UNDERSTEER vs. OVERSTEER, PART 4: DRIVING AROUND THE PROBLEM In the previous three parts of this series on that most basic of handling problems – understeer vs. oversteer – we first defined the difference between them, the trap of confusing the two and then fixing the problem. Now comes the tough part: You’re in the […]
DAN GURNEY AND DEREK BELL INDUCTED INTO MOTOR SPORT HALL OF FAME Epsom, Surrey, England, May 31 – RRDC members Derek Bell and Dan Gurney were two of five motor racing legends inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park country estate. Bell was chosen from the sports […]
GANASSI AND POSEY INTO MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA RRDC members Chip Ganassi and Sam Posey will join the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Class of 2016 at the 28th Annual MSHFA Induction Ceremony Presented by Bridgestone on June 29 at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach. Chip Ganassi is the […]
ALLAN McNISH LATEST SAFEisFAST ASK A PRO Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner and ex-Toyota F1 driver Allan McNish is the latest online driving instructor for SAFEisFAST.com. During a career spanning 24 years, McNish raced for Audi, Porsche, and Toyota across a series of disciplines including Formula One, sports car racing and touring cars. By the […]
AUGIE PABST AND FRIENDS AT SEIBKEN’S In a jolly prequel to Road America’s Spring Vintage Weekend, Augie Pabst and author Bob Birmingham were featured guests at Seibken’s Resort the Thursday evening before the HRC’s 2016 season kick-off event at the circuit last weekend. The occasion was the first U.S. public presentation of the delightful biography, […]
ROGER PENSKE, CHEVROLET AND INDY – ANNIVERSARIES COLLIDE In the midst of his 50th Anniversary year as a team owner, Roger Penske has been chosen to drive the pace car for the 100th running of Indianapolis 500 May 29. The pace car will be a special 50th Anniversary Edition 2017 Camaro SS – completing the […]
LONG BEACH, Calif., April 15, 2016 – On April 14 at the Long Beach Hilton before a capacity crowd of auto racing dignitaries, corporate executives and champion race-car drivers, Can-Am, USRRC and Trans-Am champion George Follmer was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club at the “RRDC Evening with George Follmer presented by Firestone,” prior to the […]
Santa Ana, Calif., April 13 – Dan Gurney celebrated his 85th birthday on Wednesday at the Eagle’s Nest with some 100 special friends and former employees. It was a truly festive occasion with at least one huge surprise for the legendary founder of All-American Racers. His sons, Justin and Alex, dug up one car not […]
Things That Matter When Choosing a Semi Truck Semi trucks: what could be better, bigger, or more beautiful to the men (and women) who love trucks and trucking? But buying a new semi truck is a big decision, and these giants come with a fairly gigantic price tag to match. If you’re […]
Hilliard, Ohio, April 11, 2016 – It’s George Follmer Week in Long Beach. Follmer, the only driver to have won both the Trans-Am and Can-Am championships in one year (1972), will be honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club at the “RRDC Evening with George Follmer presented by Firestone” in Long Beach, Calif., this Thursday, April 14, prior […]
PIERMONT, NY – April 5, 2016 – In less than three short years, SAFEisFAST has taken and maintained its leadership position as the preeminent online motorsports instructional tool in the industry by tapping the wealth of experience and knowledge of the Road Racing Drivers Club’s membership. Creator Tom Davey has leveraged the site’s quality and […]
HILLIARD, Ohio, March 29, 2016 – American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will support the RRDC Evening with George Follmer presented by Firestone by hosting the cocktail reception on April 14 for the seventh consecutive year at the Road Racing Drivers Club’s eighth annual West Coast banquet, held prior to the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long […]
AUGIE PABST: BEHIND THE WHEEL “Augie Pabst: Behind the Wheel” is now available for order! Orders from the UK and Europe will ship immediately. U.S. orders will ship after April 15th, as will orders from the rest of the world. Augie has signed 400 copies which are only available directly from the publisher – Dalton […]
