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The legendous' Lowenbrau Special Porsche 962,
campaigned by the late Al Holbert. (Image source: conceptcarz.com)
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As how could I pass up a story with the title 'bout
Night Terrors & SuperTex', eh? Or may be I-T should be Tremors 'N Night
Sweats?
Once again, your humble No Fenders scribe
Tomaso was "Sleepless in Seattle," and hence found Thyself perusing
Y'all know what; listening to another story from Car and Driver Magazine
via my NFB Newsline for The Blind telephone news service...
As the title grabbed my Attenzione, as how
many of Yuhs recall that 'Ol SuperTex, nee Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jr. not only
contested the 24 Hours of Daytona, but has two Rolex winning wrist pieces to
show for it!
As funny how I
totally remember the Lowenbrau cars of 1986-87 with Al Holbert, Al Unser, Jr.
and Derek Bell.
Along with the
fact that Monsieur Wolleck and A.J. had won, but don't recall witnessing either
of their victories. Or knowing 'bout the Seester' Swap 'N Shop 962, with the
likes 'O Thierry Boutsen and 'lil Al's Pappy B-I-G' AL being a member of this
squad...
And whilst NOT downplaying AJ's accomplishments,
which are simply legendary, but just to give I-T some perspective, "Peter
Perfect," aka Peter Gregg has won the endurance classic twice as many
times, albeit Gregg's primary focus was Sports Car racing whilst A.J. simply
done raced anything with wheels.
As I enjoyed this story, with the author
harkening back to his childhood days with a poster of two Porsche 962's in
Lowenbrau livery tacked to his bedroom's wall, for which A.J. Foyt was the
Pilote of one of these two mighty Porsche's.
As just think 'O
thee Terror of 'Ol SuperTex coming up on your six, flashing you with his high
beams on DayToner's High Banks before blastin' past Yuhs in his A-L-L
conquering Porsche 962C Beer Wagon!
Fooled Y'all! As betcha thought I was gonna say Panzerwagon, Ja Volt!
Whilst reportedly the brand new Cadillac VR
DPi's (Daytona Prototype International) are a half mile short of surpassing the
magic 200mph mark, and presumably are the Odds-on favourite for victory this
year. As A-L-L eyes of thee Motor Racing World will be glued upon the No. 10
Wayne Taylor Racing and it's guest chauffer, some guy with the last name
Gordon...
Although the World Endurance Championship's
(WEC) Rebellion Racing P2 Oreca 07 naturally aspirated Gibson V-8 looked
extremely stout with Neil Jani at its controls during the Roar Before - with
Jani leading five of the seven practice sessions, before being pipped for
fastest time by DragonSpeed's Ben Hanley on the final day, another of the WEC
runners...
But still think
Yuhs wouldn't want the pressure of 'Ol SuperTex harassin' Y'all when the clock
chimes Midnight when scamperin' about Dem High Banks!
As the list reads like a veritable Who's Who of Motorsports, regarding Overall Winners at the Rolex 24, as Jeffrey "Pretty Boy" Gordon's still in pursuit of his first wristwatch, whilst thee Top Kuhuna's' with the most victories is shared between Hurley Haywood and Scotty Scooter' Pruett at five apiece.
As the best Pruett can do this year is add another
Rolex time-piece to his dazzling collection as GTD (Daytona) class winner
aboard his brand new Lexus RC F GT3...
The Haywood-Pruett duo is followed by the aforementioned
Gregg, along with Rolf Stommelen and Bob Wolleck
with four wins apiece.
As Wolleck who drove with A.j. Foyt against
his wishes, begrudgingly acknowledged the Texan's driving abilities...
Although fours apparently not a good number, since none of these esteemed drivers are with us any longer. As Gregg committed Suicide after losing His Eyesight! Stommelen died in a Crash at Riverside in 1983. And Wollek was cruely Killed by a Motorist when ironically bicycling to Daytona International Speedway
Triple Rolex 24 winners abound with the likes
'O Juan Pablo Montoya, Memo Rojas,
both scoring all of their victories for The Cheepster',
nee Chip Ganassi who's got the record for most overall team victories with six.
A trio of Bloody Brits' are also triple
winners, as Derek Bell, Brian Redman and Andy Wallace are in the club, whilst
the most unlikely known, with the exception of Diehard Sports Car Aficionados
is Butch Leitzinger,
which I fondly recall as a longtime driver for Dyson Racing, scoring victory
with those Riley-Ford DP's. (Daytona Prototype)
The late Pedro Rodriguez leads the list of two-time winners, being the first to score consecutive wins. Along with the likes of the aforementioned SuperTex'. (Foyt) While there's the late Al Holbert who partnered with 'lil Al, aka Al Unser, Jr. and Jan Lammers, John Paul, Jr, Elliot-Forbes Robinson, Mauro Baldi, Didier Theys, Wayne Taylor and Terry Borcheller. And our latest addition of Scott Sharp, joining this club last year
Four other drivers with two Rolex's, one for
each wrist winners include the likes of Scott Dixon, who won't be adding to his
overall tally this year, since he's piloting one of Cheeps' GT Le Mans class's
Ford GT's.
With le Hamburgular', aka SeaBass', nee
Sebastain Bourdais and fellow Ford Ganassi Racing compatriot TK' Follow-your-Schnoz!
Kanaan both also in a similar predicament, as part of the twelve Ford GT Le
Mans class drivers, who've each won the race overall once apiece.
Yet there's three driver's in DPi Prototypes
this year who all stand a chance of adding a third timepiece to their
collection. As Caddy' Boyz Christian Fittipaldi and João Barbosa
probably have the best chance, with Scotty Sharp's unknown Nissan Onroak DPi
being a Darkhorse for now, as who knows who's showing what during testing, eh?
As Y'all better
not Slow Down that Mustang Sally; Err Mustang Sampling Cadd-Oh-lac' - as
obviously I'm rootin' for the Ford GT's; although I'd enjoy having the No. 19
BMW Art Car upset the GTLM Apple-cart, whilst I'd enjoy seeing the No. 55 Mazda
RT24P win the race...
VIDEO: Mustang Sally