THE "DUFFY"
Karting’s Highest Award
Each year, hundreds of karters from all of the USA participate in all of the I.K.F.’s Grand National events in hopes of winning their class and being deemed I.K.F.’s Grand National Champion. Along with this most prestigious title, each driver is competing for the most coveted award in karting, the "Duffy".
Each "Duffy" is sponsored by some of the most prominent businesses in the karting world. For their sponsorship, each class is named for the sponsor or business along with having their business name engraved on the base of the "Duffy".
Prior to 1976, each Grand National Champion received a TV set or an original designed plaque as their award. At the 1976 April Rules Meeting of the I.K.F. Board of Directors, Administrative Director Bob Graham presented the Board Members with a model of the 12 inch solid bronze statuette that was to be mounted on a 6 inch wooden base. The designer of this model was Pete Millar.
The Board Members agreed that karting needed some sort of "grand prize" to present to each Grand National Champion; something that was out of the ordinary and unique as most karters received many trophies each year for participating in local or regional events. The vote was taken and the statuette was presented, for the first time, at the 1976 I.K.F. Grand Nationals.
From 1976 to 1981, it was known as the "Joe Karter" award. At the January 1981 Board Meeting, President John Strauser called for the Board’s vote to honor a man who, just the month before, had retired from I.K.F. and karting. This well know gentleman had been active in karting as a driver, mechanic, Board Member, past President several times of the I.K.F., and was the Co-Founder of organized karting and the Go-Kart Club of America, which evolved into the International Kart Federation. His name, Frank "Duffy" Livingstone.
President Strauser made the announcement that henceforth the statuette was to be known as the "Duffy".