall of Fame members, helped to locate vehicles and produce the wealth of background information that makes visiting the Museum educational and enjoyable. Many of his personal photos and artifacts are on display including rare race programs dating before the 1920s.
He has served as event director of the California Hot Rod Reunion since the mid-‘90s and is credited with the term “Cacklefest” after Steve Gibbs created the concept that has become such a major part of historic drag racing activity. Greg particularly enjoys honoring racers who think they were forgotten as soon as they walked away from competing in the motorsports world. This is one of the reasons Greg was willing to become a Selector for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame when asked by Don Garlits to do so. Greg says, “It’s so easy to say nice things about someone after they’re gone, but they don’t get to hear it. At the the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and the Reunions, most of them do get to hear it and realize how much of an impact they had on so many people. We’ve seen some pretty tough, old racers get emotional when they are reminded of their earlier accomplishments.” He’s also very proud of the fact that the Museum and the Reunions have led directly to the unearthing and restoration of so many historic vehicles, as well as reuniting drivers and crews connected with them. When asked about the best part of his job, he simply says, “It’s great to be friends with your heroes.”
