JOCHEN MASS: 1946-2025
Jochen Mass, German Grand Prix,
Nürburgring, 1973, Porsche AG
Jochen Mass
RRDC President, Bobby Rahal, on remembering long-time RRDC member, former Formula 1 racing driver and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Jochen Mass who passed away on Sunday, May 4th, 2025.
“I am greatly saddened by the passing of my friend Jochen Mass. He was not just a distinguished driver but a gentlemen and true sportsman, who represented so well the sport we all love.
“He and I drove together to claim victory in the 1987 Sebring 12 Hours driving a Porsche 962C. And later that year, we combined to win the Champion Spark Plug Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio in a Porsche 962.
“The RRDC sends its sincere sympathies to Bettina Mass and their lovely family. And to say we’ve all lost a great friend is a monumental understatement.
Jochen, Sydne and Bettina. Bill Warner photo
“RIP, my friend, and thank you for the memories.”
Jochen Mass Racing History
Mass was born on September 30, 1946 in Dorfen, Upper Bavaria.
His motor racing talents were first discovered in hill climbs where he performed so impressively that he was offered a contact by Ford in 1970 to race the factory-prepared Capris, winning the European touring car series in 1972.
Ford Capri 1972. Bill Warner photo
The move into single-seaters came that year with his first races in Formula 3 and then his first Formula 2 victory in a works March at the Nürburgring, a circuit of 14 miles and 174 corners whose challenge he loved. For 1973 he raced for the works Surtees team in Formula 2 before graduating to Formula 1 with the same team for 1974 and collecting his only F1 victory the following year at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Arrow in the esses at the Glen. Bill Warner photo
Mass found his most success in sports cars. Between 1976 and 1987, he was a permanent member of the Porsche works team, racing cars such as the 935, 936, 956 and 962.
Manfred Schurti, Rolf Stommelen, Manfred Jantke, Jochen Mass, Jacky Ickx (left to
right) surrounded by Porsche 935 (left) and Porsche 936 (right). Porsche AG
Le Mans pit stop. Bill Warner photo
He started on the pole for the 24 Hour of Le Mans three times, once in 1978 with Martini Porsche 936 and back-to-back with Rothmans Porsche 962C in 1985 and 1986. Teamed with Vern Schuppan, he finished second at Le Mans in 1982. However, he wouldn’t win the storied event until he joined Sauber-Mercedes, winning in 1989 with Manuel Reuters and Stanley Dickens as his co-drivers.
Tertre Rouge, Sauber-Mercedes, Le Mans win, 1989. Bill Warner photo
Mass ended his racing career in 1992 with an impressive record:
- More than 400 races
- 105 Grand Prix starts
- 71 World Championship points
- Winner of the German Racing Championship
- European Touring Car Champion
- Porsche Cup winner
- German Sports Car Champion
- Le Mans winner with Sauber-Mercedes.
Jochen Mass together with Derek Bell (left)
and Hans-Joachim Stuck (center) at a media
event in Leipzig. Porsche AG
“We are very saddened by the news of his death. Jochen Mass was a driver with depth. One who could understand the car like few others”, says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsports. “He had an excellent feel for technology and for everything that makes a team strong. We are losing a remarkable driver and a trusted companion who was with us for many years. His legacy extends well beyond his success – it lives in memories, in stories and in his way of thinking about motorsports. Our thoughts are with his family.”
2020: Jochen Mass (left) and Norbert Singer at the Retro Classics. Porsche AG.
RRDC Member Jim Busby Remembers Jochen Mass
Sept 29, 1985, the 500 km of the Glen. Jochen was my co-driver in the Porsche 962 B.F. Goodrich car and we were on the outside of the front row. Al Holbert and Derek Bell qualified on the pole and were on the inside.
Busby-Mass pitstop at Daytona. Bill Warner photo
We took off and raced them the whole race long. And I don’t know where we passed them, but we did, and we won the race.
So Jochen says, “Come on, let’s go to the winner’s circle.” We go to the winner’s circle, and we get the medals on. And all of a sudden they change their mind and say, “Al Holbert won the race.”
I’m livid. But Jochen…he was the most mellow guy that ever lived…just smiled and said, “Well, that’s the way it goes sometimes.”
Jim Busby, Darin Brassfield, Jochen Mass, John Morton.
Jim Busby photo
And he says, “Buzz, calm down, man. There’ll be plenty more of these.”
We became very close and we remained great friends to the end. Some people think Jochen was a little conceited. But he was just a normal guy who was quiet.
I watched him go through every change in life, and he always came out smiling on the other side. And you couldn’t fluster the guy, and that’s one of the reasons he was such a great race car driver and one of the best co-drivers I ever had.
We saw each other constantly, often at historic events after our careers, and we remained dear friends to the end.
RRDC Member Bill Warner Remembers Jochen Mass
Chuck Queener artwork for Amelia Island 2104.
Bill Warner photo
He was a really wonderful man. Great sense of humor, at times self-deprecating, always positive, though. He was a racing treasure.
First story:
He was asked to drive the McLaren he raced on the McLaren Team with James Hunt for the filming of “Rush.” When he went to the wardrobe lady to get his garb for the filming, she asked, “Who are you?” Of course he answered “Jochen Mass.”
“No”, she said. “That is who you are playing. Who are you really?”
To which he answered, “I am really Jochen Mass.”
I guess she got it.
Marlboro McLaren . . . a wee bit of oversteer. Bill Warner photo
Second Story:
Last year, Mercedes-Benz flew Jochen over to drive one of the W196s for a media demonstration at the Salinas Airport. But Mercedes-Benz would not pay for his room. Go figure, as I don’t understand it. In any event, I had a spare bed and he used that. It was a great weekend with my friend. We hit the Monterey Fish House, he came to the track (Laguna Seca) and just had fun like a couple of kids. It will be a time I will always remember.
In his retirement, David Hinton of HSR, had him come over and drive a Porsche 911 in the 24 Hour Heritage race. Now think of this, here is a man who won Le Mans and raced in Formula 1, mixing it up with the great unwashed. And he did it for the fun of doing it. I can’t imagine Lewis Hamilton doing anything even remotely similar. He was an enthusiast who loved racing and racing people and it showed. I will miss his smile and sense of humor.
Bill Warner photo
RRDC CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF RACING IN THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH AT FUNDRAISING GALA PRESENTED BY FIRESTONE
All proceeds from silent and live auctions benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation
and The Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach
LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 11, 2025) – The Road Racing Drivers Club, in cooperation with the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, celebrated the Grand Prix’s 50 years of racing through the streets of this port city, at a gala held Thursday at the Westin Hotel in Long Beach.
A record crowd of nearly 600 racing luminaries representing a variety of racing series, including INDYCAR, IMSA, NHRA, SRO and others, were in attendance at the dinner presented by Firestone.
The evening featured TV commentator Ralph Sheheen as M.C. and RRDC president Bobby Rahal as host and interviewer of the honored guests representing the half-century of competition in Long Beach:
Mario Andretti – victor at Long Beach four times and credited with establishing the race as a world-class event, winning the 1977 Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix West and the 1984 race when the event switched to Indy cars.
Al Unser Jr.– the winningest driver at Long Beach, with six victories (1988-91 and 1994-95) over a dominant eight-year span.
Brian Redman – winner of the inaugural Long Beach race in 1975, an SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 event, which set the stage for Formula 1 to race on the city streets for the next eight years.
Jim Michaelian, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO, was recognized for his many years of success with the Grand Prix by the incoming new owners of the GPLB, Penske Entertainment. Bud Denker, President of Penske Corporation, presented Michaelian with a helmet signed by all the current INDYCAR drivers and a photographic montage of the event’s rich history, saying, “We’re going to invest in this event. We’re going to be here for another 50 years, we hope, as well…. Jim, your amazing team here has put this event on and it’s incredible what you’ve created here.”
Denker also gave a shout-out to Chris Pook, whose brainstorm initially helped launch the GPLB in 1975: “I think it’s respectful to honor the person that’s been really driving the train here and, Chris, thank you for all your leadership for all these years.”
Said Michaelian: “I want to thank our staff, our volunteers, and quite frankly, those who have come along in the past and contributed to our success. Because, without them, we never would’ve been able to achieve what we have. And quite frankly, the promise of the future is very bright.”
Rahal, in his usual “Late Night with David Letterman” style, then interviewed the legendary drivers and co-Grand Marshals of this year’s Grand Prix, eliciting amusing stories of not only their time racing in Long Beach but at other venues around the world throughout their legendary careers. Laughter filled the room.
The party ended with a live auction of famed artist Bill Patterson’s 60×42 original painting – which he completed during the two-hour reception – depicting the race cars from Formula 5000, Formula 1 and INDYCAR, driven by the honorees to victory at Long Beach, with the city as a backdrop. The bidding was fierce, resulting in a promise of a second painting being commissioned, each going for $20,000.
“This was a wonderful event for all of us,” said Andretti. “And to have been able to participate [at Long Beach] right from the very beginning, having the success that we had, my own son winning his first, and his very last INDYCAR race here, it’s got something very special that it’s hard to even express properly. It’s a marquee event for all of us. Thank you.”
From Brian Redman: “It’s great to be back here for the 50th anniversary. I was rather lucky to win in 1975, because Mario Andretti, Tony Brise, and Al Unser Sr. all broke down. I had a mechanical problem and I had to take it easy, relatively. It’s wonderful to be recognized for that accomplishment 50 years ago. I wish Penske Entertainment all the best.”
“It was a great evening,” said Unser Jr. “It was something that comes only once in a lifetime, and for me to be included with legends like Brian Redman and Mario Andretti was just a true honor and a dream come true.”
