Le Mans winner, John Winter, died last week.

[Fiorentina 1]

Sportscar great, John Winter, also known as Louis Krages, 51, died in his Atlanta home last Thursday.

Winter is famous for winning Le Mans in 1985 as well as many IMSA & Group C races in the 80's with Porsche 962.

I was sad to read about his death in the Italian web-site, Rombo.it. I always liked Winter and will always remember him driving the Blue #7 962 for Joest in Imsa in the late 80's. May he forever RIP.

Louis Krages used the alias, John Winter, so his family wouldn't find out about his racing. That worked great until they saw him on TV, standing on the podium after he won Le Mans!

[TimD]

Thanks for the information, Fiorentina. I heard a whisper about this earlier today, and I spent a lot of time searching the net for a clarification - and hoping it wasn't true.

"John Winter" was always one of those drivers I watched out for. Persevering with his cars, using the machine he had (rarely the most competitive on the grid) to take the fight to better-known, better funded adversaries.

Also notable for walking away from one of the biggest shunts I ever saw in the DTM, when his Calibra just broke apart and exploded around him.

Godspeed "John Winter". You will be remembered.

[jimclark]

...not good news...i'm sorry to hear that. i used to go to many IMSA races, what was the sponsor of the Joest car at the time, I just don't remember the blue....it's a while ago though. do you remember what years or specific races. i don't remember seeing "Winter". I may have coincidentally missed his races. i used to go to Daytona, miami, west Palm Beach, Tampa/St Pete., and Atlanta. Not every one thouh. (many, however) Nonetheless, 'tis a shame. what cause?