Statement from RRDC President Bobby Rahal on the Passing of Bob Lazier

Statement from RRDC President Bobby Rahal on the Passing of Bob Lazier:

"Sadly, we lost fellow member Bob Lazier this past week due to complications from Coronavirus. Bob's energy on and off the track was dynamic, first as one of the key developers of Vail, Colo., and then on race tracks throughout North America. Successful in Formula B in the early '70s, culminating with Rookie of the Year honors in the 1981 CART Series, Bob was always enthusiastic and supportive of the sport he loved so much.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to the entire Lazier family."

Bobby Rahal
President, Road Racing Drivers Club

About the RRDC:
The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the FIA launched SAFEisFAST.com, a free online training program offered by the Mark Donohue Foundation and presented by Honda. More than 100 video tutorials taught by over 200 RRDC members and championship drivers from Formula 1, IndyCar, the WEC and IMSA, teach driving techniques, physical preparation, mental acuity, driver safety, car setup and racing sponsorship. New videos are released eight-10 times annually with top drivers regularly answering readers' questions through "Ask a Pro." To date, more than 750,000 racers in 174 countries have viewed over six million tutorials. 

In 2017 The Mark Donohue Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization, was formed to support the SAFEisFAST.com program and to help ensure its operations. http://www.rrdc.org/mark-donohue-foundation/.

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990. The RRDC also honors icons of the sport at its annual dinner at the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix. Honorees have been Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford and David Hobbs.

Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only. For more information, visit www.rrdc.org.

Statement on Death of Stirling Moss

Statement from RRDC President Bobby Rahal on the Passing of Sir Stirling Moss:

"We at the Road Racing Drivers Club are saddened by the passing of one of the most dynamic and iconic race-car drivers that have ever competed on race tracks around the world, Sir Stirling Moss. He was an honorary member of the RRDC since the 1960s and a good friend. Stirling was legendary in the sport, known for his ferocity on the race track, his many achievements in Formula 1 and sports-car endurance competition, and for his gentlemanly demeanor off the track. He will be missed. Our condolences go out to Lady Moss, whom we all know as Susie."

Bobby Rahal President,
Road Racing Drivers Club

Rick Mears to be Honored by RRDC in Long Beach

UPDATE: RACE POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DO TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS.

Firestone returns as presenting sponsor for 11th consecutive year.

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (March 12, 2020) - Rick Mears, four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500® and three-time INDYCAR SERIES champion, will be honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club at the "RRDC Evening with Rick Mears Presented by Firestone" in Long Beach, Calif., on Thursday, April 16. This is the RRDC's 12th consecutive annual banquet honoring auto racing's most influential leaders and icons, and will be held prior to the 46th Annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Previous honorees were Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford and David Hobbs. These "RRDC Evenings" are acknowledged as one of the highlights of the auto-racing social calendar, drawing fans and luminaries from all forms of motorsports.

The Firestone brand will return as presenting sponsor of the RRDC banquet for the 11th consecutive year.

"Having Firestone support the RRDC Long Beach dinner for more than a decade is a true privilege," said RRDC President Bobby Rahal. "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."

The dinner's proceeds will help support the RRDC's young driver initiatives, including its groundbreaking SAFEisFAST.com program and the Team USA Scholarship, which the RRDC has backed since 1997 and has been providing opportunities for talented young American race-car drivers since 1990. The Mark Donohue Foundation, a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization, was recently formed to further support the SAFEisFAST.com initiative. Information about the Foundation can be found on the RRDC's website.

Few drivers have epitomized "The Penske Way" more than Mears during the course of his career with Team Penske, which began in 1978. His 29 INDYCAR wins are tied with Helio Castroneves for the second most by a Team Penske driver, but it was the respectful yet determined way Mears raced and conducted himself that set him apart. 

One of three drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, Mears also won three INDYCAR SERIES titles with the team in 1979, 1981 and 1982 while becoming an American icon. He remains a valuable member of the team as an advisor and spotter to the current Team Penske contingent competing in the NTT INDYCAR® SERIES. 

He was born in 1951 in Wichita, Kan., then relocated with his family at the age of 4 to Bakersfield, Calif. He began his racing career in the 1960s on motorcycles in Southern California before moving on to four-wheeled "sprint buggies." In 1973 he took seven off-road victories, followed by an overall win at Pikes Peak in 1976. His USAC Championship Car Series debut came with Bill Simpson at Ontario, Calif., that year, after which the car was sold to Art Sugai and Mears failed to qualify the car at the 1977 Indy 500.

Mears met legendary car owner Roger Penske in 1977 and was offered an Indy car ride as a substitute for Mario Andretti in races that conflicted with Andretti's Formula One schedule. In 1978 he started on the front row in his first Indianapolis 500, was named Indy 500 co-rookie of the year, and scored his first three INDYCAR SERIES victories. 

In 1979, Mears won his first Indianapolis 500 from the pole and went on to claim his first INDYCAR SERIES championship in the first year under CART (Championship Auto Racing Team) sanction. His second and third titles came back-to-back in 1981 and '82, making him the first driver to capture three PPG Cup crowns. The year 1981 also marked the only time an INDYCAR SERIES driver won every road course event in one season when Mears set race records with each victory at Watkins Glen, Mexico City, and Riverside.

Mears also set a closed-course INDYCAR speed record of 233.934 mph at Michigan International Speedway in 1986 and was recognized in 1990 as the Associated Press "Driver of the Decade" for his 20 wins in the 1980s. In 1992, he was named one of 10 "Champions for Life" by the Driver of the Year Award's panel. He was the youngest driver of this prestigious group.

"Rick has done so much in and for this sport beginning with his time as a motorcycle and off-road racer. His transition to winning races and championships in the INDYCAR SERIES was seamless," said Rahal. "His time and success with 'the Captain' Roger Penske solidified his place in motorsports history, and we at the RRDC are honored to have the opportunity to recognize Rick Mears for all his achievements."