“This is really the granddaddy of street circuits in this country, despite many, many efforts of other cities to have something like it,” said Rahal. “This is the one that made it. It was two people here tonight who truly saw something that nobody else did. The one in particular that made this happen was Chris Pook. Of course, he had great help with people like Dan Gurney, who was a big fan of the event. Phil Hill and others jumped on board Chris’s train that was taking this event to where we are today.
“I’d also like to thank tonight and recognize Jim Michaelian. I believe Jim started initially as the CFO and then eight years later took over management and CEO of the race. That Jim worked here all 50 years is pretty amazing. Thank you, Jim. It’s great having leadership that’s being directed by you. Thank you for everything.”
Al Unser Jr., Brian Redman, Mario Andretti and Bobby Rahal enjoy a laugh during the interview. (Albert Wong photo)
Al Unser Jr., Brian Refman, Mario Andretti and Bobby Rahal. (Albert Wong photo)
Jim Michaelian, center, with Bud Denker of Penske Corporation (right), and Bobby Rahal, as Michaelian is presented a photographic montage commemorating his longtime success with the Grand Prix of Long Beach. (Albert Wong photo)
Artist Bill Patterson puts the finishing touches on his original painting commemorating the three cars driven at Long Beach by the honorees. (Albert Wong photo)
All proceeds of the dinner benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation, which supports the RRDC’s SAFEisFAST initiative, and the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach, which supports charities in the Long Beach area, including the Long Beach City College’s Automotive Technology Program.
In previous years, the RRDC has honored individual icons of the sport: Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford. David Hobbs, Rick Mears, Jacky Ickx and Sir Jackie Stewart. These RRDC galas are acknowledged as highlights of the auto-racing social calendar, drawing fans and luminaries from all forms of motorsports.
The RRDC thanks its sponsors and supporters of the gala, which include SEMA/PRI; Yamaava’ Casino & Resort; SRO; Performance Tire Service Co.; Robert and Pamela Funari Family; McLaren Newport Beach; Michael Bealmear Family; Club Wheelhouse; West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame; O’Neill Vintners & Distillers; V-12 Vineyards; Pruett Vineyard; Omologato; and Bring a Trailer.
YAAMAVA’ RESORT & CASINO AT SAN MANUEL TO HOST “VICTORY LAP AFTER PARTY” AT RRDC CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS OF THE GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH, APRIL 10, 2025
Tickets to gala celebrating 50 years of racing in the streets of Long Beach, presented by Firestone and honoring Andretti, Unser Jr. and Redman, still available
LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 4, 2025) – Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel, an elite entertainment destination in Southern California, will support the “Victory Lap After Party” at the April 10 RRDC Celebration of 50 Years of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, presented by Firestone. The event’s proceeds will benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation of the Road Racing Drivers Club and The Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach.
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino offers premium casino gaming, live performances from iconic artists, luxury resort accommodations, award-winning dining, and a world-class spa. Since its opening in 2022, the resort has booked some of the hottest names in live entertainment, such as Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Nicks, Janet Jackson, Ed Sheeran and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
“We are pleased to have Yaamava’ Resort & Casino support the ‘Victory Lap After Party’ following our gala evening celebrating the golden anniversary of racing in the streets of Long Beach,” said RRDC president Bobby Rahal. “Their support will help benefit the RRDC’s longtime initiatives plus the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach.”
The gala will be held at the Westin Hotel in Long Beach, California. This annual RRDC dinner honoring legends and iconic events will feature Grand Prix of Long Beach co-Grand Marshals Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Brian Redman.
More details may be found, and tickets may be purchased, at the RRDC web site rrdc.org. All are welcome. This event is expected to sell out, so early reservations are recommended.
The RRDC also welcomes a number of other sponsors and supporters of the gala, which include SEMA/PRI; SRO; Performance Tire Service Co.; Robert and Pamela Funari Family; McLaren Newport Beach; Michael Bealmear Family; Club Wheelhouse; West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame; O’Neill Vintners & Distillers; V-12 Vineyards; Pruett Vineyard; Omologato; and Bring a Trailer.
About Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel:
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel is the only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star and Four-Star-rated and AAA Five-Diamond-rated entertainment destination in the Inland Empire (IE), featuring a 17-floor hotel with spacious suites, an elevated pool deck, a Forbes Five Star spa and salon, and a state-of-the-art theater. Recently named the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas and Best Casino Restaurant for its Pines Modern Steakhouse as well as Best Native American Casino and Best Overall Casino Outside of Las Vegas by the Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards, Yaamava’ is located just 70 miles from downtown Los Angeles in Highland, CA. The Casino has more than 7,400 slots, five high-limit gaming rooms, luxury retail shops, a wide variety of award-winning dining options, and more than a dozen bars and lounges, including IE’s premiere sports bar, The 909 Food Hall. The San Manuel Entertainment Authority owns and operates Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. www.yaamava.com, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads and X.
SEMA/PRI SUPPORTS RECEPTION AT APRIL 10 RRDC CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS OF RACING IN LONG BEACH
Tickets to gala celebrating 50 years of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, presented by Firestone and honoring Andretti, Unser Jr. and Redman, still available
LONG BEACH, Calif. (March 24, 2025) – SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), whose mission is to foster the success of the automotive aftermarket, and PRI (Performance Racing Industry), a key resource for the motorsports industry, will support the reception at the April 10 RRDC Celebration of 50 Years of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, presented by Firestone. The event’s proceeds will benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation of the Road Racing Drivers Club and The Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach.
SEMA and PRI are both dedicated to advancing the motorsports industry and fostering innovation and growth.
“SEMA is proud to join the Road Racing Drivers Club in celebrating 50 years of racing at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. This milestone is a testament to the RRDC’s and the Grand Prix’s unwavering dedication to the sport and the vibrant communities both have built over the years. We are honored to support the gala and celebrate this significant achievement with the RRDC and the Grand Prix of Long Beach. Here’s to continued success and innovation in road racing for many more years to come,” said Mike Spagnola, President and CEO of SEMA.
“We are honored to have SEMA and PRI join us to celebrate the golden anniversary of racing through the streets of the City of Long Beach,” said RRDC president Bobby Rahal. “Their sponsorship will benefit the RRDC’s longtime initiatives plus the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach. We welcome their gracious support.”
The gala will be held at the Westin Hotel in Long Beach, California. This annual RRDC dinner honoring legends and iconic events will feature Grand Prix of Long Beach co-Grand Marshals Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Brian Redman.
More details may be found, and tickets may be purchased, at the RRDC web site rrdc.org. All are welcome. This event is expected to sell out, so early reservations are recommended.
(Image courtesy of Grand Prix of Long Beach)
About SEMA and PRI:
Together, SEMA and PRI foster growth, innovation, and success in the automotive aftermarket and motorsports industries, offering their members product development resources, market research, networking, education, legislative advocacy and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology. They also produce the two biggest annual automotive aftermarket and motorsports industry trade shows in the world: the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and the PRI Show in Indianapolis, Ind. For more information, visit SEMA and Performance Racing.
SKIP BARBER INDUCTED INTO THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA
SKIP BARBER INDUCTED INTO THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA
Skip Barber reached motorsport’s highest echelon this week when he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame.
At the official celebration in Daytona Beach, Florida, on March 10 to 11, Barber’s legacy as a visionary who reshaped American motorsports was cemented.
Skip and Judy Barber celebrating Skip’s induction into the Hall of Fame. [Judy Stropus image]
But when he transitioned from the cockpit to the classroom with the opening of the Skip Barber Racing School, his influence accelerated.
“There is no driving school as recognizable as Skip Barber,” said Mario Andretti, who sent his sons, Michael and Jeff, and grandson Marco through Barber’s programs.
Longtime Barber instructor Terry Earwood puts it another way: “I put Skip up there with Wally Parks, Bill France, and P.T. Barnum. They had a vision of what they wanted to do, and they did it.”
Convinced that racing was a teachable craft, he founded the Skip Barber Racing School in 1975 at Lime Rock and Thompson Speedway, funded by a loan supposedly for a bathroom remodel.
The early days were lean — the first class had just four students and two borrowed cars. “We used to joke they’d call it Skip Barter Racing,” said Carl Lane-Lopez, one of the school’s first instructors. “He bartered for trucks, airplane rides, haircuts — you name it.”
Since 1975, the school has produced champions across nearly every professional racing series, from Formula 1 to the Indy 500, the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 24, and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Celebrities like Paul Newman, Jerry Seinfeld and Tom Cruise also honed their driving skills under Barber’s tutelage.
Through its defensive driving programs, the school has saved countless lives on public roads and profoundly impacted the sport by training an entire generation of mechanics, engineers, administrators and marketing specialists.
Barber sold the school in 1999 but continued working there until 2001.
In 1983, Barber spearheaded a group of investors to purchase Lime Rock Park, eventually becoming sole owner. In 2021, he sold the track to a like-minded group of investors committed to preserving Lime Rock’s legacy and remains a significant shareholder and an active member of the management team. – The Lakeville Journal
MUST READ: PETE LYONS “MY TRAVELS ON RACER ROAD”
“My Travels On Racer Road: Can-Am and Formula 1 in their golden age,” by Pete Lyons, is now available in the U.S.
As Sir Jackie Stewart states in the book’s Foreword, “Pete Lyons was one of the best journalists in Formula 1 at the time I was racing.” Lyons himself writes that when he became obsessed with motor racing, “It felt like my true road.” He witnessed Chaparral, Lola, McLaren and Porsche create ever-more-monstrous Can-Am beasts to be tamed by the likes of Jim Hall, John Surtees, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Mario Andretti and Mark Donohue. His cameras, notebooks and typewriter also were there when Tyrrell, Lotus, McLaren and Ferrari were the dominant forces in Formula 1, with Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda and James Hunt the World Champion drivers.
