He is survived by his wife, Pat. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorization. He offered Bob a full Ford sponsorship of cars, parts, and marketing until 2003. Guildstrand asked Bob how to tell when he was approaching the Tertre Rouge corner at the end of the long (4381 feet) Mulsanne Straight at night. PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - Champion Race Car Driver Bob Bondurant died in Paradise Valley on Nov. 12 at the age of 88. INSIGHT: Has Alonso finally landed on another winner? He was finally reunited with his elusive GT40, and wow, did he have fun tracking this car for the next eight years!, Bob tracked this car at a Shelby reunion on the Fontana Raceway. Stroke 2023: A Change Has Come and Is Still Coming Session moderated by Bob Wachter For the non-neurologist, it may be hard to keep up with all the latest controversies, exciting advances, and paradigm shifts in the management of acute strokes. COURAGE. If I did well on the testdrive, I'd be driving the car the following year. Our. PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) Bob Bondurant, a former champion race car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors for their movie roles, has died. Bondurant was one of two drivers (alongside Graham Hill) to help extricate Jackie Stewart from his fuel-leaking wrecked car during the 1966 Belgian Grand Prix, the incident that led to Stewart's crusade for motor racing safety. Bob Bondurant excelled at the highest levels of sports car racing in the 1960s, with perhaps his greatest achievement coming in 1964 when he won the GT class at Le Mans 24 Hours driving with. While recuperating from a race car crash, he came up with the idea of a high-performance driving school. In Bob's case, not wearing a belt saved his life. Jason Bondurant also said employees are looking at their options for legal action in regards to the alleged hostile workplace environment, but that some fear retaliation from Pat Bondurant. Bob happened on a used car lot where Don was working. He bought a British two-seater Morgan Plus 4 with four cylinders that put out 68 hp and raced it for a year, graduating to a Triumph TR2 with a blazing 90 horses stock. Robert Lewis Bondurant was born on April 27, 1933, to John Roper Bondurant and Ruth Williams Bondurant of Evanston, Ill. His father owned two luxury car dealerships named Bondurant Motors. When Bob turned two years old, the family moved to Westwood Village, Calif. Bob began his fascination with speed as a three-year-old on his first tricycle with playing cards clothes pinned on his spokes for the sound of the rush. (That was the 427 with solid lifers, aluminum headsjust one bad-glass, 500-horse Vette capable of 170-plus mph down the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans. His racing career began to soar in 1959, when he drove a Corvette in the Southern California region to the West Coast "B . Ask any race car driver and they will tell you, on the edge, exceeding the limits, is where harmony is found. Bondurant won a world championship while racing for Carroll Shelby. Bob later had a '40 Ford he drag raced at Santa Ana, but Bob, ever the hot rodder, was ready to slow down the pace a bit with one cool street cruiser, a tail-draggin' '41 Ford custom. They moved to Westwood Village, near Beverly Hills, when Bob was 3 years old. In 1973, Bob moved his already famous school to the track he purchased, Sears Point International Raceway (now Infineon Raceway) near Sonoma, CA in 1973. He was flown to England to receive medical attention. This is a Porsche 959 tool kit containing all the items you might need for roadside repairs and tinkering though its perhaps doubtful, This is an original Ferrari Testarossa side mirror thats been mounted to a black carbon base, and signed by Gervadino Design. Located in the Catskills of New York, the Grand Prix was held at the "Glen" in 1961 and continued until 1980. In the same year he drove a works Ferrari Formula 1 car during the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, and handled a Lotus 33 for Reg Parnell at the following Mexican race. Be a part of the unmatched history and credibility of the legendary Bondurant Brands and copyrighted teaching methodology. The original was made from a lighter gauge mild steel. Bondurant, who passed away Nov. 12, at the age of 88, collected an enviable pile of trophies throughout the decades competing at tracks like the Nrburgring, Le Mans and Sebring, and in series including NASCAR CanAm and Formula 1. Robert L. Bondurant (April 27, 1933 - November 12, 2021) was an American racecar driver who raced for the Shelby American, Ferrari, and Eagle teams. [5], Bondurant died in Paradise Valley, Arizona, on November 12, 2021, at the age of 88. The pair went against Pat Bondurants wishes, informed employees and walked off the job. "They had a used car lot there, Don worked on the cars and I sold used Corvettes. He participated four times at 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing best in 1964 in the fourth place overall, and . In 1966 