For the first time in 26 years, The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance will celebrate a female honoree, the inspiring Lyn St. James, at the 26th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, May 20-23, 2021.

Lyn's racing career began in a Ford Pinto in the 1970s and had its grand finale more than two decades later in a special commemorative ceremony on the 'yard of bricks' at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Her first titles were a pair of regional south Florida road racing championships. She would drive a Corvette at Sebring, Palm Beach and Daytona. Her class victory at the 1979 24 Hours of the Nurburgring would solidify her place as a world-class driver.

In the 1980's Lyn would join the pro ranks as a Ford factory racer. Her finesse and determination would earn her Autoweek magazine's 1984 Rookie of the Year in IMSA's GTO class. In 1985 she would win IMSA's Norelco Driver of the Year award and score an unprecedented and still unequalled solo IMSA GTO class victory in the Serengeti Drivers New York 500 racing a Roush Mustang. She would later win two class victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Lyn would return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 as a part of an all-women's team, sharing driving duties with two-time World Sports Car Championship race winner Desiré Wilson and Cathy Muller.

Lyn St. James, The Record Breaker

Lyn St. James, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

Lyn's entrepreneurial spirit emerged in an auto components business that fused with her passion for racing. Her ability to see and understand motorsport from the perspective of the cockpit and the boardroom has been a constant asset during her long tenure in and around motorsport. In 2010 those skills were honored by Automotive News as one of The Top 100 Women in the Automotive Industry. Sports Illustrated named her one of the 'Top 100 Women Athletes of the Century.'

She has been a spokesperson for Ford, appeared in Rolex ads and is the founder of the Lyn St. James Foundation (a 501(c)(3) charitable organization) for the education, training and advancement of women in automotive fields. She has also served on the board of Kettering University, a top engineering school.

Lyn served as President of the Women's Sports Foundation from 1990 to 1993. In 1994, Lyn was inducted to the Florida Sports Hall of Fame; Working Woman Magazine included her as one of the Top 350 Women Who Changed the World between 1976 and 1996. She's been summoned to The White House for civic honors by three consecutive Presidents -- Reagan, Bush and Clinton.

'Lyn has been an integral part of the racing community for years and followed in the steps of the likes of Elizabeth Junek, Janet Guthrie, and Lella Lombardi who won races, set records and broke barriers,' said Bill Warner, founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. 'The Amelia would like to thank Lyn for agreeing to be our 2021 Honoree. Her incredible career, compassionate spirit and powerful presence are an inspiration to us all.'

Photo credit: Dan Vaughan / conceptcarz.com
posted on conceptcarz.com

Related Posts