Immersed in this golden age of racing, Lyons brought a unique blend of evocative description and fastidious factual detail to his craft, putting his devoted readers at the heart of the action. This captivating memoir will transport the reader back to those times.
Key content:
- Early travels, including criss-crossing the USA in his family’s pre-war Rolls-Royce and by Vincent motorcycle in the late 1950s, then discovering Europe’s racing scene as an impecunious wanderer in the early 1960s.
- Breaking into professional reporting from 1964 for the UK’s Autosport alongside his father Ozzie Lyons, with assignments embracing IndyCar, endurance sports cars, Formula 1 and more, and getting to know the great names in these worlds.
- Falling in love with the Can-Am upon its inception in 1966 and following this “big-banger” racing closely for seven seasons, during which “Riding with Revvie” — laps with 1971 series champion Peter Revson in a McLaren M8F — was among the highlights. Lyons’s travels “on racer road” took him all over North America by Volvo station wagon, Ford van and Honda CB750 motorcycle.
- Embarking in 1973 upon four seasons of global travels with the Formula 1 “circus” and all the diversions that came with that, including time spent with Emerson Fittipaldi at his home in Brazil and a British rallying odyssey as Denny Hulme’s navigator.
- Around Europe, Lyons’s means of travel included his Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, a VW camper van that doubled as mobile office and hotel, and rented private aircraft that he flew to races himself.
- In his post-nomadic life, Lyons has been plying his trade ever since as a writer, photographer and editor.
About the Author:
Born in 1940 in New York State, Pete Lyons is an international motorsports reporter, photographer and award-winning book author in the fields of Formula 1, Can-Am, endurance sports cars, IndyCar, Trans-Am and many more forms of racing. In his decades-long, worldwide career, Lyons covered events on all six populated continents for numerous enthusiast publications, including Autosport, AutoWeek, Car and Driver, Racecar, Road & Track, Vintage Motorsport and many others. He is also the author of 20 published books including, for Evro Publishing, Shadow: The Magnificent Machines of a Man of Mystery, which won ‘Specialist Motoring Book of the Year’ at the 2020 Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year Awards (UK) and ‘Best Book’ at the 2021 Automotive Heritage Awards (USA).
Pete Lyons’s new memoir is available directly from the author, complete with his personalized signature, at his website.
SAFEisFAST – USE YOUR FEET
Fellow racers,Mario Andretti once said, “It’s amazing how many drivers think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.” That’s because the best know that your pedal inputs are all about weight transfer.
The concept of steering with your feet might sound odd, but understanding it will help you lower your lap times and be more consistent no matter what car you’re driving.
In this film, learn from our stellar roster of INDYCAR champion Alex Palou, Rolex 24 winners Nick Tandy, Matt Campbell and Dennis Olsen, IMSA champion Laurin Heinrich, WEC champion Antonio Felix da Costa and Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich.
Bobby Rahal
SAFEisFAST.com
BOB SHARP: 1939–2025
Bob Sharp passed away Feb. 28, 11 days shy of his 86th birthday.
Sharp was the east coast driving force for the Japanese entry into motorsports; Peter Brock was Sharp’s west coast equivalent. Between 1965 and ‘76, Sharp drove a variety of Datsuns and Nissans to six SCCA national championships: 1967 (FProd, 1600); ’71 (BSedan, 510); ’72 (CProd, 240Z and BSecan, 510); ’73 (CProd, 240Z) and ’75 (CProd 280Z). During that period, he posted 13 podium finishes at the SCCA Runoffs and won an IMSA GTU title as well. His Connecticut Datsun/Nissan dealership increased sales 10-fold based on Sharp’s racing success.
When Paul Newman stuck his toe into the amateur racing pond, Bob Sharp became his friend and mentor. Their association resulted in four SCCA national titles and dozens of race wins. Jim Fitzgerald also notched a GT1 championship driving for Bob Sharp Racing and was runner-up twice to Newman.
Newman and Sharp.
Son Scott Sharp followed his father’s road racing success, winning three Runoffs Gold medals and the SCCA TransAm Championship in ’91 and ’93. Graduating to open wheel in ’96, he was co-champion of the inaugural IRL season, sat on pole for the 2001 Indianapolis 500 and notched nine wins in a 13-year career. In IMSA, he was 2008 ALMS P1 Champion and scored 13 victories over 11 years.
Scott and his dad.
Bob Sharp was inducted into the Sports Car Club of America Hall of Fame in 2018.
“BRING A TRAILER” AUCTION TO BENEFIT THE MARK DONOHUE FOUNDATION
The popular Bring A Trailer online auction site is offering a special VIP package, the sale of which will benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation of the Road Racing Drivers Club and The Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach.
The Auction ends this Thursday, March 6. Bidding is at https://bringatrailer.com/listing/experience/.
Also benefitting these initiatives is the RRDC Celebration of 50 Years of the Grand Prix of Long Beach presented by Firestone on April 10, 2025 – a gala to be held at the Westin Hotel in Long Beach. This annual RRDC dinner honoring legends and iconic events will feature Grand Prix of Long Beach co-Grand Marshals Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Brian Redman.
Tickets may be purchased at rrdc.org.
Items in the auction include a four-night luxury suite stay at the Hilton Long Beach hotel, reserved viewing for the Grand Prix itself (April 11-13) and two tickets to the RRDC gala dinner. The winners will be seated with RRDC president Bobby Rahal and will get a photo opportunity with the 50th Anniversary co-Grand Marshals.
“I am personally looking forward to hosting the winners of this auction at the gala celebrating 50 years of racing in the streets of Long Beach,” said Rahal. “The proceeds from this auction will benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation, which in turn supports the successful RRDC initiative, SAFEisFAST.
“We at the RRDC are also proud to support The Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach.”
FIRESTONE IS BACK AS PRESENTING SPONSOR OF RRDC CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS OF THE GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH
Firestone returns as presenting sponsor of the expanded Road Racing Drivers Club annual legends dinner in Long Beach, California, on Thursday, April 10. The 2025 gala will celebrate the 50 years of racing on the streets of Long Beach, California, and will honor Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Brian Redman – legendary drivers from the Grand Prix’s rich history.
The “RRDC Celebration of 50 Years of the Grand Prix of Long Beach Presented by Firestone” is the RRDC’s 15th banquet honoring auto racing’s most influential leaders and iconic events. This is Firestone’s 14th year as presenting sponsor of the RRDC gala, and the brand has been affiliated with the Grand Prix of Long Beach for almost three decades.
The dinner and gala will be held at a new venue – the Westin Long Beach Hotel at 333 E. Ocean Blvd. – one day before the start of the 50th Anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the third race of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
All proceeds of the dinner will benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation, which supports the RRDC’s SAFEisFAST initiative, and the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach, which supports charities in the Long Beach area. The Foundation’s proceeds from the gala will go to Long Beach City College’s Automotive Technology Program.
Tickets may be purchased on the RRDC web site rrdc.org. All are welcome. This event is expected to sell out, so early reservations are recommended.
“Having Firestone support the RRDC Long Beach dinner for more than a decade is a true privilege,” said RRDC President Bobby Rahal. “This year’s gala is very special, as it celebrates the 50 years that racing has taken place annually on the streets of this great port city.
“Firestone has an unrivaled heritage in motorsports dating back to the first Indy 500® in 1911. We always welcome Firestone’s support and salute the brand’s long-standing success and contributions to the sport.”
“Each year, the Road Racing Drivers Club event is a highlight of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend,” said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian. “And this year is especially meaningful as we join with the RRDC in honoring three true legends of the sport—Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr., and Brian Redman. Their contributions to Long Beach motorsports history have inspired generations of drivers and fans alike, and we are thrilled to celebrate their incredible legacies during this special evening.”
In previous years, the RRDC has honored individual icons of the sport: Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford. David Hobbs, Rick Mears, Jacky Ickx and Sir Jackie Stewart. These RRDC galas are acknowledged as highlights of the auto-racing social calendar, drawing fans and luminaries from all forms of motorsports.
SAFEisFAST LEGENDS – PATRICK LONG PORSCHE’S AMERICAN ICON
Fellow racers, the latest instalment of our RRDC Legends Series features two-time Le Mans winner and Porsche factory driver Patrick Long.
In this video, we sat down with Patrick to hear his advice for young drivers and about his time as Porsche’s sole North American representative for 18 seasons.
Patrick also recalls his debut victory at La Sarthe and emphasizes the importance of diverse driving experience to help you become a better driver.
Bobby Rahal
SAFEisFAST.com
DOUG BOLES TO RUN BOTH IMS AND INDYCAR
Longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles will now also be president of the NTT IndyCar Series, a move that Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles says will benefit both organizations.
“Doug is the perfect guy to lead us in this time with this opportunity,” Miles stated. “Doug is well understood to be one of the best and most effective promoters and marketers in racing, and IMS has been the beneficiary of that through his leadership there. To be able to apply that skillset and background from Doug to both IMS and IndyCar made a lot of sense.
Doug Boles [USA Today image]
Boles had been president of IMS for seven years when Penske Entertainment bought out the Hulman family in 2020 and was retained in that position. In the past five years, he has managed more than $150m in strategic investments at the Speedway and overseen the sellout of the 100th Indianapolis 500, thought to be the event’s first full-capacity crowd.
“Racing is in my DNA, and no form of racing resonates more personally and strongly with me than the NTT IndyCar Series,” Boles said. “I’m honored to lead the amazing team at IndyCar, and I truly believe the future is bigger and brighter than ever for our sport and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“I’m extremely grateful to Mark Miles for this opportunity, and fans can rest assured the hard work is already under way and 2025 will be a fantastic season.”
