One of the true legends of American racing – Parnelli Jones – will be the guest of honor at the RRDC’s annual Long Beach Banquet on April 15 at the Long Beach Hilton. Raised in the rough and tumble world of American short track racing, Parnelli quickly got the attention of the road racing community when he entered the Trans-Am in one of Bud Moore’s Mustangs

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One of our members (then a spectator with dreams of racing) offered this recollection of the first time he saw Parnelli at the 1969 Watkins Glen Trans Am:

“Parnelli had his Boss Mustang and Donohue was in the Sunoco Camaro. First lap, they exited Turn 3 leaning on each other and charged up the hill with sixteen cylinders making a noise like God gargling. (There was no chicane in those no-bullshit days.) Parnelli kept smashing his car into Donohue’s and Mark slammed right back, over and over, neither giving nor lifting a millimeter until they disappeared down the back straight.

“Jesus”, I thought, with hands fishing around my pockets for reassurances of manhood, “is that what it takes to drive racecars?”

If that’s what it took, today’s RRDC membership would include Parnelli, Mark and maybe you, but not a lot of the rest of us. But now, on April 15, we mere mortals will have the rare – and probably unique – opportunity to shake the hand that turned the wheel that turned racing on its head.

THE DETAILS: April 15, Hilton Hotel, Long Beach, CA (Opening day of the Toyota Grand Prix)
7:00 PM cocktails and 8:00 PM dinner; Members guests are welcome; Just $150/Person

Rufus Parnell Jones enjoyed himself so much at last year’s Dan Gurney dinner that he was an easy sell to become our 2010 Long Beach honoree. (Right now, those who attended last year’s Gurney event are already reaching for their checkbooks, and shamed members who stayed home to watch curling on TV must vow never, never to miss another of these truly unique experiences.) Our miserably slim profits on $150 help Team USA’s young lions to compete – and often win – at the Brands Hatch Formula Ford Festival and Silverstone’s international Walter Hayes Championship: think future RRDC members!

Once again, the banquet food and beverages will be superb.

Please reserve ASAP to Jeremy Shaw and Tamy Valkosky at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it as we expect an overflow crowd. It would be lovely if everyone then mailed member and invitee checks, plus any unpaid dues ($75) to John Fergus c/o The Fergus Companies, 8377 Green Meadows Drive N Suite A, Lewis Center, OH 43035. Paid dues mean you can get in to the banquet, and your advance banquet check will allow immediate access to cocktails. Yes, backmarkers cash and checks will be accepted at the door.

I’ll be looking for you!

PS: Sad News. I've just received word that a long time friend of the RRDC - Joe Stimola - passed away last weekend following complications from open-heart surgery. Joe was the engine wizard behind multiple SCCA Formula Ford National Championships and most recently the Penske Shocks road racing at-track tuner. He was always a most-welcomed part of our annual Daytona dinners - most recently just a few weeks ago. RIP Joe - you will be missed.