Saturday, January 25, 2025

ROLEX 24: Trivial Pursuit, Old and New

As sometimes? Whale’ Ok, lotso times your Humble No Fenders scribe gets Carried Away going down multiple Wabbit’ Holes…

 

Although other racing has already transpired, most notably the annual Dakar Rally. For most, the season kicks off in earnest with the annual 24 Hours of Daytona.

 

Thus, whilst doing another extraneous “project” here upon thoust Isle ‘O Nofendersville over the winter, I gleaned the following trivial information regarding the Rolex 24.

 

Can Y’all name the most drivers sharing a single entry’s win on the Highbanks ‘ O Daytona? And even though the number’s the same as how many Indy Cars Andy Evans entered in the 1997 Indianapolis 500, it’s not Evans or Dick Simon.

 

Nope, the honour goes to the No. 20 Dyson Racing riley & Scott Mk III ford entry. When its Seester’s quartet ‘O drivers joined the car’s three co-drivers. With Rob Dyson, Elliot Forbes-Robinson and John Schneider being joined by the No. 16’s Butch Leitzinger, James Weaver, John Paul Jr. and Andy Wallace. For which I can still vaguely recall the entire gaggle ‘O drivers “Dog-pyling” aboard the racecar enroute to victory lane…

 

The second most drivers in a single winning entry has occurred twice. First in 1968, when the Werks’ Porsche System Engineering’s Porsche 907LH with Rolf Stommelen, Hans Herrmann, Jo Siffert, Jochen Neerpasch and Vic Elford shared the win.

 

This feat of five drivers winning happened again in 1991. When Reinhold Joest’s Porsche 962C was victorious with Hurley Haywood, Bob wollek, Henri Pescarolo, “John winter” and Frank Jelinski at its controls.

 

Five Father and son’s have won at Daytona, albeit only one pair raced together. Can you name all of them?

 

John Paul Sr. and Jnr drove together aboard their highly modified Porsche 935, winning in 1982 with Rolf Stommelen co-driving.

 

Big Al’ (Unser) won in ’83 driving with A.J. foyt, Bob Wolleck and Claude Ballot-Lema in a Preston Henn owned Porsche 935. While ‘lil Al (Unser Jr.) won twice between 1986-87 driving with Al Holbert and Derek Bell, racing Holbert’s iconic No. 14 Lowenbrau Porsche 962.

 

The third father son duo to do so, won forty years apart. With Mark Donohue and Chuck Parson winning in 1969 for El Capitano’, nee Roger Penske and Sunoco . Before son David won aboard a Brumos Racing Riley MkXI  with a 4.0-litre Porshe Flat-six lump’ propelling it.

 

The Rahal’s joined this small quintet in 2011, when Graham Rahal won aboard Chip Ganassi Racing’s Riley MkXX-BMW. Y’all remember when Graham drove for Cheep’, Righto?

 

As Graham joined His father bobby, who’d won driving a Porsche 935 K3 alongside Brian Redman and team owner Bob Garretson three decades earlier. When the Garretson Racing Style Auto entry was victorious in 1981

 

While the latest to do so is Wayne Taylor and His two sons Jordan and Ricky. The latter winning aboard Wayne Taylor Racing’s Cadd-Oh-lacc’ DPi-V.R in 2017. With the Taylor brothers being the only brothers to win the Rolex 24 driving together. While their father Wayne won previously in 1996 and 2005…

 

And although Wayne came out of retirement in 2014 to race in the Rolex 24 with both of His sons and Max “the Ax” Angelelli, with their Corvette DP finishing runner-up. I’d say their accomplishment was overshadowed by Memo Gidley’s Horrendous, life altering accident! Which thankfully, Memo recovered from and returned to racing some Gory eight years later!

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2022/02/two-bad-arse-racing-drivers-make.html

 

Speaking of Porshe, naturally you’d Arse-sume they’ve won the most 24 Hours of Daytona races overall, Ja Volt! Having won 19 as a “Constructor,” (manufacturer) with a further four as an engine supplier, for a staggering total of 23 wins. Over one third to date! Not to mention winning a record eleven races in-a-row, i.e.; 1977 to 1987.

 

Yet I’m guessing that the second most winning “constructor”, Err Manufacturer will not be obvious to most? And nope, its not Ferrari, who languish down in third with five victories. Albeit this is somewhat misleading, since only two of these wins were for 24 Hours.

 

As I’d even argue that the second most winning manufacturer actually has three W’s missing to its credit. As Riley Technologies is credited with ten victories between 2005-15, including nine consecutive wins from 2005 to 2013.

 

While their predecessor Riley & Scott Mk III chassis won a further three events. Including both of Dyson Racing’s and Doyle Racing’s victories in the late 1990’s. (1996-97, 1999)

 

Meanwhile, thee “Iceman 2.0”, aka Scott Dixon will be gunning for His fourth Rolex wristwatch this year as part of the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 entry. As Dixon’s the only three-times overall winner in the field. And would join very elite company with a fourth win. Joining only Peter Gregg, Rolf Stommelen and Bob Wollek with four victories.

 

Although Andy “the Enforcer” Lally, who’s retiring from racing following this year’s Rolex 24 has more Rolex watches than Dixon. And Lally presumably has the most Rolex 24 wins in this year’s field with five class victories. And will be aiming to go out on a high aboard the Magnus Racing #44 Aston Martin AMR Vantage GT3 Evo GT Daytona (GTD) entry.

 

Yet whenever I think about Lally’s Rolex wristwatches, Scotty Scooter’ Pruett immediately comes to mind for having more Rolex’s than Lally has…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2021/10/retro-rolexs-richard-milles-pardon-mwah.html

 

Ye Cheepster’, ergo Chip Ganassi Racing has won the most 24 Hours of Daytona as a team with six. Two more than current entrant Wayne Taylor Racing and past competitor Brumos Porsche. Whilst Action Express Racing (AXR) and Meyer Shank Racing are currently tied with three W’s apiece…

 

And that’s just some of the many trivial nuggets I’ve gleamed over the winter’s long IndyCar hibernation! As is it March yet? Now back to the race, which has just completed one quarter distance, Tick-tick-Tick…