The RRDC Evening with Rick Mears Presented by Firestone will be held on Thursday, April 16, at the Hilton Hotel, 701 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, Calif., with cocktails at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $225 per person ($200 for RRDC members) if purchased by April 10, and space is limited. An additional $25 will be added to cost if paid after April 10. Sponsor packages are also available. All are welcome, but this event is expected to sell out, so early reservations are recommended. Please contact Jeremy Shaw at rrdc2@cox.net.

About Firestone Racing:

The Firestone brand has participated in world-class motorsports events for more than a century, and racing has played an integral role in building and shaping Firestone into the time-tested, iconic brand it is today. Harvey Firestone, the brand's founder and a pioneer of sports marketing, was one of the first to use racing as the ultimate proving ground for his tires. Ever since Ray Harroun's Firestone-equipped Marmon Wasp won the inaugural Indianapolis 500® in 1911, Firestone has worked to constantly evolve and advance race tire technology. Overall, Firestone tires have carried the winner of the Indy 500 to victory circle 69 times - more than double all other tire manufacturers combined. Firestone has served as INDYCAR's sole tire supplier since 2000, and the brand's on-track success translates to durable, dependable performance and uncompromising quality on the open road.

About the RRDC:
The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the FIA launched SAFEisFAST.com, a free online training program offered by the Mark Donohue Foundation and presented by Honda. More than 100 video tutorials taught by over 200 RRDC members and championship drivers from Formula 1, IndyCar, the WEC and IMSA, teach driving techniques, physical preparation, mental acuity, driver safety, car setup and racing sponsorship. New videos are released 8-10 times annually with top drivers regularly answering readers' questions through "Ask a Pro." To date, more than 750,000 racers in 174 countries have viewed over six million tutorials. 

In 2017 The Mark Donohue Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization, was formed to support the SAFEisFAST.com program and to help ensure its operations. http://www.rrdc.org/mark-donohue-foundation/.

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990. The RRDC also honors icons of the sport at its annual dinner at the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix. Honorees have been Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford and David Hobbs.

Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only. For more information, visit www.rrdc.org.

Article By: Judy Stropus

Rick Mears. Photo credit: Dan R. Boyd for BorgWarner Inc.

Rick Mears. Photo credit: Dan R. Boyd for BorgWarner Inc.

Jack Roush Earns RRDC's 2020 Phil Hill Award

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 23, 2020) - Jack Roush, racer, former Ford engineer, college physics teacher, and current CEO of a number of engineering-related companies, was honored by the RRDC with the 2020 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 running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The Phil Hill Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the person who the RRDC feels has rendered outstanding service to road racing. The recipient may be a driver, entrant or outstanding member of a sanctioning body.

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.

Born in Covington, Ky., in 1942, Jack Ernest Roush was always interested in finding out what made things tick. He received his mathematics degree with a minor in physics from Berea College in 1964 and moved to Detroit to work for Ford Motor Company that same year. He went on to earn his Master's Degree in Scientific Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University in 1970.

He's the founder of Roush Racing and Roush Performance Engineering. Prior to entering NASCAR competition, Roush had competed and won championships in various drag racing and sports-car racing series since the mid-1960s, including the NHRA, SCCA Trans-Am Series, IMSA GT Championship, and the 24 Hours of Daytona. The racing business was originally a small branch of co-owner Jack Roush's successful automotive engineering and road-racing equipment business based in Livonia, Mich.

For over 50 years Roush has been committed to winning on and off the track, having won 32 championships and more than 400 races in drag racing, sports car and stock car racing. In 2007, Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) announced the formation of Roush Fenway Racing, one of NASCAR's premier racing teams, with championships earned in NASCAR's top three divisions.

Roush also heads up Roush Industries, Inc. which employs more than 1,800 people and operates facilities in five states, as well as in Mexico and Great Britain.  Although primarily known for providing engineering, management and prototype services to the transportation industry, Roush has developed a significant role in providing engineering and manufacturing for the electronics, sports equipment, aviation and motorsports industries.

"Jack Roush wears many different hats," said M.C. Leigh Diffey, TV commentator and RRDC member. "CEO of Roush Racing, Roush Industries, Roush Performance, among many others. 

"In the '80s and early '90s when Roush Racing really kicked into gear with successful runs in SCCA's Trans-Am series and IMSA Camel GT, the team earned 24 national championships, 12 manufacturers' championships, and 119 road racing victories. Incredible.

"Roush Racing has also claimed 10 consecutive class victories in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. And, by the way, those 10 class championships still rank as the highest in Rolex 24 history. That record still stands.

"Since Jack Roush entered NASCAR competition, he has had 325 Cup series' victories and is the winningest race team in NASCAR history."

Diffey then conducted a spirited Q&A session with Roush, covering nearly every aspect of Roush's achievements and his interaction with many of the drivers who raced for him, including Ricky Rudd, Lyn St. James, Scott Pruett, Tommy Kendall, Willy T. Ribbs, Carl Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and many more.

"I think recently there have been some expectations that I'm about ready to retire," said Roush. "My son Jack is here with me. He's got two boys that are go-kart racing right now, my daughter Susan is still winning championships drag racing and her daughter is driving some too. So we Roushes are going to be around for a long time.

"I really appreciate this award because of the legacy and all the understanding of what Phil Hill did to promote road racing in the United States. He demonstrated to the Europeans he could win over there as well as here and is one of the first to do that. I am very proud to receive this award in his name."

When asked if there was one driver he wish had raced for him, he answered, "Yes, Bobby Rahal," to which Rahal responded, "Jack, there's still time."