his life would forever change the he was hired to serve as a technical consultant and driver trainer for the John Frankenheimer film Grand Prix. Looking for something specific? Bob Bondurant, a race car driver and actor who coached actors as diverse as James Garner, Clint Eastwood and Heather Locklear through their careers, died at the age of 88. Robert L. Bondurant (April 27, 1933 November 12, 2021) was an American racecar driver who raced for the Shelby American, Ferrari, and Eagle teams. I talked my mom into letting me get a Whizzer motor bike. At 62, Bob grabbed a Third place podium finish at Road Atlanta in a Saleen Mustang in 1995. America's iconic World Champion Bob Bondurant has passed away in Paradise Valley, Arizona. "I figured the ATS wasn't as fast as the Ferraris and after a few laps I began taking the corner flat-out at 150 mph. Here are a few of the claims, via the ClassicCars.com Journal, emphasis theirs: Multiple employees said Pat Bondurant made derogatory comments about people who lived in certain Phoenix suburbs. . This entire matter has broken Bobs heart. For the 1964 FIA season after finishing 2nd in GT at Sebring, Bondurant was in Europe racing the new 289 FIA Cobras at the Targa Florio, Spa, and Nurburgring. We vehemently deny the allegations that have been made by a handful of former employees about how the school was being managed. The document said the primary factor was the schools inability to pay rent in September without jeopardizing its ability to do payroll and expenses, and others were a training contract from the U.S. government canceled with little warning, inconsistent payments from primary sponsors Dodge and Fiat, Dodge requiring the school to return its Vipers for safety and regulatory reasons, and a potential investor agreement that hasnt been reached yet. Bondurant was born in Evanston, Illinois. Hetrained the films lead actor, James Garner, to drive Formula cars in the race sequences. 2021-2022 Bondurant Racing School. Me and my buddies drove all over in that thing. But that was during a period when fatalities were commonplace it was a dangerous business. I had learned how to ride the bike by now. Bondurant, a member of 10 racing Hall of Fame classes, founded the driving school in 1968. It was really cool because I could do wheelies with it. [citation needed], The current operators of the formerly leased facility have renamed the facility and has no affiliation with Bob Bondurant or the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving/ Bondurant Racing School. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Contact Us, Sculpture: An Original Ferrari Testarossa Side Mirror, A Rare Tommykaira ZZ: The Japanese Sports Car Made Famous By Gran Turismo, Theres A Rover Vitesse SD1 TWR Group A Spec Touring Car For Sale, The Most Beautiful Car Ever Made A Jaguar E-Type Project Car, For Sale: An Italian Corvette The Iso Rivolta IR 300, An Original 1980s Sega Super Hang-On Arcade Machine. Not all of the alleged remarks were in relation to the school, though. But on Monday, the high-performance driving . Bondurant returned to race a Can-Am car at Watkins Glen a year after his crash. Bondurant taught stunt driving, competition driving, police pursuit driving, evasive driving for chauffeurs and bodyguards, plus other skills, according to the website. Bondurant had four NASCAR starts, all at Riverside International Raceway, with his highest finish of 18th in 1981. ", Dick Guildstrand of Guildstrand Motorsports in Burbank was the manager: "Dana was number one in sales on the West Coast because we were racing," Guildstrand states. I stayed for two hours telling everyone Lets leave these cars locked up, make sure the buildings and gates are secure. Everyone who walked through the Bondurant doors was taught the copyrighted Bondurant Method, developed by the most respected Racing School in the world. Power is provided by a highly-tuned, period-correct Ford 289 V8 which sends power to the rear wheels via aZF five-speed manual transaxle. He raced mostly in the USA but also spent one full season in the Formula One World Championship in 1966. On Popular Bio, He is one of the successful Formula One Driver. In late 2018, Pat and Bob Bondurant found themselves embroiled in an unfortunate and unforeseen family business situation where they were victimized as a result of a power struggle and attempted character assaults perpetrated by certain close family members looking to take over the company. His Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving has been responsible for training generations of American racing drivers. He was thrown out of the car. Mini Bio (1) Bondurant raced cars in the 1960s with some success until a crash at Watkins Glen, in New York curtailed his career. "I went to the Cal Club (California Sports Car Club) and said I wanted to go racing. Bob and I are deeply saddened by the negative rumors that have been published around the Schools recent Chapter 11 filing, the statement from Pat Bondurant read. He called me asking, 'Do you know how to drive?' Bob was