Family’s support of Great Race attracts runners

Although known as a local event, the Great Race of Agoura attracts some of the most elite runners in the state, as well as participants from throughout the United States and even other countries, partly because of the high-tech prizes.

More than 3,200 runners are expected to take to the streets in the 21st annual Great Race on March 4 at Agoura High School.

The event, which includes a 10K, 5K, half-marathon, one-mile fun run, and a post-race expo, is a fundraiser for Agoura and Oak Park elementary and high schools.

What draws out-of-town runners is not only the 10K, recognized by Runners World magazine as one of the top courses nationwide, but also the prizes awarded.

For the past four years, locally-owned Evolution Audio & Video, an Agoura Hills hi-tech electronics business, has donated about $7,500 worth of high-end prizes to the top runners, including speaker/subwoofer packages, multi-channel theater receivers and high quality DVD players.

“By offering these prizes we’ve been able to attract top runners and bring up the caliber of the race and help it grow,” said Traci Greenberg, race director. “It brings people from all over to Agoura Hills and has a major economic impact.”

Jay Frank of Oak Park runs Evolution with his father, Leon Frank of Woodland Hills, and sister, Robin Fried of Oak Park. The company sells cutting edge audio and video equipment, and designs and installs custom home theaters systems.

A runner himself, Jay Frank has competed in 38 marathons, including the Great Race half-marathon, along with his wife, Elvia. The couple raised their three sons in Oak Park. Their youngest, Ethan, is a freshman at Oak Park High School and their niece, Lilly, Fried’s daughter, is a sophomore at OPHS.

Leon Frank is a Brooklyn, N.Y. native and a World War II veteran who ran a number of different businesses, including a cattle ranch and hair salons, before joining his son in electronics.

“My father said, ‘I’ll help you out for a couple of years,’” Jay Frank said. “That was in 1993. He never left.”

The Franks share an upstairs office above the showroom located at the back end of an industrial park. Photos of Jay Frank at various marathons, as well as colorful oil paintings by Leon Frank, adorn the walls. Leon Frank says he has done several paintings for customers by request.

“In the years Jay and I have worked together we never had an argument,” Leon Frank said. “It’s been a wonderful experience and the greatest satisfaction has been seeing the business grow.”

Jay Frank started running 11 years ago, when he turned 40 and as Leon Frank says, hasn’t stopped since. Through his interest in running, Jay Frank met Greenberg and her husband, Danny, organizers of the Great Race.

“They needed prizes and we needed recognition for Evolution. We’re a community business and we want people to know Evolution is part of the community,” Jay Frank said.

Runners have expressed their appreciation to the Franks for the prizes.

“Usually at these races runners get a medal or a frozen turkey or something like that,” Leon Frank said.

The Greenbergs have received plenty of positive feedback about the prizes from runners, too, noting that the number of race participants has grown each year.

“The Franks exemplify what the race is all about. It’s a local business. They live in the community. They’ve run the race for many years and their kids go to local schools,” Greenberg said. “They’ve really helped this race branch out.”

For race information and registration, go online to www. greatraceofagoura.com.