CHRIS POOK HONORED BY THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach founder and visionary Chris Pook — who is largely regarded as the father of modern-day street course road racing in North America — will be doubly honored at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) 37th Induction Ceremony Presented by Toyota Racing Tuesday, March 11, at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort. Just weeks before the 50th running of America’s premier street course race in Long Beach, Calif., Pook will be presented with the prestigious Bob Russo Heritage Award and serve as the Honorary Chair of the formal gala honoring MSHFA’s Class of 2025 inductees.
In addition to Pook’s entry into MSHFA as just the 17th Heritage Award recipient in the Hall’s nearly 40-year history, the complete Class of 2025 includes Skip Barber (Sports Cars), Miguel Duhamel (Motorcycles), Carl Haas (Open Wheel), Ed Iskenderian (At Large), Dale Jarrett (Stock Cars), Tony Schumacher (Drag Racing), Bill Stroppe (Off Road), Louie Unser (Historic) and William K. Vanderbilt (Historic).
The MSHFA’s highest honor next to induction, the Bob Russo Heritage Award is named in recognition of the longtime motorsports journalist and historian and is presented only by the recommendation of the MSHFA Board of Directors in recognition of the recipient’s contributions to motorsports.
Among the recent motorsports powerbrokers awarded the Bob Russo Heritage honor is Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO Johnny Morris, who was the first recipient of the award since 2017 at the 2023 MSHFA Induction Celebration. Last year, the first dual Heritage Award recipients in MSHFA history were presented with the honor, with Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, the owner and president of In-N-Out Burger, for her efforts to preserve the future of drag racing in the U.S., and Edsel B. Ford II, the “Godfather” of Ford Motor Company’s racing efforts and a prominent ambassador for the sport of auto racing globally.
In addition to his Heritage Award honor, Ford was also the first to simultaneously serve last year as an Induction Ceremony Honorary Chair. Pook will capably fill those big shoes next month in Daytona as he accepts the Bob Russo Heritage Award in addition to presiding over the 37th Induction Ceremony presented by Toyota Racing as the 2025 Honorary Chair.
“It will be with great humility and considerable pride that I will accept this dual honor at the annual Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Induction Ceremony presented by Toyota Racing in March,” Pook said. “Of particular significance is that it comes on the 50th Anniversary of the first Long Beach Grand Prix, which would not have occurred without the help and support of many people, particularly the late Dan Gurney who embraced and supported the concept from the very start! I would also like to thank MSHFA President George Levy and the entire Board of Directors at the Motorsports Hall of Fame for bestowing this great honor, not only to me, but also indirectly on the City of Long Beach and everyone on the GPALB, Inc. team, past and present, who have shepherded the event to where it is today. Thank you!”
Inheriting his entrepreneurial spirit from his father, who ran a variety of small businesses, Pook was properly educated at a series of private schools in his native England before attending the Sorbonne University in Paris. He soon set his sights on America in 1963 when he was 22 and – after a day or two in New York City – decided the sunshine and business potential of Southern California better suited him. He settled in Long Beach, just south of Los Angeles, and started a successful travel agency.
Days after watching the Monaco Grand Prix on TV in 1973, Pook was working in his office listening to a mid-week radio broadcast of that May’s rain-delayed Indianapolis 500 and had the idea of a Monaco-style street race in Long Beach. While ideally located between Los Angeles and Orange County in the greater LA region, Long Beach lacked the sunny beach glamour of its neighbors and had instead developed into more of a seaside port town known more for its bars and adult movie theaters.
Unwavering in his focus and even relentless when on a mission, Pook soon convinced both the city of Long Beach and Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone a major open-wheel street race would not only work in Long Beach but could transform the city into a Southern California destination similar in appeal to the region’s surrounding locales.
Pook in his element. [racer.com image]
The success of the 1975 race opened the door to the first Formula 1 event just over six months later in April of 1976. A victory by American Mario Andretti (MSHFA Class of 1990) in the 1977 race provided a major buzz in mainstream U.S. news, and around the world, and the Grand Prix of Long Beach was off and running. Formula 1 headlined at Long Beach for nine years before rising costs compelled Pook to switch to CART and Indy cars in 1984, and the race continued to grow.
Toyota became the race’s title sponsor in 1981 and over the following 38 years was Pook’s most powerful business partner. In that time, Pook’s “crazy idea” to go racing in the streets became a model copied across North America for bringing racing to the people and using it to rebuild flagging urban communities. Today celebrating its 50th anniversary, the now-Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach stands as IndyCar’s second biggest event outside of the Indianapolis 500 and is recognized throughout the world.
The 37th MSHFA Induction Celebration Presented by Toyota Racing takes place March 10 – 11 at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort. The black-tie gala is the crowning event of this year’s two-day Induction Celebration. For the complete two-day schedule, additional information and to purchase tickets, visit the MSHFA at http://www.mshf.com or contact MSHFA president Levy at (248) 895-1704 or glevy@mshf.com. – Article by the staff of racer.com
BOB BAILEY ON BEING REUNITED WITH HIS 1968 PORSCHE 911L
Bob Bailey, the founder of Racemark International, a manufacturer of automotive-interior products and a member of the RRDC since 2015 told this story Wall Street Journal contributor A. J. Baime about being reunited with his 1968 Porsche 911L.
“I grew up in a little town in upstate New York called Burnt Hills and started racing cars when I was 18. In 1968, the Porsche factory built a small number of 911 “Lightweights” specifically to compete in the Sports Car Club of America Trans-Am Series in the U.S. According to my records, my car was the first of these imported, and I got it through Bob Holbert, a famous racing driver and Porsche dealer at the time. I got it about three weeks before the Trans-Am race at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, and I immediately started work to get it ready.
“This car came from the factory with all lightweight equipment. We put in a roll cage and a fuel cell. My teammate, Jim Locke, and I took it to Lime Rock and came in fifth overall and second in the under 2-liter class.
“We raced this car all over the country for two years. The Trans-Am series during this era was some of the greatest racing of all time, with Mark Donohue and Parnelli Jones—two of the best drivers of the era—competing. Then we formed a team with Porsche of America, painted the car white with blue stripes and raced it for another two years, including at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona against drivers like Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, and the actor Steve McQueen [the latter race, now called the Rolex 24, was held last weekend].
“In those days, we never realized that these beat-up race cars would be worth anything. When I sold this car, I got whatever I could for it. I never imagined that I would see it again.
“Some years later, I got a phone call from a movie director and producer in Los Angeles named Michael Scott, who had purchased the 911. He knew I was the original owner, and I sent him press clippings and photographs. He spent years restoring this car to how it was originally when I raced it in the ’60s, with my name painted on it and everything. The work was done by Alberto Ferroni at Ital Meccanica in Huntington Beach, Calif., and he did an excellent job.
“Then, one day, Scott called me and said he was going to put the car up for auction. But he asked me, did I want to buy it? Scott was amazing, and he sold it to me for about what he had put into it. I think it was $155,000, about 10 years ago. Old race cars like this, with competition history, have skyrocketed in value.
“My son, Cannon, and I have raced the 1968 Porsche in vintage races around the country, and it has been amazing taking it back to the racetracks where I competed in it decades ago, like Sebring in Florida, Road America in Wisconsin and Laguna Seca in California. We have taken it on classic car rallies, like the Colorado Grand, a multiday tour for vintage cars crisscrossing Colorado on back roads.
“It is an incredible feeling to see this car and remember all the trials and tribulations we have been through together. And we are not done yet.” – As told to A.J. Baime, Wall Street Journal, Jan. 27, 2025.
TIM CINDRIC STEPPING BACK AT TEAM PENSKE
Tim Cindric is stepping back from the day-to-day operations of Team Penske where he has served as president for 25 years. Cindric joined Penske in 1999 and oversaw all competition operations in NASCAR, IndyCar, and sports car racing in both IMSA and the World Endurance Championship.
In addition, Cindric oversees Penske Technology Group, Penske Restoration, the Penske Heritage Center and the Penske Racing Museum.
Roger Penske and Tim Cindric. [ESPN image]
“I’ve decided I need to make a change that provides me with the flexibility I need at this stage of my career. I appreciate the understanding Roger has provided throughout our conversations, and I’m confident this team will continue to succeed as we have a proven leadership team in all areas.”
In his tenure as president of Team Penske, Cindric has overseen 10 Indy 500 wins, three Daytona 500 victories, and overall wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Rolex. The team has recorded eight IndyCar championships, five NASCAR Cup titles, one GTP and two DPi IMSA Sports Car championships and the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship title.
RRDC TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF THE LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX
Road Racing Drivers Club President Bobby Rahal and Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President Jim Michaelian cordially invite you to the RRDC Celebration of 50 years of the Grand Prix of Long Beach presented by Firestone.
Donations and proceeds from Silent and Live Auction items benefit
The Mark Donohue Foundation, which supports the RRDC’s
SAFEisFAST initiative, and the
Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach
scholarship fund and community support.
Click here for more event details:
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Donate Now to the Mark Donohue Foundation – SAFEisFAST Program
Donate Now to the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach
Sponsorship opportunities available.
Please contact Tim McGrane at TMcGrane4@gmail.com
Guest relations questions?
