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 […]
Before a capacity crowd of auto racing dignitaries, sanctioning group and series representatives, corporate executives and champion racecar drivers, Mario Andretti was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club at the “RRDC Evening with Mario Andretti presented by Firestone” on Thursday night, April 10, prior to Sunday’s 40th running of the Toyota Grand Prix of […]
Lisa Noble has been selected president and chief executive officer of the Sports Car Club of America by its board of directors, effective immediately. Noble has held these posts on an interim basis since October 2013, around the time she was selected to membership in the RRDC. “We had a number of outstanding candidates for […]
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company will be presenting sponsor for the RRDC’s Evening with Mario Andretti April 10. This will be Firestone’s fifth consecutive year supporting the club’s Legends Banquet held annually in conjunction with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Also in its fifth consecutive year supporting the RRDC’s Long Beach celebration […]
Say these names aloud: Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman – and then add Mario Andretti. You’re among the men now. At the RRDC Legends Banquet, mere mortals get to hear racing’s mythic giants spin anecdotes, confess prejudices, share opinions and tell untold stories. And every year, on the Thursday before […]
George Bruggenthies, Road America president and general manager, reported the passing of fellow RRDC member and Road America board member Jim Jeffords on March 6. “Jim Jeffords was the definitive example of a gentlemen racer with a heart of gold,” said Bruggenthies. “He loved racing for the thrill of competition, not for the money. Jim […]
The new SAFEisFAST video is all about What It Takes To Be a Race Engineer. The 10th installment in the Career Development instructional block explains the skills and personality teams are looking for in a race engineer. Jeff Braun, chief race engineer for Level 5 Motorsports, leads this insightful piece with Roger Griffiths (Technical Director […]
In officially announcing the Honored Guest at the annual RRDC Legends Banquet in the run-up to the Long Beach Grand Prix, our president Mr. Rahal, paid homage in a note titled “That’s Mr. Andretti To You!” It almost sounded like he’d lost a bet; but really, it’s all true. According to Bobby: “Had his parents […]
Charlie Earwood, one of the best liked and most respected people in the motorsports industry, passed away today, Jan. 28. His death was first reported on Facebook by his son and fellow RRDC member Terry Earwood. “After failing health the past year, my Dad, Charles ‘Charlie’ Earwood passed away in his sleep peacefully at home […]
The only person surprised by Hurley Haywood being named recipient on the RRDC’s Phil Hill Award was Hurley Haywood. “When Bobby (RRDC President Rahal) called me up and told me I was going to get the Phil Hill Award, I was really shocked. Any time you could be in the same sentence with Phil Hill […]
As most know, RRDC member Memo Gidley was seriously injured in an horrific crash early in last weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. Gidley’s No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP hit the stalled No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F458 of Matteo Malucelli at unabated speed, caving in the front of his chassis. Gidley was cut […]
There are many people in this world with a driving passion for motorsports who have neither the physical skills nor the sheer luck so necessary in landing a regular seat in a professionally campaigned race car. However, the success of any motorsports operation depends so much on the skill and competence of a host of […]
RRDC gear is Old School – one of today’s most popular fashion categories. Wearing the RRDC logo says a lot about you. You’re in an exclusive group that has included the likes of Mark Donohue, Walt Hansgen and Juan Manuel Fangio… not to mention your own self. You’re in the RRDC because you’re special. If […]
A record 200 brilliant older race cars converged on south central Florida the first weekend in December for the annual HSR Sebring Historic Races. Featured was the seminal Porsche 935 JLP HD1 driven to victory in the 1982 12 Hours by John Paul, Jr. – IMSA’s youngest champion ever. To honor Paul, Jr. and to […]
Memo to retired drivers: Oh, we saw you gazing at the cars last year, your heads topped by thought bubbles big as billboards. “Maybe if I started exercising again, splashed out a few bucks for a drive and had the tailor loosen up the old Nomex ….” Today’s Rolex 24 is a flag-to-flag sprint in […]
SAFEisFAST is not only an artistic success with its high production values and unique content, but the RRDC’s online instructional Web site is being recognized for its value to young racers by a significant and steadily growing audience. The past few weeks, the site has reached several significant milestones: * 100,267 unique visitors with 187,508 […]
The RRDC’s Annual Dinner is set for Wednesday evening, January 22, 2014 at the usual place – The 500 Club in the infield of Daytona International Speedway. RRDC members and their guests are welcome at 5:00 pm for cocktails and tales of derring-do – aka, unabashed stretching of the truth. Dinner will start promptly – […]
Our members are in the news this week. Peter Brock is the latest recipient of the prestigious Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism from the Motor Press Guild. Allan McNish is retiring from full-time racing. Playstation’s Gran Turismo 6 will feature Mario Andretti’s first racecar. And Simona de Silvestro is a finalist for […]
The 2014 Sports Car Club of America Hall of Fame Class will include three members of the Road Racing Drivers Club: Bob Bondurant, Jim Downing and Dan Gurney. The induction ceremony will be held Saturday, March 8 during the SCCA National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Twenty other RRDC members – living and passed – are […]
Alan Wilson, one of the world’s top racetrack designers, has turned to the pen – cyber-pen, actually. Following on the heels of the excellent biography of his wife Desire Wilson – Driven by Desire – Wilson has tapped out a mystery revolving around the potential vulnerability of Formula 1 cars to cyberattack. This is how […]
