Awards

Each year WAPA presents two awards:

John Lynker / Golden Gear
Presented during the WAPA Gala each year, the John Lynker / Golden Gear award honor a person or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the automotive industry. John Lynker, a founding member of WAPA, was a legendary automotive journalist at Washington’s WTOP radio station, as well as a newspaper columnist and magazine contributor. Past winners include Roger Penske, J.D. Power, Carroll Shelby, Robert Lutz, Carlos Ghosn, Henrik Fisker, and John W. Hetrick, designer of the patented airbag. Click here for a complete list of award winners.

Golden Quill
Also presented during the annual WAPA Gala, the Golden Quill award was established to encourage tough, objective reporting of the auto industry. It is awarded to the individual who creates an outstanding piece of print, broadcast, or online journalism. Journalists writing in the Washington, DC/Baltimore area are eligible to compete for the award, which carries a check of $100.

The 2010 WAPA Golden Quill award goes to Justin Hyde at the Detroit Free Press! Read the 8-part series that earned him this prestigious award.