On September 27, 1975 during a practice run on Saturday at the Virginia City Hill Climb run, Glen Snider, 32, along with Nick Mannarello crashed a Fiat Dino on the ill famed turn 17. Glen was killed and Nick was seriously hurt.

I was President of the Ferrari Owners Chub at the time. The Bay Area Chapter of the FOC on October 1, 1975 established the Glen Snider Memorial Award which was to be presented on an annual basis to the Bay Area Ferrari Region Club member who most distinguished himself at the Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca in Monterey.

On August 9th that year at the 2d Annual Monterey Historic Automobile Races in Race 5 for 1957 to 1961 GT Racing Cars, Glen won the race in his 1958 250 GT Tour de France. The race was described as the mostly contested race of the day as he beat Bill Rudd in his 250 GT to the finish line. In that race there were 5 Ferrari 250’s, Aston Martin DB 4’s, a Porsche Abarth Carrera, and several Alpha Romeo specials  - all quick cars in 1975.

Phil Hill was there entered in race 8 and won in a 1937 Alpha Romeo 8C-2900B. He was so impressed with the way Glen Snider drove to his race win that he approached Glen in his pit to congratulate him. He then asked Glen for his autograph!

Over the succeeding years the award constructed by Bill Morton was presented to:

1976 Dr Lou Sellyei 1958 250 TR
1977 Bob Epstein 1964 250 LM
1978 Henry Smith 1948  166MM
1979 Mike Cotsworth 1960  250 LWB CALIFORNIA
1980 Don Wasserman 195 2  225
1981 David Love1958 250 TR
1983 Bill Schworer1966 206 SP
1984 Bill Morton1953 166MM/11
1985 Gil Nickel1951 340
1986 Bill Chizar1958 250 TR
1987 George Jewett1949 166MM
1990 Tom Price1962 250 GTO
2007 Jeff Abramson1954 500 Mondial

Since 1990 no Pacific Region member has entered a Ferrari in competition at the Monterey Historics.

Last year and again this year Jeff Abramson has entered and raced his 1954 500 Mondial Spyder in the Historics.  It is a car with a great deal of racing history including ice racing. Jeff and his wife Heidi have a 330 GTS and several Italian and German cars. This last year he acquired a Lotus 23C, a Cooper F-1 and a very fast Morgan Racing Car. Jeff is President of Pacific Union Homes in Alamo.

On a personal note, I had the opportunity to work for Pacific Union Homes for 2 years. The Glen Snider Memorial Award Trophy will be presented to Jeff at the Monterey Historic races this year. There is a full album featuring the winners in the possession of the club Historian (and this is what is presented on these web pages).

 

Bill Schworer