Past RRDC Phil Hill Award Winners include:
1993 John Bishop
1994 Juan Manuel Fangio II
1995 Leo Mehl
1996 Charlie Slater
1997 Danny Sullivan
1998 Rob Dyson
1999 Bob Fergus
2000 Elliott Forbes Robinson
2001 Bill France
2002 Jim Downing
2003 Derek Bell
2004 Brian Redman
2005 Jim France
2006 Roger Werner
2007 Skip Barber
2008 Roger Penske
2009 Bob Bondurant
2010 Nick Craw
2011 Rick Mears
2012 George Follmer
2013 Peter Brock
2014 Hurley Haywood
2015 Vic Elford
2016 Scott Pruett
2017 Chip Ganassi
2018 David Hobbs
2019 Bobby Rahal

About the RRDC:
The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the FIA launched SAFEisFAST.com, a free online training program offered by the Mark Donohue Foundation and presented by Honda. More than 100 video tutorials taught by over 200 RRDC members and championship drivers from Formula 1, IndyCar, the WEC and IMSA, teach driving techniques, physical preparation, mental acuity, driver safety, car setup and racing sponsorship. New videos are released 8-10 times annually with top drivers regularly answering readers' questions through "Ask a Pro." To date, more than 750,000 racers in 174 countries have viewed over six million tutorials. 

In 2017 The Mark Donohue Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization, was formed to support the SAFEisFAST.com program and to help ensure its operations.  http://www.rrdc.org/mark-donohue-foundation/.

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990. The RRDC also honors icons of the sport at its annual dinner at the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix. Honorees have been Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford and David Hobbs.

Article By:
Judy Stropus

Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only. For more information, visit www.rrdc.org.

Bobby Rahal presents Jack Roush with the RRDC Phil Hill Award. Brian Cleary photo.

Bobby Rahal presents Jack Roush with the RRDC Phil Hill Award. Brian Cleary photo.

Rob Dyson is RRDC's 2019 Bob Akin Award Winner

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 23, 2020) - Rob Dyson, retired American sports-car racing driver and owner of Dyson Racing, was named the 2019 recipient of the RRDC Bob Akin Award. He was presented the award at the annual Road Racing Drivers Club members' dinner on January 22, prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Each recipient of this honor, considered the top award 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.

The distinctive trophy was conceived by the RRDC in 2003 to honor the memory of longtime RRDC member and past president Bob Akin, who lost his life in a racing accident in 2002.

It was designed by Steuben Glass in Corning, N.Y., 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.

The primary award, etched with the names of the recipients, is displayed at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Each honoree receives a smaller replica.

Dyson, 73, began competing in amateur SCCA competition in 1974 and in 1981 won the Sports Car Club of America's GT2 national championship.

He began racing professionally in IMSA GTO and the SCCA Trans-Am Series in 1982. Over the course of 21 seasons as a professional driver Dyson drove in 92 races, scoring four overall race wins (including the 1997 Rolex 24 at Daytona) and a total of 18 podium finishes. 

Dyson continued to compete episodically in professional racing through 2007 and today remains active driving his collection of vintage Indy cars in a variety of demonstration events.  

He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation, a privately-owned international holding company. 

A longtime friend of Bob Akin's, Dyson was presented the Bob Akin Award by Bobby Akin, Stropus and Rahal.

"All past winners of this award have been deserving," said Akin. "However, even if you rounded them all up you would likely not have the parallels that Rob Dyson has with my father.

"Both hail from the Hudson Valley of New York. Both had the responsibility of running a family business and were driven to succeed. That drive to succeed delayed their racing careers. Both ran successful racing teams often competing against each other in Porsche 962s.

"Rob began racing in 1974 and won an SCCA National Championship. He began racing on a professional level in 1982, drove in 92 races, earning 18 podiums, the highlight being a win here at the Rolex 24.

"Oh, and one last parallel: our winner also has a son who races, Chris. He's a lot more serious than I, and, like me, calls his dad his best friend."

"He and I were such great friends," said Dyson of Bob Akin, "that we would get together often. We had an expression while we were running both against one another but kind of with one another: we wanted to keep the prize money on the East side of the Hudson River. And whenever either one of us did well, either in Daytona, Sebring, or any other race, we were pleased when one of us got into the prize money and we would often have lunch afterwards. And, if he did better than I did, he bought, and if I did better than he did, I bought. So, that's the way we worked."

On the significance of receiving this award, Dyson said, "It ignites a lot of great memories related to my racing career but even more great memories of my good friend Bob Akin. And the spirit and comradeship that we had as competitors and as friends during our lives on and off the race track.

"The only thing I'm sorry about is that he's not here today so that I could give him the Rob Dyson Award. Thank you so much."

Past RRDC Bob Akin Award honorees:
2003 - Sam Posey
2004 - Charlie Gibson
2005 - John Fitch
2006 - Jim Haynes
2007 - Cameron Argetsinger
2008 - Jim Downing
2009 - Steven J. Earle
2010 - Augie Pabst
2011 - Don Knowles
2012 - Miles Collier
2013 - Peter Sachs
2014 - Bill Warner
2015 - Judy Stropus
2016 - Murray Smith
2017 - Archie Urciuoli
2018 - Jeff Zwart

About the RRDC:The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the FIA launched SAFEisFAST.com, a free online training program offered by the Mark Donohue Foundation and presented by Honda. More than 100 video tutorials taught by over 200 RRDC members and championship drivers from Formula 1, IndyCar, the WEC and IMSA, teach driving techniques, physical preparation, mental acuity, driver safety, car setup and racing sponsorship. New videos are released 8-10 times annually with top drivers regularly answering readers' questions through "Ask a Pro." To date, more than 750,000 racers in 174 countries have viewed over six million tutorials. 

In 2017 The Mark Donohue Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization, was formed to support the SAFEisFAST.com program and to help ensure its operations.   http://www.rrdc.org/mark-donohue-foundation/.

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990. The RRDC also honors icons of the sport at its annual dinner at the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix. Honorees have been Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford and David Hobbs.

Article By:
Judy Stropus

Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only. For more information, visit www.rrdc.org.

From left: Bobby Rahal, Judy Stropus, Rob Dyson and Bobby Akin. Brian Cleary photo.