Please contact 2025 Event Coordinator
Cindy McGrane at Cindy.McGrane@gmail.com
CHARLIE PETER RECEIVES THE 2024 MARK DONOHUE AWARD BY THE RRDC
Charlie Peter, winner of both the 2024 Touring 2 and GT-2 SCCA® National Championships, was named the recipient of the Road Racing Drivers Club’s (RRDC) Mark Donohue Award. Peter was honored at the annual RRDC members’ dinner on January 22, prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season-opening round of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Selected by members of the RRDC each year since 1971, the award recognizes the driver exhibiting the most outstanding performance at the annual Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs® in terms of personal spirit and skill behind the wheel. Originally called the “Outstanding Performance Award,” the honor was later named after Mark Donohue, a former SCCA Champion, an inductee in the SCCA Hall of Fame and past president of the RRDC, following his death in 1975.
Charlie Peter holds the right corner of the Mark Donohue Award Coffee Table Top with Mark’s son David Donohue and award committee chair Calvin Stewart on his left. [Brian Cleary image]
Peter hustles his Phenix Label/Hoosier Tire BMW M2CS Cup around Road America, capturing the Touring 2 title Friday. [Jeff Loewe image]
“It was an incredible battle!” Peter said. “Learning from previous Runoffs starts with Kurt, I knew I had to stay on his bumper or get by him by Turn One. Luckily for me, Kurt had a slow gear shift after the green, which gave me the edge I needed into the first turn. I knew he’d get me back eventually, since he had the straightaway speed, but I figured I’d have a chance if I could keep pressure on him without wearing my tires.”
Regarding his tires, Peter noted that he was the only car on the grid starting the sprint race on scuffed tires.
“That was a genius decision by Mirl Swan,” he added. “We knew Kurt would have the pace for the race’s fastest lap, but as long as I didn’t let him run away, my tires would have the pace for the entirety of the race.”
Peter using maximum road in his KCR Phenix Label/Yokohama Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup in claiming the GT2 championship at Road America on Sunday. [Rick Corwine image]
”Honestly, I thought that was the end of my Runoffs in GT-2,” Peter said. “That is, until Bart Wolf let us pull the transmission out of one of the cars in his shop down the street. Making the grid alone felt like a huge win to me!”
Peter’s pair of wins achieved the rare Runoffs double, something his father Hans Peter accomplished in 2007, winning C Sports Racing and Formula Atlantic. Charlie credits his father for his development as a driver.
Charlie Peter hoists on of his two SCCA National Champiobnship trophies at Road America. [SCCA image]
The unique award has a glass top and sits on a race wheel with a historic provenance. RRDC member David Donohue, son of Mark Donohue, presented Peter with the award, which included a wheel donated by Meyer Shank Racing that was used on its No. 60 Acura GTP car in victories at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and the Mobil 1 Petit Le Mans with drivers Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun.
Peter found out that he had been selected for the Mark Donohue Award after a phone call from RRDC President Bobby Rahal.
“I was at work when I saw an incoming call from an unrecognized Ohio phone number. I figured if it was important, they could leave a message.” he said. “Thankfully, he left a message because after listening to the voicemail, I realized I had ignored a phone call from Bobby Rahal! Before calling him back, I prepared my INDYCAR driver contract acceptance speech.
“This is a considerable honor, an award I never through that I would achieve. Mark has been an idol of mine since I was young, and because of him, I take pride in working on the car that I race.”
Past recipients Calvin Stewart (2015) and SCCA Vice President Eric Prill (2017) joined Donohue in the presentation. – Judy Stropus
MIKE SHANK EARNS RRDC’S 2024 PHIL HILL AWARD
Mike Shank, team owner of Meyer Shank Racing, which competes in IMSA and INDYCAR, was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club with the 2024 Phil Hill Award. The 2019 award recipient, RRDC President Bobby Rahal, made the presentation at the annual RRDC members’ dinner on January 22 prior to the 63rd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Phil Hill [Al Satterwhite image]
It is named in honor of America’s first Formula 1 World Champion (in 1961), and is not only a tribute to his masterful accomplishments on the race track, it also recognizes his contributions as a great ambassador for the sport. Hill passed away in 2008.
Mike Shank first started racing professionally in 1989, competing in SCCA, Toyota Atlantic C2 Championship and the Indy Racing League. He eventually retired as a driver to become a team owner. He fielded cars in the Champ Car Toyota Atlantic Championship and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, earning Toyota Atlantic’s “Team Owner of the Year” Award twice in four years.
Mike Shank receives the prestigious Phil Hill Award from RRDC President Bobby Rahal. [Brian Cleary image]
The same year Shank managed the debut of the factory Acura Motorsports team in IMSA WeatherTech competition, giving the Acura NSX GT3 its first victory and pole position. Shank was also awarded the 2017 Rolex Bob Snodgrass Award of Excellence, presented by The Gorsline Company.
Mike Shank [Meyer-Shank Racing image]
“This is an awesome award and it represents something so special in racing,” said Rahal. “To me, Phil Hill was not only a great driver, he was a true gentleman and a great proponent of the sport. He represented motor racing to the world, especially in this country, in such a manner, such a fashion, that is something you had to admire.
“We’ve had a lot of great recipients of the Phil Hill Award over the years, and this year’s honoree is no different. When you think about who should get this award, you think of somebody who does it all and did it on his terms,” added Rahal. “Frankly, it was pretty easy to decide this year. We have a lot of respect for Mike Shank and all he’s done over the years. And some days probably didn’t look so bright [for Shank] but here he is representing Acura in IMSA and Honda in INDYCAR. Michael, congratulations, man. I think you are a worthy recipient of this great award.”
NBC sports commentator and RRDC member Leigh Diffey conducted an interview with Shank, eliciting this grateful comment from the team owner: “I’m overwhelmed,” said Shank. “I think it is an unbelievable honor and it just makes me feel pretty small. Everything I did in racing I did just to survive and try to advance to where I wanted to be, but to get recognized by the RRDC with the Phill Hill Award is beyond words.”
PATRICK LONG IS THE RRDC’S 2024 BOB AKIN AWARD WINNER
Patrick Long was named the 2024 recipient of the RRDC Bob Akin Award. He was honored at the annual Road Racing Drivers Club members’ dinner on January 22, prior to the running of the 63rd Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Each recipient of this honor, considered the top prize in motorsports for amateur, vintage/historic or semi-professional drivers, is selected by Akin’s son Bobby, RRDC members Brian Redman and Judy Stropus, and approved by RRDC president Bobby Rahal.
Patrick Long holds the distinctive Bob Akin Award, flanked by RRDC President Bobby Rahal, Judy Stropus and Bobby Akin, son of the late Bob Akin. [Brian Cleary image]
It was designed by Steuben Glass in Corning, New York, and is given to a driver who best exemplifies the extraordinary qualities and characteristics that Akin represented, including a passion for motorsports and automobiles, a high level of sportsmanship and fair play, and who has contributed to the sport of motor racing and the community at large.
Bob Akin
The primary award, etched with the names of the recipients, is displayed at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, New York. Each honoree receives a smaller replica.
A modern-day Porsche polymath, Patrick Long is familiar to the U.S. air-cooled car scene as one of the founding fathers of the Luftgekühlt brand for lovers of air-cooled Porsches. A Porsche Brand Ambassador and competition advisor for Porsche Motorsport, Long also heads up North America’s young driver development program, sharing almost 20 years of international experience as a Porsche factory driver with the sports car stars of tomorrow.
Long’s close ties to the brand were forged at the start of the new millennium, when his precocious talent in single-seaters came to the attention of Porsche’s scouts. Initially recruited as a Porsche Junior, Long found himself on the Works roster soon after, competing initially for The Racer’s Group in the ALMS endurance series and the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2004.
At home aboard every subsequent generation of 911 GT3 Cup, R and RSR, Long has claimed class wins for Porsche at the big four endurance classics, come second in class in IMSA and won the Blancpain GT World Challenge America.
He’s also won in the World Endurance Championship, twice reached the top step at Le Mans 24 Hours and won his class at both the Bathurst 12 Hours and the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
“This year’s recipient of the RRDC Bob Akin Award has a legendary pedigree, with wins and multiple championships,” said Akin. “His tenure with Porsche spanned over a decade, but that’s not why he was chosen. Like my father, our winner has a true passion for driving and the people involved in motorsport. You’ll still find him in historic events, often driving one of my dad’s old 935s, just because he loves it.
Patrick Long [Porsche Motorsports image]
“He also spends time working with young drivers and always takes time to provide advice, counsel, mentorship and guidance for people who are just getting started. What he and his team on the business side have put together, including [fellow] Akin Award winner Jeff Zwart, in creating Luftgekühlt, has transcended the car culture as a global phenomenon that brings people of all ages together to celebrate cars in a truly spectacular way.
“To me, the most important criteria of the Akin Award is being a good guy. I have known our winner for the better part of 20 years and have had the pleasure of watching his evolution as a driver and businessman. He is a truly good human. Please welcome Patrick Long.”
“I’m super honored and humbled,” said Long. “When I got this phone call from Bobby [Akin], I was emotional and it led me into a little bit of reflection. Everything that I’ve always known about Bob Akin is what a gentleman he was, what a competitor he was, what a leader he was, what a family man he was. All these things that you would aspire to be recognized for one day.
“When Bobby told me I’d be receiving this award, I felt a sense of relief and a sense of pride that the last four years have been a reset button for me. It’s been about being present, about being conscious, about being a leader and a family man, and everything that my ability didn’t allow me to do when I was a Works driver because I was just completely on edge and would do anything to put it on pole or bring a car across the finish line.
“I am very, very honored to accept this award and my pledge going forward is to think about who Bob Akin was as a character and to make myself available to the next generation and to lead my team in business, and my family, as Bob Akin would’ve done. Thanks for having me.” – Judy Stropus
LATEST SAFEisFAST VIDEO: MAXIMIZING CORNER ENTRY
Fellow racers, Corner entry is arguably the most important factor in turning out a good lap time. From your braking technique to your steering inputs, there’s a lot that determines your speed into every corner.
