RENNSPORT REUNION 3
NOVEMBER 1-2-3-4. 2007
Daytona International Speedway
   
   




 

latest press release updated October 1st 2007

Featuring the dominating 917 and 956/962

PETER SCHWARZENBAUER AND BETTY JO TURNER
NAMED CO-GRAND MARSHALS FOR PORSCHE® RENNSPORT REUNION III

Two Porsche Dignitaries to Preside Over Expected Largest Gathering of Legendary Porsche Race Cars in History

ATLANTA, GA – Aug. 22, 2007 — Porsche Cars North America President and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Schwarzenbauer, and Porsche Panorama Editor, Betty Jo Turner, were today announced as Co-Grand Marshals for the November 2-4, 2007, Porsche Rennsport Reunion III at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Sponsored by Porsche Cars North America and organized by Brian Redman’s Intercontinental Events, Inc., Porsche Rennsport Reunion is held every three years. It is open to the public and brings together an unprecedented gathering of significant Porsche vintage and current racecars and famous Porsche race drivers.

“I really enjoyed serving as Co-Grand Marshal at the previous Porsche Rennsport Reunion,” Mr. Schwarzenbauer related. “At that event I was so impressed with the enthusiasm and camaraderie of the participants and fans. It was easy for me to see that the Porsche racing community is truly one big family and this event is their exclusive gathering. I look forward to another great reunion with them.”

An avid Porsche racing fan, Betty Jo Turner has edited Porsche Panorama for 38 years. The monthly magazine has a circulation of 57,000 enthusiastic Porsche Club of America members.

“Porsche motorsport has been followed intensely by Porsche Club of America members since the club’s formation in 1955,” Mrs. Turner commented. “Back then, the first Panorama celebrated Pete Thacher’s Speedster win at Marlboro and included Dick Thompson’s advice on how to race a 356A Super. Today we cheer factory driver and PCA member Patrick Long winning at Le Mans with a 997 911 RSR and the huge success of the RS Spyders. In between, we’ve been there in spirit for every great Porsche win and offer our own form of motorsport in PCA’s Club Racing series, where, as always, every Porsche is a race car.”

Weekend Schedule Features Races for Historic and Contemporary Porsche Race Cars on Sunday Afternoon and the World’s Only Concours Exclusively for Race Cars on Saturday Afternoon

Like the previous events, Porsche Rennsport Reunion III features a three-day program including on-track competition plus a concours d’elegance, now called the Concours d’ Sport, which is open to the event’s participants by invitation. Events are also planned commemorating the awesome Porsche 917 racecars and the 25th Anniversary of the racing debut of the all-conquering Porsche 956/962 prototypes.

Under the direction of Intercontinental Events, five races will be contested on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 4. They include events for production race cars, prototype race cars, 911 Cup cars, and, entries permitting, a special 25th Anniversary race for 956/962s.

Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Founder and Co-Chairman, Bill Warner, and his staff are organizing the Concours d’Sport for Saturday afternoon, Nov. 3. Staged on Daytona International Speedway’s pit lane, it is the world’s only concours devoted exclusively to race cars. The event’s judged classes include 917 Coupes, 917 Spyders, 956s, 962s, 550 Spyders through RS61s, 904s through 910s, and production-based race cars.

Entries Feature Legendary Porsche 917 and 956/962 Racecars and the Drivers Who Made Them Famous

Highlighting the anticipated record number of 917 entries are four cars from the Porsche Museum in Germany. They include the 917 Long-tail, the 917/20 “Pink Pig”, the 1971 Le Mans winning 917/K, and the 16-cylinder 917 Can Am Spyder that is making its first trip to North America. Other expected 917s include the 1970 Le Mans winning 917/K, the 1972 Can Am winning 917/10, and the 1973 Can Am winning 917/30.