From left: Bobby Rahal, Judy Stropus, Rob Dyson and Bobby Akin. Brian Cleary photo.

David Hobbs & Will Buxton are Featured Guests at Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum on August 10th

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (July 17, 2019) - The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum will honor authors and Formula 1 pundits David Hobbs and Will Buxton at its Demo Day on Aug. 10, 2019.

David Hobbs, world-renowned race-car driver, TV commentator and the Museum's 2015 "Spirit of Competition" winner, will join his former longtime broadcast partner, Will Buxton, famous for his Formula 1 "pit walks," in a Q&A session followed by book signings.

Buxton will be on hand to sign his first book, "My Greatest Defeat," a collection of honest and revealing insights into 20 of the greatest living racing drivers - legends of the worlds of Formula 1, Indycar, NASCAR, Le Mans and Rallying.

Hobbs will sign his popular autobiography, "Hobbo: Motor Racer, Motor Mouth." Both he and Buxton will discuss not only their books but the state of Formula 1 competition today, as well as other pertinent motorsports subjects.

Earlier in the day, the pair will participate in an outdoor demonstration of great Nurburgring race track winners, featuring cars from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum collection: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, 1937 BMW 328, 1938 BMW 328, 1927 Mercedes Benz S-Type Sportwagen.

The day's schedule begins at 12 noon, followed by the Q&A and book signing at 1 p.m. The event is open to the public and tickets may be purchased at https://www.simeonemuseum.org/event/book-signing-q-and-a-with-david-hobbs-and-will-buxton/.

The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum is located at 6825 Norwitch Dr., Philadelphia, PA 19153. More information may be found at https://www.simeonemuseum.org/.

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Memo Gidley Featured in Latitude 38

The Gidleys are Featured in Latitude 38!

ORIGINAL ARTICLE FROM MEMOGIDLEY.COM — MEGA ATHLETE MEMO GIDLEY
http://memogidley.com/2019/06/the-gidleys-are-featured-in-latitude-38/

June 3, 2019 (Tiburon, CA) Latitude 38, a Northern California-based sailing magazine with a worldwide reach, recently published the first part of an interview with Mary Gidley and her son, Memo Gidley. The article, titled “The Gidley’s of Sausalito”, is featured in the June 2019 issue of the publication. Latitude 38 writer, Christine Weaver, starts at the beginning when Mary and her late-husband, Cass Gidley, first met in the 1950’s, including how they established themselves in the Sausalito boating community and what they did to promote boating. “I was very excited to read the first part of the Latitude 38 interview”, said Memo. “Both my dad and mom did so many great things for the Sausalito bay area that involved the water and the great people of the community. They did this because of their passion for sailing and the friends they made as a result of it … and they had many friends!”

This first part of the interview covers the opening of Cass’ Marina, which was the first public sailboat rental and sailing lessons facility in the San Francisco Bay. Cass and Mary started Cass’ Marina in 1962 in Sausalito, CA, because Cass wanted the public to be able to access the water and enjoy it. At the time, he believed, this was not possible unless you were wealthy and belonged to an expensive yacht club.  Over the next 40 years, Cass’ Marina taught tens of thousands of “ordinary” people how to sail. “There’s barely any time that goes by before I talk to a person who took lessons at Cass’ Marina or knew people that did!” said Memo. “It’s just one of the many things that makes me proud of my mom and dad and makes me proud to be a Gidley.”

To read the interview, pick up the June 2019 issue of Latitude 38 and flip to page 60 or click on this link!

Statement on Death of Niki Lauda

Statement from Bobby Rahal, President of the Road Racing Drivers Club, on the death of Niki Lauda:

“On behalf of all the members of the RRDC, we are truly saddened to hear of the passing of Niki Lauda. When one thinks of comebacks, no one can meet the example set by Niki - from being given Last Rites to winning two more World Championships!

"I had the privilege to work with Niki over the years and he was truly a remarkable man.

"God Speed, Niki."

Bobby Rahal
President, RRDC

Bobby Rahal to Receive IMRRC's 2019 Argetsinger Award

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (April 25, 2019) - Race team owner and former champion race-car driver Bobby Rahal will be honored on June 27 by the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) with the 2019 Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for Outstanding Contributions to Motorsports.

The 2019 award will be the sixth presented by the IMRRC. Chip Ganassi was the inaugural recipient in 2014. Richard Petty and Roger Penske were honorees in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Mario Andretti was cited in 2017 and Jim France and the France Family were honored in 2018.

Rahal is co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, along with David Letterman and businessman Michael Lanigan. In an 18-year race-driving career spanning Formula 1, Can-Am, Le Mans, IMSA and CART, Rahal notched three CART championships, including the 1986 Indy 500 win, and victories at the 1981 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1987 12 Hours of Sebring endurance races.

He helped bring Honda into North American open-wheel racing in the early '90s, and, after retiring from driving in 1998, he joined Jaguar's F1 effort. He returned to the U.S. in 2002 to be the interim boss of CART.

The team is in its 28th year of competing in open-wheel racing and so far has notched 27 wins, including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole position with Buddy Rice.

In 2009, BMW Team RLL was formed and went on to win the 2010 GT team and manufacturers' championships in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). The team swept the top two spots in the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring, earning the 2011 ALMS GT drivers' championships for Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller. Most recently, the 2019 season brought a GTLM class win in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. To date, BMW Team RLL has earned 20 wins, 26 poles and 75 podium finishes.

Rahal operates Bobby Rahal Automotive Group, a string of car dealerships in Pennsylvania, is President of the Road Racing Drivers Club, former Chairman of the International Motor Racing Research Center Governing Council at Watkins Glen (2015- 2018) and is active in the community through the Bobby Rahal Foundation. He was Chairman of the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Foundation from 2012-2016.

Rahal will receive the Argetsinger Award at a gala dinner presented by Sahlen's, NASCAR, International Speedway Corporation (ISC), Watkins Glen International (WGI) and IMSA. The dinner, which is open to the public, will be at the internationally renowned Corning Museum of Glass in nearby Corning, N.Y.