This is why our latest Guest Editor Scott Mansell, renowned driver coach and founder of Driver61, has chosen this topic for our first video of 2025.
In this film, learn from champion drivers, including Sebastien Bourdais, Marcus Ericsson, James Hinchcliffe, Sting Ray Robb, Conor Daly, Pietro Fittipaldi, Christian Lundgaard and Colton Herta, so you too can Maximize Corner Entry.
Check it out!
Bobby Rahal
SAFEisFAST.com
HELIO CASTRONEVES TO TAKE A CRACK AT THE DAYTONA 500
Since winning his fourth Indianapolis 500 in 2021, Helio Castroneves has expressed his desire to compete in the biggest race in NASCAR Cup Series racing – the Daytona 500.
On Monday, January 6, Castroneves got his wish, thanks to NASCAR Cup Series team owner Justin Marks and his Project91 team at Trackhouse Racing.
He will drive the No. 91 Wendy’s Chevrolet.
Castroneves Is one of only five drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 in back-to-back years when he won in 2001 and 2002. Since then, Josef Newgarden has become the sixth driver to win the Indy 500 back-to-back with his victories in 2023 and 2024.
Castroneves became a three-time winner in 2009 and finally reached the four-time Indy 500 winner level with a dramatic victory over Alex Palou in the 2021. Castroneves joined racing legends A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967 and 1977), the late Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987) and Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988 and 1991) to win the Indianapolis 500 four times in their career.
Justin Marks
Project91 was created by Marks to give top international drivers a chance to compete in NASCAR including Australian Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen, who won the Grant Park 220 Chicago Street Race on July 2, 2023. It was the first time a driver drove to victory in his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race since Johnny Rutherford won at Daytona in 1963.
The first Project91 driver was Kimi Raikkonen, competing at Watkins Glen in 2022 and Circuit of the Americas in ’23.
Castroneves is currently an ownership partner at Meyer Shank Racing in IndyCar and will compete in the 2025 Indianapolis 500 as he attempts to become the first five-time winner in the history of the famed race.
The No. 91 Chevrolet will carry the Wendy’s livery during the 2025 Speedweeks as he seeks to join Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt as the only drivers to win the both Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would enter a NASCAR race and certainly not the Daytona 500 with a team like Trackhouse Racing,” said Castroneves.
“This is an opportunity that nobody in their right mind could ever turn down. I am so thankful to Wendy’s for allowing me to wear their uniform and drive their car and Justin Marks and everyone that made this happen. I wish the race were tomorrow!”
[Story excerpted from a Bruce Martin article in SpeedSport News.]
REMINDER – RRDC ANNUAL MEMBERS DINNER AT DAYTONA
Thanks to the organizational skills of RRDC member Lisa Noble, the RRDC will hold its annual members’ dinner at the Daytona 500 Club in advance of the 63rd Rolex 24 At Daytona.
The RRDC members’ dinner has become the perfect venue for members and their guests to bench race, meet, and enjoy an evening filled with camaraderie, nostalgia and awards presentations.
The featured award of the evening will be the 31st Phil Hill Award (for rendering outstanding service to road racing).
Also, the 23rd RRDC Bob Akin Award and the 54th RRDC Mark Donohue Awards will be presented.
The program is scheduled to end before 9 p.m., so that those participating in the Rolex 24 will be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for morning practice.
Please make your reservations by January 14, 2025, as seats will be filling quickly. We regret that no late reservations can be accepted.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Noble at noblerace@aol.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you,
Bobby Rahal
President
RRDC TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF RACING AT LONG BEACH WITH EXPANDED LEGENDS DINNER AND GALA
Bobby Rahal, president of the Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC), has announced an expanded 2025 RRDC Legends Dinner and Gala, which will celebrate the 50 years of racing on the streets of Long Beach, Calif., and will honor Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Brian Redman, legendary drivers from the Grand Prix’s rich history.
Mario Andretti winning LBGP in 1984. [Speedcafe image]
All proceeds of the dinner will benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation, which supports the RRDC’s SAFEisFAST initiative, and the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach, which supports charities in the Long Beach area. The Foundation’s proceeds from the gala will go to Long Beach City College’s Automotive Technology Program.
Andretti, Unser and Redman will be honored at the event and attendees will be treated to a “David Letterman-style” interview of the honorees by Rahal.
Al Unser Jr. takes his 5th LBGP in 1994. [Pinterest image]
“We at the Road Racing Drivers Club are thrilled to join the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in celebrating 50 years of ‘racing through the streets’ of this beautiful California shore city,” said Rahal. “This event has become an icon of the sport, and not just with IndyCars. Its history includes Formula 1, Formula 5000, Trans-Am, and even the popular celebrity races.
Brian Redman wins the 1975 Long Beach F5000 race, the precusor to the F1 race. [Speedcafe image]
“Each year, the Road Racing Drivers Club event is a highlight of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend,” said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian. “And this year is especially meaningful as we join with the RRDC in honoring three true legends of the sport—Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr., and Brian Redman. Their contributions to Long Beach motorsports history have inspired generations of drivers and fans alike, and we are thrilled to celebrate their incredible legacies during this special evening.”
Andretti and Unser have been named co-Grand Marshalls for the event.
SAFEisFAST – OVAL RACING IS MORE THAN JUST TURNING LEFT
Fellow Racers, Oval racing might look simple enough, but there is far more to mastering speedways than just turning left.
Your first oval experience can be a daunting one, with much higher speeds and way less margin for error which require a completely different approach behind the wheel to road and street courses.
In our latest video, our oval racing pros – including four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais and Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson – give their top tips on how to utilize the unique tools inside the car for maximum performance on ovals. Other pros offering oval racing insight are Conor Daly, Colton Herta, James Hinchcliffe, Sting Ray Robb, Pietro Fittipaldi and Christian Lundgaard.
Bobby Rahal
SAFEisFAST.com
THE ANNUAL RRDC DAYTONA MEMBERS’ DINNER SET FOR WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22, 2025
THE ANNUAL RRDC DAYTONA DINNER SET FOR WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22, 2025
The Annual RRDC Members’ Dinner at Daytona is set for Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Only members in good standing are welcome to register for the dinner. It is recommended that you pay your 2025 dues first, before registering for the dinner.
Dues may be paid at https://rrdc.org/member-login/#myaccount.
The RRDC.org web site now accepts credit cards for payments!
DINNER REGISTRATION: To register for the dinner, here is the link to the rrdc.org events page. Then click on the “Blue” words and it takes you to the events page to register for the dinner. (Two steps to register)
https://rrdc.org/events/#!event-list
Or, go directly to https://rrdc.org/events/#!event/2025/1/22/2025-rrdc-annual-daytona-member-dinner-and-awards-ceremony-to-be-held-in-the-500-club-at-the-daytona-international-speedway
HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RRDC ANNUAL MEMBERS’ DINNER
WHERE:
Daytona 500 Club (infield)
Daytona International Speedway
1801 W. International Speedway Blvd.
Daytona Beach, Fla. 32114
WHEN:
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 – in advance of the Rolex 24 At Daytona
5:00 p.m. cocktails
6:15 p.m. RRDC member photo
6:30 p.m. dinner
INVITEES:
All RRDC members in good standing and personal guests ONLY.
Please make sure you’ve paid your 2025 dues!
DRESS:
Business casual
COST:
$180 per person (members and guests). $200 after January 8.
Tables of 10 are available for $1800 each, and $2000 each after January 8.
PARKING and TRACK ENTRY:
- Please enter at Gate 40 off Williamson Blvd. Security/guest services will have a list with your name on it.
- Let them know you are attending the Annual RRDC Dinner in the Daytona 500 Club.
- There will be directional signage to lot 2A and parking staff with golf carts to assist you before and after the event.
- The 500 Club is in the infield tower building located at Victory Circle.
EVENT PASSES FOR THE ROLEX 24:
If you are attending the Members’ Dinner at the 500 Club and wish to receive General Admission event passes for the Rolex 24, please let Judy Stropus know at jstropus@earthlink.net.
Thanks to Frank Kelleher, president of DIS, for providing these passes. They include access to the garage area in the paddock.
Please pick them up when you check in for the dinner at the 500 Club. They will be in envelopes in your names.
______________________________________________________________________
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT:
Dear RRDC Members,
Thanks to the organizational skills of RRDC member Lisa Noble, the RRDC will hold its annual members’ dinner at the Daytona 500 Club in advance of the 63rd Rolex 24 At Daytona.
The RRDC members’ dinner has become the perfect venue for members and their guests to bench race, meet, and enjoy an evening filled with camaraderie, nostalgia and awards presentations.
The featured award of the evening will be the 31st Phil Hill Award (for rendering outstanding service to road racing).
Also, the 23rd RRDC Bob Akin Award and the 54th RRDC Mark Donohue Awards will be presented.
The program is scheduled to end before 9 p.m., so that those participating in the Rolex 24 will be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for morning practice.
Please make your reservations by January 14, 2025, as seats will be filling quickly. We regret that no late reservations can be accepted.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Noble at noblerace@aol.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you,
Bobby Rahal
President
Always go to www.rrdc.org for the latest RRDC member news and info.
ZAK BROWN AT THE HELM FOR McLAREN’S FIRST F1 CONSTRUCTORS’ TITLE IN 26 YEARS
Zak Brown, who took the reins of McLaren in 2018, reached one of his primary goals Sunday when Lando Norris won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – the victory clinching the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. It was McLaren’s first constructors’ title since 1998 and the tenth in the organization’s history, second only to Ferrari.
The ebullient CEO has been not only the leader of the company’s motorsports effort but also its public face and cheerleader. His promoting Italian engineer Andre Stella to Team Principal solidified McLaren’s resurgence to the sharp end of the grid.
