Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Join us for Episode #448 – “Performance and Racing Engines in a Carbon Neutral World – is Hydrogen the Answer?” by Arrington-Hydrogen. Wednesday, May 1 at 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST: Click here to register With Mike Copeland, CEO. Hosted by Brad …
Join us for Episode #448 – “Performance and Racing Engines in a Carbon Neutral World – is Hydrogen the Answer?” by Arrington-Hydrogen.
Wednesday, May 1 at 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST: Click here to register
With Mike Copeland, CEO. Hosted by Brad Gillie from SiriusXM, Ch. 90, Late Shift.
No charge to attend.
With 1000 cars on display at the Air|Water show at Orange Country Fair & Events Center in Southern California on April 27, visitors will truly see the gamut of Porsche vehicles. Embracing everything from the air-cooled 356 of the 1950s to the latest …
With 1000 cars on display at the Air|Water show at Orange Country Fair & Events Center in Southern California on April 27, visitors will truly see the gamut of Porsche vehicles. Embracing everything from the air-cooled 356 of the 1950s to the latest water-cooled 911s, two doors and four, gas and electric, street and race, Air|Water will be a Porsche paradise as well as a center of education and festivities for fans from around the world.
While many visitors will arrive in their own Porsche, it’s the legendary racing machines that have helped to establish the German brand’s reputation more than almost anything else. And Air|Water will feature a number of legendary machines racing fans won’t want to miss.
Displayed across the entire venue, visitors will be able to discover everything from Le Mans winners to F1 entries and endurance champions. The following is a sample of the racing cars on display:
2023 “REXY” PORSCHE 911 GT3 R
“Rexy” — the Porsche 911 GT3 Rawr — was born in 2023 to AO Racing. The idea behind the T-Rex livery came from team principal and driver PJ Hyett, who has a T-Rex for his son and unicorn for his daughter painted on his helmet.
Competing in the 2023 IMSA series and World Endurance Championship, Rexy debuted at the 12 Hours of Sebring and participated in the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After leading its class for several hours, #77 would ultimately finish the French classic in seventh following a mechanical issue in the final hour.
This year, Rexy moved into the IMSA GTD PRO class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and promptly claimed pole position on its debut at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. AO Racing was able to convert its qualifying form into the team’s first podium, securing second place in the grueling endurance race.
2013 MANTHEY PORSCHE 911 GT3 R
Belonging to Robert Dalrymple, the 2013 Manthey 997 GT3 R is an example of Porsche’s first foray into the new regulations that created the globalized, FIA homologated GT3 racing class.
The Manthey 997 car was a Porsche Werks racer that claimed second place overall at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 2013 driven by Porsche Factory drivers Marc Lieb (Germany), Richard Lietz (Austria) and Patrick Pilet (France). It also finished 11th overall at the 24 hours of Nürburgring during the same season driven by a lineup of Factory pilots including Air|Water featured guest, Jörg Bergmeister, and current Porsche Penske star, Nick Tandy.
1977 BRUMOS PORSCHE 934/5
As an evolution of the Porsche 934, chassis #930 770 0951 was the first of 10 934/5 models built by Porsche for the IMSA championship. Developed for the U.S. series and run under Group 4 regulations, it had a more powerful turbocharged engine than the 934. It also used the wider wheels and rear wing from the 935.
The car was shipped to Peter Gregg at the famed Brumos Racing team in Jacksonville, Fla. Gregg and co-driver Jim Busby entered the 1977 12 Hours of Sebring race. Busby recalled 0951 was delivered shortly before the event and hastily prepared by simply replacing the original white hood with another that already had iconic Brumos red and blue stripes. It raced with the number 61 on that hood and doors.
The pair qualified on pole for the important endurance classic and were leading the race until the front right wheel fell off following their last pit stop. The car was able to return to the pits and finished third overall.
In recent years, 0951 was comprehensively restored by Lloyd Hawkins to its 1977 specifications and is currently owned by David Pyle.
1991 FOOTWORK ARROWS FA12-02
Entered in the 1991 Formula 1 World Championship, the Footwork Arrows FA12 chassis was fitted with the new Porsche 3512 engine, which debuted at the Formula 1 San Marino Grand Prix; the third race of the season.
The 3512 engine designation was derived from its 3.5-liter displacement and V12 configuration. It utilized a central power take-off, which had been a feature of the flat-12 Type 912 engine used in the Porsche 917 during the 1970s, but pushed to 13,000rpm.