The dinner precedes the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen IMSA weekend at Watkins Glen International.

Sahlen's, familiar to race fans in the Northeast, is a family-owned producer of quality meat products since 1869 in Buffalo, N.Y.

"We at Sahlen's are proud to support the IMRRC and this year's dinner honoring Bobby Rahal," said Joe Sahlen, company president. "Bobby owns a remarkable racing record, and has shown outstanding leadership as the outgoing IMRRC Chairman and as a team owner in two dynamic racing series."

WGI President Michael Printup added, "Bobby Rahal has always been a difference maker in our sport. From his accomplishments while in the driver's seat as an Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar champion to his many contributions since. It is an honor and a privilege to call him a friend, and I'm so glad that we are taking the opportunity to give him the recognition he so deserves. It's going to be a special night, and one that we're all looking forward to very much."

"While Bobby Rahal certainly and deservedly made the biggest name for himself in IndyCar racing, he's part of an exclusive group to have achieved success as an open-wheel driver as well as at the highest levels of sports car racing with victories at both Daytona and Sebring," said IMSA President Scott Atherton. "What moves him even further into rarefied air is his additional success as a team owner in both IndyCar and IMSA sports cars. Just this year, his team managed to duplicate his achievements as a driver in sports cars, adding a Rolex 24 At Daytona win to previous victories at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, along with multiple IMSA team championships. It's been my honor to know and work with Bobby for more than three decades, just as it is an honor to extend - on behalf of IMSA - our sincere congratulations to Bobby as this year's recipient of the prestigious Cameron R. Argetsinger Award."

"Having been fortunate to know Bobby Rahal throughout my career, I've always considered him one of the true gentlemen in our industry," said NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton. "He's also a true 'racer.' Bobby has won championships as a driver and team owner in open wheel and sports car competition, including the Rolex 24 At Daytona in both capacities. He's as solid as they come - and a most deserving recipient of the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award."

Other supporters of the dinner include Corning Enterprises and Foundation, Team Penske, Gregory G. Galdi, Archie Urciuoli/Larry Kessler/Bob Newman, American Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, Hilliard Corp., BMW of North America, Porsche Cars North America, Gorsline Company, SCCA Inc. and Foundation, Welliver, Elmira Savings Bank, and Glenora Wine Cellars.

The award memorializes Cameron R. Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races at Watkins Glen 70 years ago.

"The IMRRC is proud to honor our former Chairman and a racing legend, Bobby Rahal, with this award," stated IMRRC Chairman John Saunders. "Bobby is one of only a handful of individuals who have won the Indy 500 as both a driver and a team owner. His driving career spanned more than two decades and he continues as an IndyCar owner dedicated to developing young talent and growing the future of our sport. Bobby Rahal is more than deserving of the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for Outstanding Contributions to Motorsports."

The Cameron R. Argetsinger Award Dinner is open to the public, but tickets are limited. The ticket price is $250 per person. Tables of 10 are available as well.

Tickets may be purchased online at 2019 CRA Tickets or by calling the Racing Research Center at (607) 535-9044.

Complete details about the event, including information about sponsorship opportunities, can be viewed at 2019 CRA Dinner Details. For further information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Judy Stropus at jstropus@earthlink.net.

The International Motor Racing Research Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to collect, preserve and share the history of global motorsports.

The Argetsinger Award was established to honor a person in the motorsports industry who is recognized universally for having advanced and improved the sport. The honoree brings prestige to motorsports and demonstrates commitment to the future of racing.

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David Hobbs to be Honored by RRDC in Long Beach

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (March 18, 2019) - David Hobbs, multi-faceted racer and colorful TV commentator for nearly four decades, will be honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club at the "RRDC Evening with David Hobbs Presented by Firestone" in Long Beach, Calif., on Thursday, April 11. This is the RRDC's 11th consecutive annual banquet honoring auto racing's most influential leaders and icons, and will be held prior to the 45th Annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Previous honorees were Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi and Johnny Rutherford. These "RRDC Evenings" are acknowledged as one of the highlights of the auto-racing social calendar, drawing fans and luminaries from all forms of motorsports.

The Firestone brand will return as presenting sponsor of the RRDC banquet for the 10th consecutive year.

"We've been privileged to receive continued support from Firestone for the RRDC's Long Beach dinner for the past decade," said RRDC President Bobby Rahal. "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."

The dinner's proceeds will help support the RRDC's young driver initiatives, including its groundbreaking SAFEisFAST.com program and the Team USA Scholarship, which the RRDC has backed since 1997 and has been providing opportunities for talented young American race-car drivers since 1990. The Mark Donohue Foundation, a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization, was recently formed to further support the SAFEisFAST.com initiative. Information about the Foundation can be found on the RRDC's website www.RRDC.org.

Born in Leamington Spa, U.K., in 1939, Hobbs is one of motor racing's most remarkable all-rounders. In a 31-year driving career, "Hobbo," as he's known to friends and fans, raced in almost every imaginable category: endurance sports racers, touring cars, Formula 1, Formula 5000, IndyCar, IMSA, Trans-Am, Can-Am and even NASCAR. On top of that he has been a television commentator in the U.S. for nearly 40 years, bringing wit and wisdom to the screen most recently as part of NBC's Formula 1 team.His racing career began in his mum's Morris Oxford in 1959, and he went on to set a British closed-course speed record of 167.5 mph driving the then-secret Jaguar XJ13 in 1967, a record that lasted for 19 years. He then claimed the 1971 Formula 5000 championship and the 1983 SCCA Trans-Am Championship.

He's raced in the 1993 U.S. Fastmasters Championship, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Indy 500, led the 1976 Daytona 500, and debuted in Formula 1 in 1966, competing on that circuit for several years. 