With McLaren leading Ferrari by 21 points coming into the season finale in Abu Dhabi, it looked very good for the Woking team with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri claiming the front row in qualifying. The team’s quiet confidence lasted for the first quarter mile of the race. That’s when Piastri was spun out by a lunging Max Verstappen, and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz slipped through to second behind Norris.
It was tense from there to the finish for Zak Brown as Ferrari pilot Charles LeClerc moved from deep in the field to third making it imperative that Norris continue to hold point. Any difficulty for the race-leading McLaren would hand the constructors’ title to Ferrari.
“What an awesome team effort,” Brown said on the Sky Sports / ESPN telecast “Amazing! That was stressful!”
“That was the most miserable two hours of my life,” Brown later said while awaiting the trophy ceremony where he took to the podium with Norris to accept the constructors’ victory trophy.
JOSEF NEWGARDEN GETS HIS SECOND IMAGE ON BORG-WARNER TROPHY
On Wednesday, Josef Newgarden was present at the unveiling of his likeness on Borg-Warner Trophy presented winners of the Indianapolis 500 since 1936. It is his second bas-relief sterling silver image on the iconic trophy, as he scored his second consecutive 500 victory in May, becoming the sixth member of an exclusive club of back-to-back winners – Helio Castroneves (2001-02); Al Unser, Sr. (1970-71); Bill Vukovich (1953-54); Mauri Rose (1947-48); and Wilbur Shaw (1939-40).
Sculptor Will Behrends with Josef Newgarden’s bust for 2024. [IMS image]
Engraver Reid Smith. [IMS image]
This life-size clay version is used as reference for Behrends to construct the smaller model, a piece created out of a mixture of oil-based clay. The smaller clay model is turned into a mold and cast in wax before being sent to a jeweler to be transformed into sterling silver. Behrends completes his process by polishing and buffing the sculpture before attaching it to the trophy.
KATHERINE LEGGE’S INDYCAR SPONSOR WINS TWO CLIO AWARDS
Katherine Legge’s Indianapolis 500 sponsor on the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing Honda – e.i.f Cosmetics (eyes, lips, face) – received Clio Awards at ceremonies in New York City Wednesday in both the Experience/Activation and Fan Engagement categories.
Photo by John Cote
The two-pronged promotion through in-person outreaches at the Speedway in May plus an extensive digital media campaign drew praise for promoting both Legge and the participation of women in motorsports.
Legge told RACER: “The e.l.f. Cosmetics collaboration was by far and away the most meaningful partnership I have ever seen in racing from a female perspective. I am beyond proud to represent a brand that cares so much about the same things that I do and am very much looking forward to doing more great and meaningful things with them to change the landscape of racing.”
ANDY LALLY TO RETIRE AND TAKE UP REINS OF TRANS-AM SERIES
Andy Lally will soon retire from active competition to join the Parella Motorsports Holdings as president of the Trans-Am Series. The three-time Grand Am champion in prototypes and GTs, 2011 NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year and five-time winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, will take part in IMSA’s January 
endurance racing classic at Daytona International Speedway with his longstanding Magnus Racing team.
In an exclusive interview with RACER, Lally told Marshall Pruett, “The timing of this is important. I could probably extend my driving career another two or three years, but when something like this comes along that could end up bringing another 10-plus years in the sport, you say yes to it immediately, and I have to thank Tony Parella [founder and CEO of series owner Parella Motorsports Holdings] for making this happen for me. When he presented it to me, it just made so much sense.
“I think I have a lot to contribute. I’m sure that there will be a lot of people really shocked reading this, as this is coming out of left field, but I’ve seen other really good business decisions that Tony and his team have made in the past that have worked out really well, and I’m going to work really hard to make sure that this is another one. It’s a very respectful and smooth transition out of the driver’s seat and into an official capacity with a series that I love.”
“I could not be more excited to have Andy Lally join us as the president of Trans Am,” said PMH CEO Tony Parella. “Andy is one of the most respected, knowledgeable, talented, and accomplished leaders in motorsports.”
CHIP GANASSI NOMINATED FOR EMPA HALL OF FAME
The Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) has released the ballot to its membership for voting in the 2025 inductees to the prestigious EMPA Hall of Fame along with other special awards that will be presented during the organization’s 52nd annual convention, set for Jan. 10-12.
Chip Ganassi is one of eight nominees including journalist “Bones” Bouncier, sprint car legends Sammy Swindell, Rich Ferkel and Steve Smith, Jr., dirt modified champion Jimmy Horton, dirt racing icon Alan Johnson and Pocono Raceway CEO Nick Igdalsky.
NHRA perennial champion Don Prudhomme and NASCAR Cup Series and pavement Modified star Steve Park will also be going into the hall of fame as automatic lock-ins.
MARIO ANDRETTI NAMED TO GENERAL MOTORS BOARD – GM/CADILLAC F1 TEAM TO JOIN FORMULA ONE IN 2026
The Andretti family will retain an involvement in the revised plan for a General Motors Formula 1 team, with 1978 world champion Mario Andretti serving as a director on the board.
On Monday F1 announced it has agreed in principle a deal to allow an entry for the GM group to enter grand prix racing in 2026 with its own team.
This came as part of a restructured plan from the original idea of a Cadillac-backed Andretti entry, which F1 rejected earlier in the year.
The revamped idea for the project, which has come with original team founder Michael Andretti recently stepping back from his involvement, means that the Andretti name will no longer be a part of the F1 operation.
Instead, it will be a GM/Cadillac team in association with the TWG Global company, which owns and operates Andretti Global.
While that could have meant no involvement for the Andretti name, GM has announced that some ties will remain. And that revolves around Mario Andretti serving as a director, but “not involved in day-to-day operations”.
Mario Andretti was F1 World Champion in 1978, piloting Colin Chapman’s Lotus 79. [conceptcarz.com image]
Speaking about his role, he said: “My first love was Formula 1 and now – 70 years later – the F1 paddock is still my happy place.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with Cadillac, Formula 1, Mark Walter, and Dan Towriss. To still be involved at this stage of my life — I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”
Michael Andretti drove the 1993 F1 season for McLaren. [The Mike Haywood Collection image]
While Mario’s son Michael, who originally began the project when he ran Andretti Global, will not play any part in how things develop, he says he also fully supports what GM is doing.
Posting on X, he said: “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team.
“I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!”
HELIO CASTRONEVES NAMED 2025 AMELIA HONOREE
Helio Castroneves, who in 2021 joined A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears, as the only four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500, has been named 2025 Honoree for The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, celebrating its 30th anniversary at the Amelia Island Ritz-Carlton, March 6-9.
“There’s clearly a synergy between people who love racing and those who love concours, and The Amelia is the intersection of both those passions, each of which I hold dearly,” said Castroneves. “To be honoree of the event during its 30th year is also an honor and so special, and I look forward to celebrating with The Amelia community.”
Built on a historic legacy of excellence, The Amelia 2025 weekend will feature seminars, films, celebrations, auctions, driving experiences and, of course, the renowned Concours d’Elegance, where guests will enjoy hundreds of vehicles ranging from 1930s Alfa Romeos to the most advanced F1 race cars.
PENSKE ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES GRAND PRIX ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH
Penske Entertainment announced today the newest member of its growing event portfolio, confirming the acquisition of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, LLC, from longtime owner Gerald R. Forsythe. The association administers the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the longest-running major street circuit race in North America. The purchase is expected to provide significant investment for the marquee NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, to further enhance this can’t-miss celebration of speed and Southern California motorsport culture for years to come.
This upcoming year marks the 50th edition of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, with special programming planned to mark the occasion. The race will return to network television, with FOX set to broadcast the event Sunday, April 13.
“We’re incredibly proud to be the new stewards of this cherished and iconic event,” said Roger Penske. “This is the most historic and prestigious street circuit race in North America, and we’re excited to work with Jim Michaelian and his great team in Long Beach to ensure continued success and growth over the long term. This race and its loyal fans matter so much to everyone across the INDYCAR community, and we’re looking forward to a very special 50th anniversary celebration this April, as well.”
“As we prepare to celebrate a truly remarkable milestone, the 50th anniversary of this amazing event, it’s fitting that we have such exciting and important news to share about its future,” said Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian. “Roger and the team at Penske Entertainment understand the special history and unique qualities that give us such a strong foundation and will be ideal partners as we continue to deliver an exceptional race weekend for our fans moving forward. I also want to acknowledge the significant contribution that the previous owners, Jerry Forsythe and the late Kevin Kalkhoven, made to the success of our event over the past 19 years.”
As an acclaimed and highly attended annual event located in the nation’s entertainment capital, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a premier race weekend for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Working alongside the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach team, Penske Entertainment plans to invest in bolstering and enhancing the experience for race fans, sponsors and hospitality customers.
“This is a major race weekend, not just on our calendar but across the motorsport landscape,” Penske Entertainment President & CEO Mark Miles said. “We’re committed to preserving the core attributes that make it best in class while also working on some exciting and bold initiatives to make its future even bigger and brighter.”
The three-day weekend regularly attracts crowds of over 190,000 people to its 1.968-mile racecourse surrounding the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The 2024 edition featured a supercharged atmosphere, which included the largest attendance in the modern INDYCAR era. The event brings global attention and positive economic impact to its home city, while also maintaining a charitable organization – the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach – which has donated more than $4.2 million to those in need within the Long Beach community.
“The Grand Prix is an incredibly vital and vibrant asset for our community and an annual event that drives commerce, attracts tourism and elevates cultural connectivity across our city,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “Penske Entertainment will be a committed and energetic partner for the future that seeks to preserve and enhance this event’s rich history and strong legacy. We’re looking forward to a great working relationship that benefits everyone who calls Long Beach home.”