At its San Marino debut, Alex Caffi drove the #10 FA12 entry, while Michele Alboreto drove the No. 9 car using an older A11C chassis. At its third race in Canada, Alboreto’s No. 9 FA12, which will be shown at Air|Water, qualified 25th while Stefan Johansson replaced an injured Caffi in No. 10. Unfortunately Johansson — now residing in Southern California — retired on lap 48 with brake problems.
Although it proved to be a challenging season for Footwork Arrows, the transition to the raised nose design makes the F1 cars of this period some of the most recognizable from the recent decades. They appeared at a time when drivers put it all on the line in an to attempt to qualify for oversubscribed grids during a fast-moving revolution in technological advancements.
1985 PORSCHE 962-116
Presented by Bruce Canepa, the “Sachs” car saw full time competition with Joest Racing from 1986-1988. Derived from the 956 for US IMSA racing, the 962 had a stretched monocoque and the front suspension was moved 120mm forward to improve driver safety. It was powered by Porsche’s extremely reliable air-cooled 3.0L flat-6 engine with single-turbo and five-speed transmission.
Chassis #116 finished third at the 1988 Le Mans 24-hour race driven by Stanley Dickens, John Winter and Frank Jelinski. It was also driven competitively by Sarel van der Merwe, Danny Ongais, Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, Paolo Barilla, Franz Konrad, Randy Lanier, Gianpiero Moretti, Hans Stuck, Bob Wollek and Klaus Ludwig.
1969 PORSCHE 908/02 LH SPYDER
As part of the Broad Arrow Live Auction taking place during Air|Water on April 27, the Le Mans class-winning 1969 Porsche 908/02 Langheck Flunder Spyder will be one of up to 60 Porsches to cross the auction block.
As a star of Luftgekühlt 9, the 908 has been valued up to an estimated $5.75 million. Chassis 908/02-005 should be instantly recognizable to Porsche enthusiasts thanks to its distinctive multicolor livery, which saw the #27 car secure third overall and a class win at the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours, providing Porsche with a 1-2-3 podium sweep.
Throughout its racing career, 02-005 was piloted by legendary racers including Vic Elford, Richard Attwood, Dr Helmut Marko, Gérard Larrousse and Rudy Lins. And it was further etched into popular history by appearing in Steve McQueen’s masterpiece Le Mans movie.
JÖRG BERGMEISTER
Among the VIP guests in attendance at Air|Water will be Porsche AG Development Driver and Brand Ambassador, Jörg Bergmeister. His successful motorsports career began in 2000 when he won the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany. He subsequently claimed victory at the important long distance races including Le Mans, Daytona, Sebring, Nürburgring, Petit Le Mans, and Spa. In North America, Jörg won the American Le Mans Series five times in a Porsche 911, as well as the 2006 Grand-Am Championship, culminating in his 2019 World Championship at Le Mans driving the Porsche 911 RSR in the GTE-Am class.
Jörg will be on-hand at Air|Water to meet fans and talk about his current development role with the latest GT3 and GT3 RS, as well as his incredible career with fellow ex-Porsche Works, Flying Lizard driver and Luftgekühlt founder, Patrick Long.
Join us for Episode #447 – “Benefits of Heat Treatment in Suspension” by Hellwig Suspension Products. Wednesday, April 24 at 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST: Click here to register With Melanie White, CEO, 4th Generation; Mark Hellwig, 3rd Generation and …
Join us for Episode #447 – “Benefits of Heat Treatment in Suspension” by Hellwig Suspension Products.
Wednesday, April 24 at 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST: Click here to register
With Melanie White, CEO, 4th Generation; Mark Hellwig, 3rd Generation and Neil Krentz, Engineering Manager. Hosted by Jeff Hammond from SiriusXM, Ch. 90, Late Shift.
No charge to attend.
Join us for Episode #446 – “Working with Legends, Ron Shaver and ‘Dyno’ Don MacAskill – Ford Performance, the TSR 410 Sprint Car Engine” by Shaver Specialties Racing Engines, Wednesday, April 17 at 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST: Click here to register. …
Join us for Episode #446 – “Working with Legends, Ron Shaver and ‘Dyno’ Don MacAskill – Ford Performance, the TSR 410 Sprint Car Engine” by Shaver Specialties Racing Engines,
Wednesday, April 17 at 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST: Click here to register.
With Ron Shaver and “Dyno” Don MacAskill. Hosted by Jeff Hammond from SiriusXM, Ch. 90, Late Shift.
No charge to attend.