Joining these and other 917s are the drivers that drove them to victories in the world’s most prestigious sports car races. They include Richard Attwood, Vic Elford, George Follmer, Hurley Haywood, Willy Kauhsen, Charlie Kemp, Gerald Larrousse, Rudi Lins, Udo Schutz, Randolph Townsend, David Piper, Brian Redman, Sam Posey, David Hobbs, Jackie Oliver, Tony Adamowicz and Gijs van Lennep.

The large field scheduled to celebrate the “25th Anniversary of the Porsche 956/962” features an equally famous group of winning cars as well as their drivers including John Andretti, Derek Bell, Jurgen Barth, Bruce Leven, Jochen Mass, John Morton, Vern Schuppan, and Chip Robinson.

Other drivers expected to attend include past Porsche factory drivers Joe Buzzetta, Scooter Patrick, Kees Nierop and David Murry, as well as current Porsche factory drivers Jorg Bergmeister and Patrick Long.

Additional Events Include Street Car Lapping Session, Literature, Toy, and Memorabilia Swap Meet, and Porsche Model Car Contest

A special pace lapping session kicks off the weekend on Friday afternoon, Nov. 2. Organized by the Porsche Club of America, the event provides anyone who drives their Porsche to the event the opportunity to tour the entire Daytona International Speedway layout, from the high banking to the infield road course. The following morning, attendees will have the chance to meet many of the legendary Porsche race drivers during a special autograph session. Proceeds from both of these events will be donated to Camp Boggy Creek, a facility for Florida’s seriously ill children.

Also on Saturday morning are two activities new to the Porsche Rennsport Reunion - a Porsche only literature, toy, and memorabilia swap meet and a Porsche model car contest. Parallel to the famous one held every year at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton and run by the same team, the swap meet will feature sales and technical literature for all Porsche models, factory posters, books, toys and models of all sizes and descriptions, with proceeds going to Camp Boggy Creek. The vendor reservation form is available at www.rennsportreunion.com, or call or email the organizer, Prescott Kelly (203-227-7770) or KellyCT@optonline.net.

The unique Porsche model car contest features 10 judged categories for Porsche race cars. They include 917, 956/962, Pre-1964, 1965-1975, 1976-1981, 1982-present, Small Scale (1/28 and smaller), Large Scale (1/20 and larger), Diorama Racing Related Subjects, and Porsche Racing Support Subjects. Those interested in entering are encouraged to contact Henry Trent at (423-745-8765) or htrent77@yahoo.com.

Additional details of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion will be published on Porsche’s press web site (www.press.porsche.com), Brian Redman’s Intercontinental Events web site (www.rennsport2007.com), and Daytona International Speedway’s web site (http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/), as they become available. Ticket information is available by contacting Daytona International Speedway at 1-800-PITSHOP.

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PORSCHE ANNOUNCES INITIAL LINEUP OF FEATURED CARS AND DRIVERS

FOR PORSCHE RENNSPORT REUNION III

ATLANTA, GA – May 3, 2007 — No less than 20 thundering Porsche 917s and approximately 30 Porsche 956/962 prototypes plus the famous drivers who drove these legendary models to victories around the world top the first entries for the November 2-4, 2007, Porsche Rennsport Reunion III at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Sponsored by Porsche Cars North America and organized by Brian Redman’s Intercontinental Events, Inc., Porsche Rennsport Reunion is held every three years. It is open to the public and brings together an unprecedented gathering of significant Porsche vintage and current racecars and famous Porsche race drivers. It features a three-day program of on-track competition plus a concours d’elegance, which is open to the event’s participants by invitation. In addition, special activities are planned including, for the very first time, a Porsche model car contest and a Porsche motorsport memorabilia swap meet, as well as events commemorating the awesome Porsche 917 and the 25th Anniversary of the racing debut of the all-conquering Porsche 956/962 prototypes.

Coupe Porsche 917s expected to appear at Porsche Rennsport Reunion III include the actual or similar 917/Ks that were victorious in such races as the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the 12 Hours of Sebring; the elegant 917 Long-tail; and the striking one-of-a-kind 917/20 “Pink Pig.” Spyder 917s slated to be in the field include SCCA Can Am championship-winning twin-turbocharged 917/10s and 917/30s as well as earlier non-turbocharged versions of one of the world’s most powerful road racing cars.