As a TV commentator, Hobbs began his on-air career with CBS in 1976, covering 17 consecutive Daytona 500 broadcasts, then moved to the Speed Channel network to cover Formula 1, Le Mans, Trans-Am, World Sports Car, etc. Most recently he was with NBC Sports co-hosting live coverage of Formula 1 races from 2013-17. 

In 2018, his book, "Hobbo: Motor Racer, Motor Mouth," co-authored with Andrew Marriott, was published, which Hobbs has been promoting through book signings around the country. He opened David Hobbs Honda in 1987 in Milwaukee, Wis., which is managed by his eldest son Gregg. Hobbs and wife Margaret ("Mags") live in Vero Beach, Fla., and Elkhart Lake, Wis.

"David is such an icon of the sport here in the U.S., you'd never know he was an Englishman," said Rahal. "His career spans nearly 40 years of entertaining us on the small screen, not to mention hearing his voice in the movie 'Cars' as 'Hobbscap.' We are proud to honor him for all his passion as a driver and commentator, and for all he's achieved in our sport."

The RRDC Evening with David Hobbs Presented by Firestone will be held on Thursday, April 11, at the Hilton Hotel, 701 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, Calif., with cocktails at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $225 per person ($200 for RRDC members) if purchased by April 1, and space is limited. Sponsor packages are also available. All are welcome, but this event is expected to sell out, so early reservations are recommended. Please contact Jeremy Shaw at rrdc2@cox.net.

About Firestone Racing: The Firestone brand has participated in world-class motorsports events for more than a century, and racing has played an integral role in building and shaping Firestone into the time-tested, iconic brand it is today. Harvey Firestone, the brand's founder and a pioneer of sports marketing, was one of the first to use racing as the ultimate proving ground for his tires. Ever since Ray Harroun's Firestone-equipped Marmon Wasp won the inaugural Indianapolis 500® in 1911, Firestone has worked to constantly evolve and advance race tire technology. Overall, Firestone tires have carried the winner of the Indy 500 to victory circle 69 times - more than double all other tire manufacturers combined. Firestone has served as INDYCAR's sole tire supplier since 2000, and the brand's on-track success translates to durable, dependable performance and uncompromising quality on the open road.

About the RRDC: The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the FIA launched SAFEisFAST.com, a free online training program offered by the Mark Donohue Foundation and presented by Honda. More than 100 video tutorials taught by over 200 RRDC members and championship drivers from Formula 1, IndyCar, the WEC and IMSA, teach driving techniques, physical preparation, mental acuity, driver safety, car setup and racing sponsorship. New videos

In 2017 The Mark Donohue Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization, was formed to support the SAFEisFAST.com program and to help ensure its operations. http://www.rrdc.org/mark-donohue-foundation/.

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990. The RRDC also honors icons of the sport at its annual dinner at the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix. Honorees have been Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi and Johnny Rutherford.

International GT Presents Gorsline Spirit of Competition Award

On March 1st, 2019, at the SVRA Sebring Speed Tour, Gorsline Company was thrilled to award the “Spirit of Competition Award” to recipient Tom Plank. Congratulations!

This award is presented to a driver and/or team that has shown exemplary sportsmanship, professionalism, camaraderie, and competitive spirit which are the foundation of International GT participation. 

Dedicated in 2017, the award is presented by the Gorsline Company, who have pioneered providing insurance for race drivers, teams and high-risk professionals for over 45 years. Presenting sponsor, the Gorsline Company will make a donation in the recipient’s name to a charity of their choice.

International GT recognizes on-track accomplishments with the championship awards for Stuttgart Cup, Mission Foods GT3 Cup Trophy and the Maranello Cup. The awards are presented for the accumulation of points throughout the season.

Jim France and the France Family Receive IMRRC's Argetsinger Award

CORNING, N.Y. (June 29, 2018) - International racing stars, captains of the motorsports industry, local dignitaries and race fans gathered on Thursday to honor one of the founding families of American racing at the Corning (N.Y.) Museum of Glass. The family received the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for Outstanding Contributions to Motorsports.

Jim France, Chairman of ISC and IMSA and NASCAR Vice Chairman/Executive Vice President; Lesa France Kennedy, ISC CEO/Vice Chairperson and NASCAR Vice Chairperson; and Ben Kennedy, General Manager of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, were honored by the International Motor Racing Research Center for the family's generations-long outstanding commitment to the sport of auto racing. This was the fifth year the glass trophy has been presented. Previous honorees were Chip Ganassi, Richard Petty, Roger Penske and Mario Andretti.

The event allowed for attendees to intermingle and trade stories about racing. During one of the more poignant moments at the dinner Jim France said, "I would like to say that for us and our family, it's a special honor to be recognized by the Argetsinger family. They have done for sports-car racing what my father did for stock-car racing."

"It's very special," France went on to say after being presented with the Award by J.C. Argetsinger and Louise Argetsinger Kanaley, two of nine children of the late Cameron and Jean Argetsinger. "It's a family honor and (the IMRRC) is also a very good cause."

Throughout the evening salutes were given in person and by video. Among them were previous Argetsinger recipients Penske and Ganassi, in the audience, as well as Petty and Andretti via video. Those made by racers from all corners of motorsports included Juan Pablo Montoya, Rick Hendrick, Scott Goodyear, Hurley Haywood, Don Emde and David Hobbs.

Speaker after speaker told stories of the intense commitment and passion that the France Family has shown while shepherding the sport for 70 years. Many of the tributes spoke of relationships, both professional and personal, with Bill Sr., Bill Jr., Brian and now Jim France and Lesa France Kennedy, that have shaped many of their early careers, and, more importantly, benefited the fans of the sport.

Ganassi, recipient of the inaugural Argetsinger Award in 2014, told about family dinners with the Frances when he was in his early teens. He said those days inspired him to become the success that he is today. "The word steady comes to mind," he said. "Whether it was Big Bill down to Bill Jr. or to Lesa and Brian and now on to Ben, steady's the word." He continued, "The family has been steady over the years in a custodial capacity of the sport, which, I think, is the best anybody could possibly do in any business that survives for so many years."

