Owen Webb, House Of Kolor paint master and Chief Steward of the Summernats Festival, has become the fourth winner of the inaugural Golden Helmet, and has been inducted into the Rare Spares Legend Hall of Fame.

Owen Webb was awarded the esteemed Rare Spares Legend Golden Helmet at the Summernats festival during the popular Saturday night entertainment. As has become tradition, Owen received a lap of honour around the main Summernats arena, which was met with a rousing standing ovation as the crowd payed homage to a visionary and true legend of the motor industry.

Now in it’s fourth year, the Rare Spares Legend Hall of Fame recognises the lifetime achievements of those that have given great levels of dedication to the motor industry. Each yearly inductee earns their place in the Legend Hall of Fame and receives a number of personal benefits as well as national acknowledgment.

“We saw it as our duty to the automotive community to create an award that recognises the lifetime achievements of those individuals that have given great levels of dedication to the motor industry” explained Rare Spares General Manager, David Rayner.

“Owen was the ideal candidate for this year’s ‘Legend’. Our past three ‘Legends’ have all been leaders in their respective fields of the motor industry. Owen, with his 35 years of devotion to the Australian car scene and especially modified vehicles, has been a great influence in shaping the modified car scene in Australia in so many ways. He is truly revered by his peers.”

Owen joins Chic Henry, Australian street machine pioneer, inducted in 2010, Howard Astill, master car builder, inducted in 2009, and Rod Hadfield, pioneer of Australian racing and custom car building, inducted in 2008.

“I am so honoured and humbled to be given this recognition. It’s very humbling to be honoured alongside past ‘Legends’ like Chic Henry, Rod Hadfield and Howard Astill. They’ve all been recognised, as hopefully I have, not just for what they’ve done as individuals, but for their significant contributions to the motorsports industry as a whole,” said Owen.

“I was very surprised when they read out my name as winner of the Golden Helmet. I didn’t see it coming at all! While I don’t do what I do just for awards and accolades, it’s great to be recognised. Starting the Legend Hall of Fame was an unbelievable initiative from the guys at Rare Spares. We spend so much time here in Australia looking up to the Americans and what they’ve achieved, so it’s great to get some local home-grown heroes.”

“I’d really like to thank Rare Spares not just for the award and recognition, but for everything they’ve done for the industry.”

Owen’s road to the Rare Spares Legend Hall of Fame has been a long one. After starting his panelbeating / spraypainting apprenticeship at 17, Owen realized that the motoring industry was where he wanted to be. At 22, Owen branched out and started his first business, restoring and customizing cars. After 15 years, he sold the business, begun at ICI Dulux, and worked his way up the ladder for ten years, becoming the Commercial Transport manager. It was then that Owen moved onto his real passion; demonstration, selling and training House of Kolor custom paints. The rest, as they say, is history.

Owen has been heavily involved in Summernats, where he is Chief Steward, and has been judging at the festival since its inception. He is also involved in a number of other automotive shows across Australia, including MotorEX, Meguiars Superstars, and several other shows judging the best cars in Australia. He also contributes to magazines such as The National Collision Repairer. His love of colour and painting vehicles has since taken him to great heights, ranging from a multitude of street machines to royal carriages for the Queen.