Porsche 917 drivers who will attend include Richard Attwood, Vic Elford, George Follmer, Hurley Haywood, Willy Kauhsen, Charlie Kemp, Gerald Larrousse, Rudi Lins, David Piper, Brian Redman, Derek Bell and Gijs van Lennep.

The large field scheduled to celebrate the “25th Anniversary of the Porsche 956/962” includes an equally famous group of Daytona, Le Mans, and Sebring winners plus the very first 962 ever built.

Porsche 956/962 drivers expected to attend include John Andretti, Derek Bell, David Hobbs, Bruce Leven, Jochen Mass, John Morton, Bobby Rahal, Brian Redman and Chip Robinson.

Porsche Rennsport Reunion III’s featured 917 and 956/962 cars will take part in unique commemorative races, parade laps, and concours d’elegance classes. Their drivers will participate in a special autograph session with proceeds donated to an appropriate charitable organization.

Additional details of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion will be published on Porsche’s press web site (www.press.porsche.com), Brian Redman’s Intercontinental Events web site (www.rennsport2007.com), and Daytona International Speedway’s web site (http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/), as they become available. Ticket information is available by contacting Daytona International Speedway at 1-800-PITSHOP.


RENNSPORT ANNOUNCEMENT
December 2006

ATLANTA, GA – Dec.  2006 — Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) and Daytona International Speedway today announced Porsche Rennsport Reunion III will take place at the famed Florida racetrack the weekend of November 2-4, 2007.

Sponsored by PCNA and organized by Brian Redman’s Intercontinental Events, Inc., Porsche Rennsport Reunion III is open to the public and brings together an unprecedented gathering of significant Porsche vintage and current racecars and those who have driven them to victory in the world’s most famous sports car races. It features a three-day program of on-track competition plus a concours d’elegance, which is open to the event’s participants by invitation. In addition, special activities are planned honoring the series of awesome Porsche 917 racecars and commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the racing debut of the all-conquering Porsche 956/962 prototype racers.

Held at three-year intervals, the third edition of Porsche Rennsport Reunion returns to Daytona International Speedway following that track’s highly successful staging of Porsche Rennsport Reunion II in 2004. On that occasion, more than 600 Porsche racecars and dozens of legendary Porsche race drivers participated in a truly memorable weekend dedicated to Porsche’s motorsport heritage.

“Given the tremendous response to our last event there,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, president and chief executive officer of Porsche Cars North America, “Daytona International Speedway is the logical choice as the site for Porsche Rennsport Reunion III. It is filled with Porsche racing history and is one of the few tracks in America capable of conducting an event of this magnitude.”

Porsche Rennsport Reunion III will honor two of Porsche’s most historic racing models – the Porsche 917 and Porsche 956/962. In coupe form, the 12-cylinder 917/K was the first Porsche to score an overall win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, scoring back-to-back victories in the 1970 and 1971 editions of the French racing classic. Fitted with twin-turbochargers producing more than 1000 horsepower, the mighty open-cockpit 917/10 and 917/30 rocketed to Sports Car Club of America Can-Am championships in 1972 and 1973. These achievements by the 917 moved Porsche to the forefront of the sports car racing world.

Since making its Le Mans debut in 1982 with a stunning one-two-three overall finish, the Porsche 956 and its 962 stable mate have established themselves as the most successful models in the history of international sports car racing. Among their record number of overall victories spanning 14 seasons are seven in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, six in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and four in the 12 Hours of Sebring.  

            Additional details of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion will be published on Porsche’s press web site (www.press.porsche.com), Brian Redman’s Intercontinental Events web site (www.GoRace.com),  the official Rennsport III website (www.rennsport2007.com), and Daytona International Speedway’s web site (http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/), as they become available. Ticket information is available by contacting Daytona International Speedway at 1-800-PITSHOP.