Join EPARTRADE for Episode #445 – “Modern Machining Methods for Cylinder Heads” by MEC CNC. Wednesday, April 10 at 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST: Click here to register With Anthony Usher, President, MEC CNC and Chuck Lynch, Vice President of Technical …
Join EPARTRADE for Episode #445 – “Modern Machining Methods for Cylinder Heads” by MEC CNC.
Wednesday, April 10 at 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST: Click here to register
With Anthony Usher, President, MEC CNC and Chuck Lynch, Vice President of Technical Service, AERA (Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association). Hosted by Brad Gillie from SiriusXM, Ch. 90, Late Shift.
No charge to attend.
A major new fundraising initiative for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America begins in a big way Tuesday, April 2, with the rare opportunity for a winning auction bidder to have a one-on-one lunch with General Motors President Mark Reuss (pictured …
A major new fundraising initiative for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America begins in a big way Tuesday, April 2, with the rare opportunity for a winning auction bidder to have a one-on-one lunch with General Motors President Mark Reuss (pictured above).
This truly priceless and unique, behind-the scenes experience takes place on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the GM Global Tech Center in Warren, Michigan, and will be followed by Reuss and the winner touring the annual Employee Car Show celebrating the 60th anniversary of select GM A-body cars like the Pontiac GTO, Chevelle SS and Olds 442.
The auction is available exclusively on automotive auction industry leader Bring a Trailer (BaT) and takes place from next Tuesday, April 2 through Tuesday, April 9th. The winning bid for this no-reserve auction, including the BaT buyer’s fee, will be donated to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA), which is operated by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation. The MSHFA’s mission is to honor its “Heroes of Horsepower” inductees and their winning American motorsports accomplishments and to preserve their legacies for generations to come. To create a BaT account in advance of the April 2 auction posting, please click on BringaTrailer.com.
“The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is an important organization to me and enthusiasts everywhere,” Reuss said. “I’m honored to be a part of this event, and excited for the auction winner to experience our Employee Car Show, which is always a very special and enjoyable day at GM.”
A high-performance motorsports enthusiast and strong supporter of the MSHFA, Reuss most recently inducted the MSHFA Class of 2023’s Sports Cars enshrinee Zora Arkus-Duntov, the late “father” of the Corvette and Corvette racing. A mechanical engineer, Reuss began his career with GM as a student intern in 1983, ascending through the global automotive giant to the position of President in 2019. As President, Reuss has overseen some of the most exciting racing programs in the corporation’s long history, including the introduction last year of Cadillac’s championship-winning IMSA GTP hybrids and the popular “Garage 56” NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro entry that stole the show at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Reuss one-on-one luncheon auction is the first of several blockbuster online fundraising initiatives the MSHFA is introducing this year. Established in the late 1980s and fresh off its 36th Annual Induction Celebration presented by Toyota Racing earlier this month, the MSHFA, as a nonprofit, is largely dependent on donations – which are typically tax-free – from individuals and organizations for its annual operating budget. The MSHFA Museum is located on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway (DIS), just outside of the NASCAR Turn 4 tunnel on International Speedway Blvd. (ISB) in the DIS Ticket & Tours building and greets more than 150,000 guests annually.
“We are deeply indebted to Mark and to Bring a Trailer for making this possible,” said MSHFA President George Levy. “For any motorsports fan or automotive supplier, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend one-on-one time with one of the industry’s truest and most powerful enthusiasts.”
The GM Global Tech Center, which just underwent a major renovation, adds to the truly special luncheon experience with Reuss. Designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen, the campus opened in 1956 and houses the GM Design Auditorium, alternatively known as “The Dome.” The vast majority of GM vehicles developed since the mid-1950s have started life at this location, and the campus functions as an innovation center for automotive engineering, design, and technology.
The GM Employee Car Show, which is held annually around the scenic 23-acre lake located on the Tech Center campus, is closed to the public, but the winner will join Reuss after the lunch for a tour and viewing of the legendary GM A-body classics on display.
To create a BaT account in advance of the MSHFA Reuss Luncheon auction posting on April 2, please click on BringaTrailer.com.
The County of Monterey Department of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks and Friends of Laguna Seca have announced the execution of a comprehensive settlement that ends the Laguna Seca Raceway lawsuit, Highway 68 Coalition vs. County of Monterey. …
The County of Monterey Department of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks and Friends of Laguna Seca have announced the execution of a comprehensive settlement that ends the Laguna Seca Raceway lawsuit, Highway 68 Coalition vs. County of Monterey.
“We view this as a very favorable resolution for the County and its long-term partner at Laguna Seca, the nonprofit organization Friends of Laguna Seca,” stated Nick Pasculli, County Communications Director. “The future of the track and the amazing recreation area, which is a premier County Park, is bright. Laguna Seca is loved by local, national, and global car enthusiasts and also by the tens of thousands of people who enjoy the beauty of the recreation area.”