DYLAN MURRY 22nd GORSLINE SCHOLARSHIP WINNER SEBRING, Fla., March 17, 2016 – Dylan Murry, of Cumming, Ga., was presented the 22nd Gorsline Scholarship by John Gorsline at the 64th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh From Florida. With this scholarship, Murry, 15, will work with Dr. Jacques Dallaire, Director of Performance Prime, on an individually-designed […]
Amelia Island, GA, March 16, 2016 – The 21st edition of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Auction was staged this past weekend at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Resort on one of Georgia’s most scenic barrier islands. Bill Warner’s charity shindig drew a record 315 concours entries and thousands of guests to visually embrace a […]
For the seventh consecutive year, Firestone will be the presenting sponsor for the RRDC’s annual celebration in conjunction with the Long Beach Grand Prix. This year’s festivities will honor George Follmer. Previous honorees were Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti and Bobby Unser. These “RRDC Evenings” are acknowledged as one […]
BRIAN REDMAN: A RACER’S MEMOIR, 1965-1975 RRDC members Brian Redman and Jim Mullen have come together to produce Daring Drivers, Deadly Tracks. A racer’s memoir of a dangerous decade, 1965-1975, a 300-page memoir covering the period from one of the top competitors of the day. Packed with photographs, the volume provides a vivid account of Redman’s […]
The following is a recollection of a Road Racing Drivers Club Skid Pad Seminar with Mark Donohue and Bill Mitchell on June 17, 1972 – an anecdote from Frank Del Vecchio’s notebook: “Checkered Shorts.” Drivers and cars: Paul Keeler – March 722 Formula B, Mike Rand and Frank Del Vecchio – March 712 Formula B […]
Hilliard, OH, Feb. 11, 2015 – RRDC President Bobby Rahal invites you to the annual Long Beach Banquet, Thursday, April 14, featuring George Follmer and his racecars: “Talk to Penske. Talk to Redman. Talk to Jones, Hall, Gurney, Haywood, Posey, Morton, Bell, and any top competitor from the ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s. All will […]
DAYTONA, Fla., January 30, 2016 – Chip Ganassi Racing owner Chip Ganassi, of Pittsburgh, Pa., has been named the recipient of the 2015 Rolex Bob Snodgrass Award of Excellence. The announcement was made during the traditional prelude to the Rolex 24 At Daytona – the Grand Marshal Dinner – which was held at the Daytona 500 Club on […]
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 28, 2016 – Scott Pruett, known as a savvy and disciplined racer with a record 60 victories in IMSA competition, was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club with the 2016 Phil Hill Award. RRDC president Bobby Rahal made the presentation at a dinner on Jan. 27 prior to the running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the […]
Daytona Beach, Fla., Jan. 27, 2016 – Judy Stropus, former professional timer/scorer, race-car driver and award-winning publicist, received the 2015 Bob Akin Award from the Road Racing Drivers Club at a dinner on Jan. 27 prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Each recipient of this honor, […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 20, 2016 – Roger Penske’s fabled Team Penske is celebrating its 50th Anniversary during the 2016 racing season, and “The Captain” hosted a gala in Charlotte on Jan. 20, inviting team members, drivers and sponsors who were part of the operation which dates back to its first race in the 24 Hours […]
HILLIARD, OH, January 22, 2015 – Good stuff has happened in the past few months to a number of our members: Chip Ganassi, Bobby Akin, Rick Knoop, Dan Davis, Ryan Dalziel, Hobbs-Matchett-Diffey, Juan Pablo Montoya, Hans Stuck, the late Bob Snodgrass, Graham Rahal, Scott Pruett, Toly Arutunoff, Bob Bondurant, the late Denise McCluggage, Michael Keyser, […]
IndyCar driver Justin Wilson has succumbed following injuries suffered in the IndyCar race at Pocono. “We at the RRDC are saddened by the loss of one of our members, Justin Wilson. Justin was a talented race-car driver in the prime of his career who was often described by some of his fellow members as a “gentle […]
Quick Vic, Slick Pick 2015 RRDC Daytona Dinner Vic Elford to Receive Phil HIll Award There once was a driver named Vic With an awesome motor sports schtick He’d turn up the wick To make every pass stick And rarely step on his … brakes Memo to Drivers: If you are RRDC and reading this […]
