John Lynker / Golden Gear Award

Each year, WAPA honors notable individuals or companies in the auto industry with the John Lynker / Golden Gear Award.


John Lynker / Golden Gear Award Winners

2012	Scott Keogh, President of Audi of America, for his company’s efforts in expanding diesel technology in the United States.
2011	John Krafcik, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, for his role in reshaping Hyundai into an industry leader in design, innovation and fuel efficiency.
2010	Ford CEO Alan Mullaly for the turn around it engineered without the aid of government funding.
2009	Tom Purves for bringing the MINI to the United States, Henrik Fisker for automotive design, and Roger Penske for lifetime achievement.
2008	Larry Burns, GM vice president of R&D, for fuel-cell development. Lynker Award to OnStar.
2007	Golden Gear (posthumously) to Robert P. McCurry, former head of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Lynker Award to NHTSA.
2006	Golden Gear to Brian O’Neill, president of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Lynker Award to Honda for pedestrian and vehicle safety.
2005	Golden Gear to Mary Ann Wright, chief engineer for Ford Escape Hybrid. Lynker Award to Continental Teves/Mercedes for ESP.
2004	Golden Gear to Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan. Lynker Award to Toyota Prius/Hybrid Synergy Drive System.
2003	Golden Gear to Jack Fitzgerald, auto dealer, Fitzgerald Auto Malls. Lynker Award to Honda Civic Hybrid.
2002	Golden Gear to Robert A. Lutz, automaker executive.
2001	Golden Gear to Richard Parry-Jones, head of Ford product development.
2000	Golden Gear to Mike Dale, president of Jaguar North America.
1999	Golden Gear to Tom Gale, design chief for DaimlerChrysler.
1998	Golden Gear to Jack Telnack, design chief of Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable.
1997	Golden Gear to General Motors for safety innovations.
1996	Golden Gear to Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.).
1995	Golden Gear to W. Edwards Deming, business-manufacturing consultant.
1994	Golden Gear to Honda’s Marysville Ohio Auto Plant.
1993	Golden Gear to Saturn Corp.
1992	Golden Gear to Soichiro Honda, founder of Honda.
1991	Golden Gear to John W. Hetrick, designer of patented air bag.
1990	Golden Gear to Mazda Miata design team.
1989	Golden Gear to Helen Kahn, Automotive News journalist.
1988	Golden Gear to Carroll Shelby, racing legend and vehicle designer.
1987	Golden Gear to J.D. Power, founder of J.D. Power and Associates.