IVR president to be inducted into International Hall of Fame

IVR president Nick Ovenden is to be inducted into the International Towing and

Recovery Hall of Fame, in Chattanooga.

He will join other members of the Class of 2012 for an induction ceremony which

will be held on 15 September 2012 during the Tennessee Tow Show.

This prestigious accolade was first handed down in 1986 when industry

professionals came together to select individuals that had 'made a difference' and

displayed true professionalism. Since then the International Towing &

Recovery Hall of Fame annually recognises individuals who have made substantial

contributions to the towing and recovery industry.

Nick Ovenden was born into the recovery industry and has played an active role

within it for more than 40 years. He is currently managing director of Ashford

Recovery Ltd in Kent, as well as being one of only two CAT4 tutors within the UK

recovery industry.

Nick said;

'It is a great honour for me to have been nominated for such a prestigious award. To

be selected for induction means that I have been perceived as an industry leader by

my peers in the towing and recovery industry. This is the highest accolade available

in the recovery industry having already won the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the

European Tow Show in 2008. I feel very humbled.'

In order to honour the chosen few the Friends of Towing, now the ITRHFM, has

dedicated an entire section of the international museum's walls for portraits of the

inductees.

As well as the Hall of Fame the museum provides a comprehensive history of the

industry including restored antique recovery vehicles and equipment, industry related

displays and a pictorial history of manufacturers who have pioneered the worldwide

industry.

Why was Chattanooga, Tennessee chosen to be the home of the International

Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum?

Because the industry's first recovery vehicle was fabricated in 1916, by Ernest

Holmes Snr, approximately three and a half miles from where the museum stands

today.

Ernest was a garage worker who was inspired to create the truck after helping a

friend retrieve his 1913 Cadillac from a creek using three poles, a pulley and a chain.

After patenting his invention, he began manufacturing recovery vehicles and towing

equipment for sale to automotive garages and anyone interested in retrieving and

towing wrecked or disabled vehicles.