The IROC Porsches: The International Race of Champions, Porsche’s 911 RSR, and the Men Who Raced Them

197 Pages·2021·39.664 MB·English

by  Matt Stone, George Follmer (foreword)

© 2021 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.
Text © 2021 Matt Stone
First Published in 2021 by Motorbooks, an imprint of The Quarto Group,
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25 24 23 22 21 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN: 978-0-7603-6825-1
Digital edition published in 2021
eISBN: 978-0-7603-6826-8
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021931200
Acquiring Editor: Zack Miller
Design and Page Layout: Landers Miller Design
Images courtesy Corporate Archives Porsche AG appear on pages 27, 38, 40, 42, 43 (top), 48 (top),
49 (right), 59, 64, 75, 76 (top), 81 (bottom), 83, 85 (top), 87 (top right), 89 (bottom), 101 (top), 102,
and jacket interior. Jacket photo of author: Mel Stone
Printed in China
THE INTERNATIONAL RACE OF CHAMPIONS, PORSCHE’S 911 RSR
AND THE MEN WHO RACED THEM
MATT STONE
FOREWORD BY
GEORGE FOLLMER
CONTENTS PAGES
20: 29
06 Dedication and Acknowledgments
08 Foreword by George Follmer
14 Introduction
30: 49
50: 63
64: 91
92: 115
116: 169
170: 187
188 Index
PAGES NUMBER TITLE
1 IN THE BEGINNING
2 THE IROC PORSCHES
3 THE DRIVERS
4 IROC’S RULES OF PLAY AND
THE WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS
5 THE FIRST IROC CHAMPIONSHIP:
DUEL AT DAYTONA
6 THE IROC PORSCHES
CAR BY CAR
7 IROC POST-PORSCHE
6
Dedication
This work is dedicated to the dozen great drivers who inaugurated the IROC story—
equally to those who are no longer with us and those who fortunately still are, as all
of them raced their way to significant places in the annals of motorsport history.
Additionally to my friend, Bill Warner. Bill is an outstanding motorsport photographer,
the founder and chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Foundation,
an automotive enthusiast like none other, and the most unselfish person I know.
THE IROC PORSCHES 7
Acknowledgments
My thanks . . .
To Zack Miller and everyone at Quarto/Motorbooks who transformed this concept
from an idea into the book you hold in your hands. To my old friend, the incomparable
George Follmer, who made time to write the foreword and to share his thoughts about
IROC with us. To the Captain, IROC cofounder Roger Penske; driver Bobby Unser;
cofounder Mike Phelps; the incomparable Mario Andretti; and Penske’s Jay Signore
for taking time to interview with me. To the photographers—the late Pete Biro, plus
Jutta Fausel, Bill Warner, and Bob Tronolone—who contributed their great archival
photography to this project. To Linda, Mel, Merrill Cain, Lee Maxted-Page, John Starkey,
Chip Conner, Bruce Meyer, Glen Cordle, John Gabrial, Kerry Morse, Gooding &
Company, the folks at the Revs Institute Research Library and Archives, Christine
Giovingo of Mecum Auctions, and Clive Rigby and Ivy Huang of Spark Models. To
Mike Follmer, nephew of George and an accomplished road-racing driver himself,
who has become an official/unofficial historian of the IROC series (having worked
there as a young guy) and unselfishly allowed me access to his considerable archive
of IROC documents and photos.
And finally to you, dear reader, who demonstrated interest in this series, these cars,
and these remarkable champion drivers by reaching into your real or metaphorical
wallet to buy this book. Without you, we’d have had no reason to produce it.
8
FOREWORD
BY GEORGE FOLLMER