Bob Holbert

[thebear]

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.

[Leighton Irwin]

Only saw Bob race a couple of times and he was quick.
I best remember him for the 1st lap mess at Mosport in 61. He ended up upside down crosswise between the guardrails at turn 1. There was no runoff in those days and less than a full car width between rail and track on either side. There were 7, no less, Ferraris involved and a couple of other cars. Safety cars didn't exist and race was only under local yellow. Track was clear by the time the cars came around but there were still wrecked cars on the bridge and marshalls everywhere. Next lap had everyone either going again or out of the way. In those days there were a lot of marshalls and there had to be a least 25 on the scene. Lap times were also around 1.32. Not like todays 1.05.
I was one of the marshalls as I didn't start racing until 62.