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This Porsche 935 K3 (Chassis
0010 020) was the twentieth and last K3 built by Kremer in 1981. The car first
appeared at the 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours entered by Kremer Racing in the hands of
Don and Bill Whittington and Ted Field. The car retired with engine failure on
lap 57. (Image source: motorsportretro.com)
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As this noted Collector seemingly has a flair for
automobiles with previous Checkered Pasts...
Like much of thoust story material gathered
here upon thou Isle 'O Nofendersville, I was perusing the Car and Driver
magazine's weekly selections via Thy NFB Newsline for The Blind telephone
service.
When ironically, as portions of NW Oregon
were getting hammered by a late Monstrous Snowstorm February 25th, I was
listening to the untold gems going on Display at the renown Peterson Automotive
Museum in Sunny, Warm Californ-I-a'.
As the second precious automobile in the
story that caught my Attenzione', tripping Thy No. 4 Wire - was the mention of
a veritable Porsche 935 with a sordid history!
This car in Questione is none other than the
1979 Kremer Porsche 935 K3 which as many will know, won the prestigious 24
Heurs du Mans that very same year with Klaus Ludwig and Don & Bill
Whittington at its controls.
I say sordid history, since this car was
involved in a legal Tug 'O War which the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's then
Hall of Fame Museum won outright in court, ultimately prevailing in legal custody
of the Le Mans winning Porsche vs. Don Whittington claiming he'd only loaned
the car to IMS.
Having had the good fortune, especially when
I could still see the car somewhat, I viewed it on display at Mother Speedway's
Hall of Fame museo' Wayback in the Autumn of Twenty-ten, when attending that
year's MotoGP race at Indianapolis, as part of my Triple Centennial outings to
Mother Speedway, circa 2009-11.
As I've actually seen three Le Mans 24H Winners at
the IMS Museum over the years. Beginning with the 1966 Shelby American Ford GT
40 MkII, the '65 NART Ferrari 250LM and the Kremer Brothers Porsche 935 K3...
Thus I was surprised to read that the car is
now owned by serious Car Collector and Co-Founder of the Peterson Automotive
Museum's Bruce Meyer. For which I can only ascertain the car was sold
"quietly" to Meyer sometime between 2011-13, unless I missed another
Memo?
As Meyer reputedly made his Fortune by first
building up the family's business Gaery
Beverly Hills over 30yrs, before selling
this business to devote his energies to his newest endeavour, his Meyer Pacific
Real Estate Investment & Development company in the 1990's.
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Bruce Meyer poses by his 1929
Bentley 4 1/2 Litre, which he rallied with the Louis Vuitton Classic. (Image source: autoweek.com)
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Apparently Bruce has been an Avid RevHead'
since his early Childhood years while growing up in California. Having ridden
motorcycles clandestinely during College before caught in the act, which was
frowned upon by his parents.
As Diehard Motor Racing Aficionados will know
that the Whittington Brothers, Don, the eldest, and Bill were ultimately swept
up as part of IMSA's cleverly renamed moniker Thee infamous "International
Marijuana Smuggler's Association," which also ensnared '86 Indianapolis
500 Rookie Of the Year (ROY) Randy Lanier and the John Paul's, Sr. and Jnr
behind Bars...
Whilst Dale Whittington was the youngest of the
only Trio of Brothers to ever Qualify for the Indianapolis 500 IN 1982, albeit
not completing a single lap in the race.
As Dale wasn't
part of this Alleged Drug "Cartel," and hence didn't go to Jail like
his older brothers did. Yet it's ironic that he was reputedly Co-owner of the
Blue Thunder Racing Team with Randy Lanier...
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Bruce
Meyer's Testa Rossa was owned by Porsche dealer John von Neumann. Photo by Mark
Vaughn. (Image source: autoweek.com)
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Yet it's Mr. Meyer's 1957 Ferrari 250 TRC Testa
Rossa that's not only the Star of the Peterson Automotive Museum's Winning
Numbers Exhibit, which Y'all can check out thru January, 2020. But presumably
also his Numero Uno prized vehicle in his stellar collection!
Whilst ironically, it's the very same 2013 Autoweek
article about his prized Ferrari racecar that notes the 935 K3 residing in his formable
collection, which even includes a 1929 "Unlimited" Hydroplane powered
by one of those Miller motors that once ruled Thee Brickyard!
And when having "My Gal" Lucy', my
ARSE-STEAMED Screen Reader read me said article, Klaxon Bells began Blaring
loudly when I heard the named Zwolsman mentioned as the previous owner of said
prestigious Ferrari.
Hang on a My-nute', I know that name from
thou Good 'Ol Chump Carz' Dazes! As I recall Charles Zwolsman, Jr. racing the
entire '06 Champ Car World Series season for Eric Bachelart's Conquest Racing
team.
As the Junior Zwolsman won the 2005 Toyota
Atlantic Championship before graduating to Champ Cars, whilst his father was a
Sports Car racer during the 1980's, before perishing behind Bars in 2011.
And apparently
it's Hard to shake your Devious Ways, having noticed that one of those
Whittington Felon's was once again headed back to the Slammer, albeit this time
for Tax Evasion...
C'mon Glenn Frey,
Sing It Dude...
"It's the Nature of the Business
It's the Smuggler's Blues
It's the lure of Easy Money
The Ultimate enticement
The Smuggler's Blues..."
VIDEO: Smuggler's Blues - Song
Partial Song lyrics from: Glenn Frey
Song: Smuggler's Blues
Album: The Allnighter
Year: 1984