Rich Bireta, a long-time member of the SCCA from the Kansas City Region, was recognized with the 2021 Woolf Barnato Award during the Hall of Fame presentation. The Woolf Barnato Award is presented to the member who has made the most outstanding long-term contribution. Winners are nominated by the last three recipients and approved by the Board of Directors.
Bireta’s biggest long-term contribution to date has been the creation of the Richta GPS Timing and Scoring System which is now used by Road Rally events nationwide. This system provides instant scoring feedback to Rally competitors, automatically transmits scores to the event organizers, and greatly reduces the manpower needed to put on a Road Rally.
Locally we know him for his Road Rally expertise. Years ago, the KCR wanted to get involved in Road Rally, and Rich Bireta stepped up to start our Road Rally program, design fun courses, and train our members so they had a better understanding of Road Rally.
His contributions to Road Rally extended beyond the Kansas City area, as he served 6 years on the Road Rally Board and mentored other regions’ Road Rally programs. He has developed several Road Rally apps for tablets and phones that emulate clocks, odometers, Rally calculators, and Rally computers. He also created and maintains a website with access to all these apps.
During the presentation, Bireta said, “I’ve had the privilege of attending half a dozen SCCA Conventions over the years during my time on the Rally Board, and I know and appreciate the significance of this award. Thank you for this honor. Please know it is very much appreciated and cherished.”
Congratulations, Rich. It is well deserved!