thebear
15 Nov 2007, 01:55
BOB HOLBERT, DISTINGUISHED PORSCHE DEALER & RACER, PASSES AWAY
11/14/2007
ATLANTA (GA) --- Robert McCormick Holbert, one of the first Porsche dealers in the US & a prominent Porsche race driver in the '50s & '60s, died in his native Warrington (PA) on Monday. Born in Warrington in 1923, Bob opened a general purpose automotive garage in the late '40s, moving to the more famous Holbert's Garage building across the street in '51 when he started a repair & parts business specializing in foreign & sports cars. In '54, Holbert's Garage became one of the 1st authorized Porsche dealers in the US, & continues today as one of the most well-known & oldest Porsche dealerships in America.
Holbert's love & knowledge of cars included a distinguished racing career w/awards ranging from The NY Times "Best Sports Car Driver" 3 separate years to top finishes in the 12 Hours of Sebring. He drove to a record 6 class victories at Sebring including 2nd OA in '60.
His racing career started in '53 in an MG, then moved to Porsches in '57 after seeing driver Jack McAfee pass 7 drivers (all cars w/bigger engine displacements) in a Porsche 550 Spyder at Cumberland Raceway. His subsequent racing activities in Porsche RS-550 & RSK led to 4 SCCA National
Championships, & a podium finish at Le Mans w/Masten Gregory. Holbert also sold Roger Penske his 1st race car ('58).
"Thru his dealership & racing successes, Bob Holbert helped establish the Porsche brand in America," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, president & CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "He was a true American Porsche pioneer." Holbert later became a Shelby Cobra team factory driver, winning the
1st USRRC Championship title in '63. He & frequent co-driver Dave McDonald won the GT Class at Sebring in 1964. McDonald's death in a racing accident at Indianapolis several months later was a major factor in Bob Holbert's decision to retire from racing later that year.
Son Al Holbert, who also helped run the dealership & was the President of Porsche Motorsport North America, had a brilliant racing career of his own, winning twice at Sebring ('76 & '81), the 24 Hours of Le Mans 3 times, & multiple IMSA titles before his remarkable career was cut short by an '88 plane crash.
His other son, Larry, has been the president & GM of the family-owned dealership for the past 25 years. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta (GA), & its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars & Cayenne SUV for the U.S. & Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 300 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 214 U.S. & Canadian dealers. They, in
turn, provide Porsche owners w/best-in-class service.
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11/14/2007
ATLANTA (GA) --- Robert McCormick Holbert, one of the first Porsche dealers in the US & a prominent Porsche race driver in the '50s & '60s, died in his native Warrington (PA) on Monday. Born in Warrington in 1923, Bob opened a general purpose automotive garage in the late '40s, moving to the more famous Holbert's Garage building across the street in '51 when he started a repair & parts business specializing in foreign & sports cars. In '54, Holbert's Garage became one of the 1st authorized Porsche dealers in the US, & continues today as one of the most well-known & oldest Porsche dealerships in America.
Holbert's love & knowledge of cars included a distinguished racing career w/awards ranging from The NY Times "Best Sports Car Driver" 3 separate years to top finishes in the 12 Hours of Sebring. He drove to a record 6 class victories at Sebring including 2nd OA in '60.
His racing career started in '53 in an MG, then moved to Porsches in '57 after seeing driver Jack McAfee pass 7 drivers (all cars w/bigger engine displacements) in a Porsche 550 Spyder at Cumberland Raceway. His subsequent racing activities in Porsche RS-550 & RSK led to 4 SCCA National
Championships, & a podium finish at Le Mans w/Masten Gregory. Holbert also sold Roger Penske his 1st race car ('58).
"Thru his dealership & racing successes, Bob Holbert helped establish the Porsche brand in America," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, president & CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "He was a true American Porsche pioneer." Holbert later became a Shelby Cobra team factory driver, winning the
1st USRRC Championship title in '63. He & frequent co-driver Dave McDonald won the GT Class at Sebring in 1964. McDonald's death in a racing accident at Indianapolis several months later was a major factor in Bob Holbert's decision to retire from racing later that year.
Son Al Holbert, who also helped run the dealership & was the President of Porsche Motorsport North America, had a brilliant racing career of his own, winning twice at Sebring ('76 & '81), the 24 Hours of Le Mans 3 times, & multiple IMSA titles before his remarkable career was cut short by an '88 plane crash.
His other son, Larry, has been the president & GM of the family-owned dealership for the past 25 years. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta (GA), & its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars & Cayenne SUV for the U.S. & Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 300 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 214 U.S. & Canadian dealers. They, in
turn, provide Porsche owners w/best-in-class service.
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