For those of us who raced at Westwood Park in Canada, we all recall the first thing you looked for as you topped the crest on the back straight was the bright orange/red square in the workers station about two thirds of the way down on drivers right. The square let us know when there were deer on the other side of the fence drivers left. Jumping the fence was no problem. While I saw the sign several times over the years and recall other races being delayed, only once did I see a couple of deer. Definitely kept us alert which leads to this.
Back then we were told the annual IRDC “Philips Award” is in honor of Stephen Thomas Phillips, an IRDC - Conference racer who lost his life to a deer on track in 1983 while driving his Club Ford. Perhaps some of those who have been around since then can verify if this is so. It would be nice to know considering I went to school with his younger brother who talked about his racing all the time. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen him since graduation which was well before Stephen’s passing.
Philips Cup
Each year since 1983, IRDC has shown special recognition for the efforts of the member (s), “WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED MOST TO IRDC, ITS MEMBERS AND ITS FUTURE,” by presenting them with the coveted Phillips Cup. This award is given “IN THE SPIRIT OF STEPHEN THOMAS PHILLIPS (1949-1983) WHOSE PERSONAL INTEGRITY, SENSE OF FAIR PLAY, QUICK SMILE, COMPASSION, AND HUMOR TOUCHED US ALL.”