The settlement clarifies the long-term plans of FLS to conduct a previously planned sound impact assessment at the racetrack and carry out appropriate sound mitigation measures, all as part of being a good neighbor to the surrounding community.
“FLS is pleased that the litigation was dealt with quickly and we’re looking forward to our next steps toward Laguna Seca’s long-term success for the benefit of the community of Monterey County and the entire racing world,” said Friends of Laguna Seca President Ross Merrill. “We know these improvements will take time, but we are committed to ensuring the success of Laguna Seca for decades to come.”
The County and Friends of Laguna Seca expressed thanks to the fans of the racetrack and the public who voiced their overwhelming support for the County in this lawsuit.
“I grew up watching races at Laguna Seca and have raced there since the late 1970s,” said FLS Vice President Bruce Canepa. “I have a lifetime passion for this facility and want to see it be preserved for future generations. With Friends of Laguna Seca, we’ve built a team of individuals who share the same passion, paired with business acumen, to make Laguna Seca the place we’ve always hoped it could be.”
RACER is now on TikTok! Click below to follow us and enjoy some of our best video content in bite-sized chunks. And if you’re not already following our other social accounts, check us out on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. @racermagazine
RACER is now on TikTok! Click below to follow us and enjoy some of our best video content in bite-sized chunks. And if you’re not already following our other social accounts, check us out on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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NASCAR has acquired the lease to Bowman Gray Stadium and will manage its racing operations with the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, through the end of the year 2050. “As NASCAR’s first weekly racetrack, Bowman Gray Stadium holds a special …
NASCAR has acquired the lease to Bowman Gray Stadium and will manage its racing operations with the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, through the end of the year 2050.
“As NASCAR’s first weekly racetrack, Bowman Gray Stadium holds a special place in the history of our sport,” said Ben Kennedy, Senior Vice President, Racing Development and Strategy for NASCAR. “We are grateful to the Hawkins family’s multi-generational legacy of leadership at this historic track and we’re thrilled to oversee racing at one of the crown jewels in NASCAR Regional. We look forward to leading the racing operations of the facility in partnership with the City of Winston-Salem to preserve the history and legacy of the racetrack for the next generation of fans and racers.”
Bowman Gray Stadium is a quarter-mile short track that hosts modified, sportsman, street stock, and stadium stock events. The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series also competes at Bowman Gray Stadium. It was built in 1937.
“Bowman Gray Racing has been a part of the fabric of Winston Salem for many years. In fact, some attribute NASCAR’s beginning to the races held at Bowman Gray Stadium,” said Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines. “It is for that and other reasons that the City of Winston Salem is delighted that NASCAR is acquiring Winston-Salem Speedway Inc. I am doubly happy that NASCAR has committed to the continuance of the weekly races at the stadium, that are so popular with our citizens and visitors.”
NASCAR’s history at Bowman Gray Stadium dates back to 1949 when Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins brought the sport to the facility. It was the first paved racetrack NASCAR competed on.
Bowman Gray Stadium has hosted 29 Cup Series races (from 1958 to 1971). NASCAR East Series races were run at the track from 2011 through 2015.
Austin Shuford was named the new general manager of racing operations for Bowman Gray Stadium. His previous experience includes working with Track Enterprises’ Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and promoting 25 events a year at more than 15 racetracks through the south and Midwest.
“As one of racing’s most beloved and enduring venues, it’s truly an honor to be named the new general manager of racing operations at Bowman Gray Stadium,” Shuford said. “I look forward to learning from the Garrison, Pinilis, and Hawkins families to preserve and extend the greatness of Bowman Gray Stadium. Thanks to NASCAR for this fantastic opportunity to join their organization and the chance to entertain race fans at weekly events throughout the year.”
Join us for Episode 444 – Part two of ‘Self-fitting graphite coatings for pistons, pumps, turbos, blowers and more” by Line2Line Coatings. With Andy Suman, President; Mark Gelstein, Business Development and Ai L. Wood III, DRC Engineering Inc. …
Join us for Episode 444 – Part two of ‘Self-fitting graphite coatings for pistons, pumps, turbos, blowers and more” by Line2Line Coatings.
With Andy Suman, President; Mark Gelstein, Business Development and Ai L. Wood III, DRC Engineering Inc. Hosted by Jeff Hammond from SiriusXM, Ch. 90, Late Shift. Wednesday, March 27 at 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST. No charge to attend. Click here to register