RRDC PRESIDENT RAHAL EARNS “SPIRIT OF COMPETITION” AWARD RRDC president Bobby Rahal was presented with the 7th annual “Spirit of Competition” Award at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia on Oct. 29, at a dinner hosted by the Museum’s founder and Executive Director Fred Simeone. RRDC member Bill Warner was the M.C., and RRDC […]
Fifteen race-car drivers and motorsports professionals have been voted into the Road Racing Drivers Club in 2014. The group includes 10 Regular Members from the open-wheel and sports-car racing ranks, three Associate Members and two Honorary Members. The current roster of RRDC members now numbers 460. Voting was held among all current RRDC members. “This year’s lineup […]
SCCA RUNOFFS – MAZDA RACEWAY – MONTEREY, CALIF. The annual SCCA Runoffs meeting of RRDC members was held on Oct. 7 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, at the site of the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs. It was a beautiful California night at the Red Bull Energy Center overlooking the circuit, where members and guests […]
SAFEisFAST.com is offering the chance for young racing drivers around the world to win a custom-made, top-level racing suit from Stand 21 just be answering a few questions about racing safety. The brand new “La Couture” model, launched in March 2014, is homologated to the very highest FIA 8856-2000 standard. Used by the likes of […]
Ex-Formula One racer Karun Chandhok will be the next Online Driving Instructor for the RRDC’s SAFEisFAST instructional web site. Chandhok will be competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this week and will be teamed with Bruno Senna to drive for Mahindra Racing in the new FIA Formula E championship, starting in September. One […]
John Bishop, perhaps the most influential person in the history of American professional road racing, passed away Thursday in San Rafael, Calif., of complications from a recent illness. Bishop was, in the most complimentary sense, an egregious opportunist – a visionary who could spot marketable trends and formulate the pathways to successful products. His products […]
The RRDC lost two members and the daughter of one of the Club’s founding members in May. Of course the whole world learned of the passing of Sir Jack Brabham, May 19. A smaller circle of friends are mourning the loss May 10 of Lucie Cunningham-McKinney, a daughter of Briggs Cunningham, and Col. Joe Hauser […]
Sir Jack Brabham, one of motor racing’s giants, passed away quietly at his Gold Coast home in Australia today. The three-time Formula 1 World Champion was 88. Every major news outlet in the world has paid homage to the ARAF flight mechanic who became a racing legend. Tributes appear in RACER, Autoweek and Autosport. Quite […]
Three members of the RRDC – Bobby Rahal, Chip Ganassi and Leo Mehl – are to be inducted next week into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame housed in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The induction ceremony is on the program of the annual Indy 500 Oldtimers dinner, set for Thursday evening […]
Third-generation racer Graham Rahal – a race winner in the Verizon IndyCar Series and a winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona – is currently answering visitors’ questions as SAFEisFAST Online Driving Instructor So far, Graham has tackled such topics as attracting sponsors, street courses vs. ovals, starting with karting, age as a limiting factor […]
During the RRDC’s annual banquet preceding the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, President Bobby Rahal made several momentous announcements regarding the future of SAFEisFAST.com. The Club’s breakthrough instructional Web site now has a worldwide presenting sponsor in American Honda and an international ambassador in Dario Franchitti. With the help of American Honda, the […]
For those who have been patiently – or not so patiently – waiting to watch Mario’s interview by club prez Bobby Rahal from the RRDC’s Evening with Mario Andretti presented by Firestone during the club’s annual banquet at Long Beach last week, here it is. If you were there, we’re sure you’d love an instant […]
The Fast Line is the subject of the 14th online instructional video in the Advanced Driving Techniques block of SAFEisFAST.com. The paper solution to “What is the fast line through this corner?” is never quite the exact answer. So many real world conditions factor into finding that magic trajectory: track surface changes, bumps, grip, use […]