Andretti, who was unable to attend in person, provided one of the many video tributes shown throughout the night. "To have built NASCAR into the tremendous success that it is today is no small feat, as we all know." he said. "The France family has grown NASCAR into an exciting fan-friendly, family-friendly sport and always are seeking to improve the product."

Some of the lighter moments of the evening were provided by David Hobbs, racer and TV commentator. Hobbs shared stories of early meetings with Bill Sr. in the late 1950s and early '60s. Hobbs emphasized the strength of the family's commitment and particularly of Jim France's success of the resurgence of sports-car racing in the U.S. "Really, the appeal of IMSA is absolutely extraordinary and that's all down to the France family and obviously under the leadership of Jim."

Michael Printup, WGI President, summed up the way the France Family has achieved unparalleled success. "When I think of the France Family, it's leadership, stewardship, mentorship, creativity, innovative and visionary."

A heartfelt question-and-answer session between the Frances and the event's Master of Ceremonies Dr. Jerry Punch was the highlight of the evening.

When asked about the family's legacy, Lesa France Kennedy summed it up in two pointed sentences. "I think it goes back to my grandparents and just their overall passion for motorsports and family entertainment. I think if we continue to be true to that the future will play out as well."

The evening was presented by Sahlen's, NASCAR, the International Speedway Corp., Watkins Glen International and IMSA, and supported by Corning Incorporated, Team Penske, Bosch, Michelin, Acura Motorsports, Action Express Racing, Hilliard Corp., Welliver, Elmira Savings Bank, Chip Ganassi Racing, SCCA Inc., Gorsline Company, Ray Evernham Enterprises, Larry Kessler, Archie Urciuoli, Bob Newman, and Glenora Wine Cellars.

On display at the reception were three cars and a motorcycle representing unique moments in history: a 1982 Pontiac J2000 NASCAR Modified, Rusty Wallace's 2005 Dodge NEXTEL Cup car, and a 2009 Porsche Cayman. Alongside was a 1972 Yamaha 350cc motorcycle that won the 1972 Daytona 200. Each represented a different racing series that was directly influenced by involvement of Jim France and part of the pinnacle of the sport during its time.

An original painting by famed artist Randy Owens, depicting Bill France's car as it speeds through a turn in the sand portion of the course at Daytona Beach in 1940, was auctioned off at the end of the evening.

The Racing Research Center, located in Watkins Glen, N.Y., is an archival library dedicated to the preservation and sharing of the history of motorsports, all series and all venues, through its collections of books, periodicals, films, photographs, fine art and other materials. The IMRRC is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

For more information about the Center's work and its programs, visit  www.racingarchives.org or call 607-535-9044. 

Article Photos: Brian Cleary

 

Bobby Rahal Named Recipient of the 2017 Rolex Bob Snodgrass Award of Excellence

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 26, 2018) – Bobby Rahal, a principal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, which runs BMW Team RLL in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, has been named the recipient of the 2017 Rolex Bob Snodgrass Award of Excellence, presented by Gorsline Company.

The announcement was made by Bob Snodgrass’ son Harris during the Road Racing Drivers Club annual members’ dinner, held at the Daytona 500 Club on Wed, Jan. 24.

From a short list of three successful team owners/managers who competed in the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, a panel of motorsports professionals selected Rahal.

“I’m here on behalf of my family, to present an award that is very important to me,” said Harris, “and a long-running tradition that means so much to me. Not because of what it is, but because of what it reminds me of and the characteristics I don’t ever want to forget about my father as time passes.

“I would like to thank Rolex, Gorsline Company and Mr. John Gorsline for continuing to make this award possible.

“As most of you know, my dad was a really cool guy. He was a car nut, like most of us, a strong-willed giant with a teddy-bear heart, and a strength for keeping his word. The fact that his impact on people is still relevant now and has been for over a decade is so important to me; it will always keep me grounded.

“He was my best friend, my mentor, and someone whom I look up to more and more each day, even though he is gone. Not a day goes by that I don’t hear a story or see a picture, and get reminded of who he was.

“The award acknowledges a team owner or manager who has demonstrated the qualities of honesty, integrity, passion for the sport, and an infinite, passionate love of cars altogether. These are characteristics that made my dad who he was, so the basis for the award is perfectly fitting.

“I am proud to name Bobby Rahal as the winner of this year’s award.” The other candidates for the 2017 award were Doug Fehan and Ben Keating.

As a driver, Rahal has competed in F1, Can-Am, Le Mans/IMSA and CART, notching three CART championships, including a win at the 1986 Indy 500, and wins at the 1981 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1987 12 Hours of Sebring.

After retiring from driving in 1998 he spent time with Jaguar’s F1 effort, then became the interim boss of CART.

Along with former late-night talk show icon David Letterman and businessman Michael Lanigan, he is a principal in the IndyCar and IMSA teams. BMW Team RLL won the 2010 ALMS GT team and manufacturers titles and swept the top two spots in the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring, securing the ALMS GT drivers’ championships, and winning again at Sebring in 2012.

To date, BMW Team RLL has scored 17 wins, 23 poles and 68 podiums. In 2017, the team won four races, the most in one season in the team’s nine years with BMW Motorsport, and finished second in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships.

Rahal was presented with a specially engraved Stainless Steel and Platinum Rolex Yacht-Master by Rolex Watch USA. “My dad’s loyalty to Rolex as a watch brand was concrete, and this particular watch was one that he loved so much. It was used as an incentive for many of the employees at Brumos (in Jacksonville, Fla.),” said Harris.

“To be in the company of people like Doug and Ben, wow,” said Rahal, upon accepting the award. “Thank you, everybody.