As part of today’s announcement, Penske Entertainment and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach released a special video, narrated by former Indy 500 Honorary Starter and acclaimed actor Milo Ventimiglia. You can watch here.
GURNEY, PARNELLI, SHELBY GOING INTO LIONS AUTOMOBILIA HALL OF FAME THIS THURSDAY
Join the Lions Automobilia Foundation Board of Directors and founder Rick Lorenzen as they introduce the third annual class of Lions Automobilia Foundation Hall of Fame inductees on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The Hall of Fame awards dinner and silent auction fundraiser at the Lions Automobilia Foundation in Rancho Dominguez, California will honor the following eight individuals who have made a major impact on motorsports: JC Agajanian, Jack Chrisman, Steve Gibbs, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Wally Parks, Carroll Shelby, and Bill Stroppe.
The evening will include a delicious sit-down dinner along with a presentation to each of the recipients by the emcee, NHRA Funny Car driver, Jack Beckman. The silent auction will include a variety of unique and highly desirable items with proceeds benefitting the Lions Automobilia Foundation Youth Engagement and Career Path programs. These programs are designed to engage students and young adults by showcasing the history of motorsports and Southern California car culture along with hands-on workshops held at Lions Automobilia Foundation.
Guests will be able to enjoy the Lions Automobilia Foundation Museum, from the eclectic collection of vintage race cars, muscle cars and hot rods to the city streets within the museum walls and the re-creation of the Lions Drag Strip. The evening begins with a cocktail mixer in the Long Beach Grand Prix Paddock Club followed by dinner and presentation of the Legends of Lions Award Ceremony.
Proceeds from this event and silent auction go to support the Lions Automobilia Foundation Youth Engagement and Career Path Programs. Geared to engage students and young adults by unveiling the history of motorsports and car culture in Southern California and assist them in discovering the craftsmanship and passion invested in vehicle restoration, maintenance, and design.
The city streets within the museum walls will take you back to a simpler time and as you enter the Lions Drag Strip exhibit, you’ll be looking right at the starting line with cars in the staging lanes. Guests are encouraged to explore the museum galleries, participate in the Silent Auction, and enjoy a cocktail mixer in the Long Beach Grand Prix Paddock Club followed by a delicious, seated dinner and presentation of the Legends of Lions Award Ceremony.
Attire: Semi Formal
Location: Lions Automobilia Foundation & Museum
2790 E Del Amo Blvd, East Compton, CA
Evening Schedule
4:450m Nitro Start Up
5:00pm Cocktail Mixer & Silent Auction Benefiting the Lions Youth Engagement and Career Path Program
6:00pm Welcome and Opening Ceremony
7:00 pm Dinner Served
7:45 pm Awards Ceremony
JOEY LAGANO TAKES NASCAR CUP TITLE FOR TEAM PENSKE
Roger Penske’s stock car team put an exclamation point on the 2024 racing season at Phoenix Raceway Sunday, when Joey Lagano nipped his Penske stablemate and defending champion Ryan Blaney for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. It was Lagano’s third title driving for The Captain, becoming one of only 10 drivers in NASCAR history to win at least three championships.
Last month, Porsche Penske Motorsports wrapped up both the IMSA Weather Tech Sports Car GTP team and driver’s championships at Petit Lemans in Porsche 963s, while also clinching the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup manufacturer’s title for Porsche.
In May, Team Penske claimed its 20th Indianapolis 500 victory with Josef Newgarden defending his title from 2023. Porsche Penske Motorsport also won the 62nd edition of the Daytona 24 in January.
All in all, a robust 2024 for the Mooresville, NC, operation.
AMOS JOHNSON’S “BE FIRST” NOW AVAILABLE
Be First: Being The First To Do Anything Gives You An Enormous Advantage, And You Never Forget Your First is the lesson racing legend Amos N. Johnson lays out in this autobiographical journey through an incredible career as he shares personal stories from his time as a pioneering driver in the world of motorsports.
From carving out his place in history by winning the Touring Under class in the first-ever IMSA GT race in 1971 at Virginia International Raceway, to competing in iconic races like the Daytona 24-hour and the 12 Hours of Sebring, Johnson’s story is one of grit, passion, and an unrelenting drive to be first.
As a member of the prestigious Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC) and a veteran of racing’s golden era, Johnson’s impact on motorsport goes beyond his wins on the track. He played a crucial role behind the scenes as IMSA’s Competition and Technical Director, shaping the rules for the World Sports Car class. He also led American Motors’ unforgettable assault on the Nürburgring 24-Hour race and earned his place in the American Motors Racing Hall of Fame.
This memoir not only captures the thrilling races and groundbreaking achievements but also offers insights into the dedication it takes to make history. Whether you’re a motorsports enthusiast or simply a fan of remarkable life stories, Be First is an inspiring tribute to pushing boundaries and living life in the fast lane.
DAYTONA ANNUAL DINNER MEETING – SAVE THE DATE
As has become tradition, the RRDC will hold its Annual Members’ Dinner at the Daytona 500 Club in the infield of the Daytona International Speedway on January 22, the Wednesday prior to the running of the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona. More details to follow.
BOB RILEY: 1931 – 2024
Bob Riley, a celebrated engineer, chassis designer and race car builder who left a permanent mark on motorsports and the automotive industry, died of a heart attack at age 93 after a brief hospitalization following a fall in his home.
Most recently, the Riley was inducted into the Formula Vee Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Oct 1, during the SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. RRDC President Bobby Rahal presented the award, stating, “Bob Riley is a wonderful man… When I first met Bob, I felt really stupid because I thought I knew a lot. I realized talking to Bob I didn’t know much at all. He’s a class act. He is super-talented and probably under-rated in many respects.”
This week, Rahal had these additional thoughts: “All of us at the Road Racing Drivers Club are saddened by Bob Riley’s passing.
“I knew Bob Riley. He was not just a creative, practical engineer/designer but a humble, energetic gentleman. I was fortunate to work with him in 1983-84 on the Ford Mustang project.
“A victory in its first race clearly showed its capabilities, but engine unreliability hampered our efforts in virtually every race. Despite this, there was no question the car handled beautifully and therefore such a shame that Bob’s car never achieved the success he deserved.
“I saw Bob at Road Atlanta two weeks ago. As always, he was in good spirits, and we spoke. Motorsport is the poorer with Bob’s passing.
“RIP my friend. You will be missed.”
Earlier this year, Riley was inducted into the IMSA’s Hall of Fame. In 2022, he received the prestigious Phil Hill Award from the Road Racing Drivers Club. Even as he advanced in age, Riley continued his work after retirement at Riley Technologies, the company he founded in 2006 with his son and co-owner, Bill, that released a Ford 1967 Le Mans winner continuation supercar, the Kar-Kraft Mk IV, just this year.
A genius in race car design, Riley contributed to several legendary racing wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500, the Sebring 12-Hour and the Rolex 24 at Daytona over the course of five decades. He was a key contributor in the Le Mans-winning Ford GT Mk IV program and had a hand in building many other high-performance vehicles such as the Ford Mustang GTP, Coyote Indy car, Intrepid RM-1, and the Mk XI Daytona Prototype. In total, Riley carried over 70 car designs under his belt, including the dirt track racers that he built as a teenager. During his storied career, his innovative race car designs won championships in IndyCar, IMSA, the Grand-Am and the Trans-Am.
Tara Hurlin posted an obituary for Riley in Hemmings, detailing his incredible career, one of many remembrances including Autosport and Vintage Motorsport.
SAFEisFAST LEGENDS: JACKIE STEWART’S ADVICE TO YOUNG DRIVERS
Fellow racers, The latest instalment of our RRDC Legends series features the wisdom of three-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart.
In this video, we sat down with Sir Jackie who offered his thoughts on what qualities a young driver needs to be successful in motorsport.
He emphasizes the importance of mind management and mental discipline, skills he learned from his other career as a champion clay pigeon shooter.
Bobby Rahal
SAFEisFAST.com
AUGIE PABST – 1934-2024
Augie Pabst, Jr., who raced in the golden years of American sportscar racing’s late 1950s and early ‘60s, passed away Oct. 9 at age 90. He often teamed with close friends – Harry Heuer, Bill Wuesthoff and Don Devine; at other times with legends of the sport – Walt Hansgen and Roger Penske.
A testimony to Pabst’s skill and proficiency behind the wheel is his being contracted to drive for Briggs Cunningham, Carroll Shelby, John Wyer, Luigi Chinetti’s NART-Ferrari and John Mecom.
Pabst is a member of Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the Sports Car Club of America Hall of Fame. His autobiography “Augie Pabst – Behind the Wheel” is a must read for any student of early American road racing. An early inductee into the Road Racing Drivers Club, Pabst received the Bob Akin Award in 2010.
Pabst is survived by his wife, Joanie, his four children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His son Augie Pabst III is also a member of the RRDC, and he had these reflections of his father:
”I’m extremely grateful to have been his son. He taught me so much, he loved me so much more than most fathers would ever express, especially to their sons. He was fun, extremely generous – sometimes to a fault, and hung his hat on his honesty and integrity. Living next door, my children bonded with he and my mother unlike any grandparent/grandchild relationship I’ve ever seen. I’m so thankful we were able to get him home from the hospital, prior to his death. He died with a view of the lake on a gorgeous fall day with family and a few friends holding his hands and loving him, literally to death. It honestly was so painful, but more beautiful than I could ever have imagined. Sorry to elaborate so much, but I’m having a moment of reflection, and I wanted to share it with you.”
Mark Vaugh wrote a comprehensive obituary for Pabst in Autoweek.