“I swear it wasn’t rigged,” he quipped, referring to his being the evening’s M.C. and the president of the RRDC. “I got to know Bob in ’79 or ’80, when I first started driving Porsches in IMSA racing. He was just a wonderful guy, always open. When we were racing in Watkins Glen (N.Y.), he took me around Elmira (N.Y.) where he was from, showed me his upbringing and we went and had lunch at a greasy spoon that he always frequented. I did buy a few cars from Bob, too.

“This is a real thrill, so thank you Harris, thank you Susan (Snodgrass-Wilkinson, Harris’ mom) and thank you to everyone from Rolex.”

The Rolex Bob Snodgrass Award of Excellence was created to recognize the team owner or team manager who has demonstrated the qualities of integrity, passion for the sport and the love of cars for which Bob Snodgrass was known during his life and career. The award – supported by Gorsline Company, the premier insurer of high-risk professionals – has been presented to Bob Stallings (2010), Joe Sahlen (2011), Peter Baron (2012), John Stevenson (2013), Alex Job (2014), and Chip Ganassi (2015), Mike Shank (2016).

About Bob Snodgrass – Snodgrass, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 64, was president of Brumos Racing and president and CEO of the Brumos auto dealerships in Jacksonville, Fla., where he lived for 35 years. As a team-owner he had three Rolex 24 At Daytona wins (Brumos Racing has eight) and a total of 10 wins at Daytona. He was a driving force behind the formation of the Grand American Road Racing Association and the Daytona Prototype class. Born in Elmira, N.Y., he saw his first race at Watkins Glen, N.Y., and was hooked. Famous for his humor and wit, accomplished vintage car racer, Snodgrass (along with Peter Gregg, who owned Brumos Porsche from 1965 until his death in 1980) was instrumental in Brumos’ entry into motor sports.

About Rolex – Rolex, the Swiss watch brand headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. The company is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities, as well as philanthropic programs.

About Gorsline Company – Gorsline Company, headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., pioneered the business of providing insurance for high-risk professionals. The company specializes in providing racing drivers and owners creative, custom-designed insurance packages and estate planning strategies.

Ford Performance, Gurney and Foyt to join in RRDC's Celebration of Emerson Fittipaldi

Ford Performance, Gurney and Foyt to join in RRDC's Celebration of Emerson Fittipaldi

HILLIARD, Ohio (April 3, 2017) - Ford Performance will support the RRDC Evening with Emerson Fittipaldi Presented by Firestone on April 6. Ford will also commemorate its historic victory at the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans by reuniting drivers A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney 50 years after Ford became the first and only all-American team to win the French endurance classic.

A two-time winner of both the Formula 1 World Championship and the Indianapolis 500, Fittipaldi said it will be "an honor" to share the limelight with "these two auto racing legends."

The race-winning Ford GT Mark IV that was entered by Carroll Shelby under the Shelby American Inc. banner in '67 will be displayed by Ford Performance at the cocktail reception, along with the "long-lost" trophy from that victory.

Edsel B. Ford II and Henry Ford III will also be in attendance.

This event marks the Road Racing Drivers Club's ninth consecutive annual banquet honoring auto racing's most influential leaders and champions, and will be held prior to the 43rd Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

"Ford Performance is happy to be joining other members of the industry in supporting the RRDC dinner this year," said Henry Ford III, global marketing manager, Ford Performance. "The opportunity to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt's Le Mans victory with the Ford Mark IV, as well as help honor Emerson Fittipaldi will make it a special evening. All three drivers have a history of winning with Ford power and we're pleased to be part of the celebration."

Ford returned to Le Mans in 2016 with Chip Ganassi Racing and the Ford GT in the LMGTE Pro Class, capturing the class victory. Ford will attempt to defend its title at Le Mans in 2017.

"We at the RRDC are thrilled to be part of this historic moment, as A.J. and Dan are reunited after 50 years to celebrate their outstanding Le Mans victory for Ford in 1967," said RRDC President Bobby Rahal. "We welcome Ford's support of the Evening with Emerson Fittipaldi and look forward to this momentous occasion."

The dinner's proceeds will help support the RRDC's young driver initiatives, including its groundbreaking SAFEisFAST.com program and the Team USA Scholarship, which the RRDC has backed since 1997 and has been providing opportunities for talented young American race-car drivers since 1990.

The RRDC Evening with Emerson Fittipaldi Presented by Firestone will be held on Thursday, April 6, at the Hilton Hotel, 701 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, Calif., with cocktails at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7:15 p.m. The event is very close to being sold out, and all tickets MUST be purchased in advance. For those who wish to attend, please contact Jeremy Shaw at rrdc2@cox.net as soon as possible to be placed on the waiting list.

Other supporting partners for the RRDC Evening with Emerson Fittipaldi include Firestone, American Honda, Team Penske, 3GT Racing, Porsche Motorsport North America, Doug Mockett & Company, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, Trefethen Family Vineyards, Pruett Vineyard and TranSystems.

About Ford Performance
Ford's racing program is part of the Ford Performance organization based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for major racing operations globally, including NASCAR (Monster Energy Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Camping World Truck Series), IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship, Chinese Touring Car Championship, Formula Ford (Formula Four), and NHRA sportsmen drag racing. In addition, Ford's action motorsport programs involve FIA World Rallycross and Formula Drift. The organization also oversees the development and marketing of Ford's racing engines and performance parts, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing's activities, please visit www.fordperformance.com, www.facebook/FordPerformance, FordPerformance on Instagram and @FordPerformance on Twitter.

About the RRDC:
The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the RRDC launched a free on-line training seminar - SAFEisFAST.com - featuring more than 30 RRDC members and other industry experts in high-quality videos covering subjects from physical and mental preparation to driving techniques, driver safety to car setup and sponsorship. The videos are updated regularly. Each week, a professional from the world of motor racing answers readers' questions on the site in a feature called "Ask a Pro."

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990. The RRDC also honors icons of the sport at its annual dinner at the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix. Honorees have been Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser and George Follmer.

Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only. For more information, visit www.rrdc.org.