then inducted as the youngest member of the Galloping Gooses, which eventually became Hells Angels. At 23 years old, he discovered that he had more control with four wheels than he did with two, and his racing career began in a Morgan Plus 4. Bob Bondurant, a former champion race car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in Orange County in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors how to drive fast for their movie roles,. I was taking my buddy around the track and said, 'This is really great isn't it?' "Bob Bondurant has had a worldwide impact on the motorsports industry, and his legacy will live on eternally as the Bondurant Racing School moves forward into the future," Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese said in a statement. I handed them $5, they handed me a Competition License and said, 'Now you can go racing.' "[4], (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap). ", Bob knew the circuit well, having raced Le Mans in 1964, winning the GT Class in a Ford Daytona Coupe with Dan Gurney. ATS was formed by disenchanted team members who broke away from Ferrari, including Phil Hill. Badly injured in a 1967 crash at the racetrack in Watkins Glen, New York, Bondurant drafted an idea for a high-performance driving school while recuperating. They gave me the signal to pull in and I decided to take one more lap.". We may earn a commission from links on this page. Were working through the proper legal channels to make the best choices for the long-term health and success of the school. "Bachtold built a special motor and said, 'Why don't you take that little motor out of your bike and put this one in'? "I decided that when I went to Europe, I was somehow going to get a testdrive in a Formula 1 car. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003. He planned to give Pat Bondurant the ultimatum that day before he even knew about the petition, which he learned of when he walked in that morning, he said. Bondurant also raced in Formula 1 for Ferrari before moving to Can-Am with Peter Revson in the Lola T70 Mark II. Initially Bob worked for Carroll Shelby as a instructor before forming his own school in 1968 after his competitive career effectively ended a year earlier after a colossal crash at Watkins Glen in the US Road Racing Championship event there saw him break both legs and a shoulder. His steering arm broke at 150mph, and, lying in traction at the hospital, he vividly remembers his conversation with God explaining to Bob that he was needed more on Earth and to start a driving and safety school to save thousands of lives of those otherwise dying on the highways and in motorsports. Bob Bondurant, a former champion race car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors for their movie roles, has died. The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on October 2. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Team USA Scholarship: jshaw@teamusascholarship.org. American racing legend Bob Bondurant has passed away aged 88. Bob had trouble seeing but by turning his face into the wind, the goggles would stay pressed against his face as long as he kept one finger on them while shifting with his other hand and grabbing the steering with his knees. The Bondurant team graduated well over 500,000 students at his famous school, including Christian Bale, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Nicolas Cage, and Tom Cruise, to name a few. The Great Depression altered countless lives and maybe some for the better. WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JULY 25: Bob Bondurant in his McLaren M8E/D Chevrolet Can-Am, leads Pete Revsons McLaren M8F Chevrolet at Watkins Glen in 1971. Historically, courage changes everything. Instead of being kept at the track garages, the Ferrari F1 cars were at a Chevy dealer in town. The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving was an American performance driving school, specializing in instruction for high performance driving, teen defensive driving, law enforcement and special forces driving, open wheel race car training, Grand Prix road racing, drag racing, go karts, and other courses using the copyrighted Bondurant Method. While driving a McLaren at Watkins Glen, the car's steering arm fails at around 150 mph, which . / CBS San Francisco. Its what gives you the confidence to be bold and to push harder. Bob Bondurant was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1933. Of course since Bob was an experienced dirt racer he could have picked up a used Midget or Sprinter and gone that route. He also said employees stayed around for so long despite the alleged environment because he treated them like family., When the school filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 2, a statement said it planned to stay open and emerge from this [bankruptcy] process as a stronger company.. In total, he recorded nine F1 starts over two years. "He made my profession easier," Lance Henriksen, who played the vampire Gomorrah on "The X-Files," told The Chicago Tribune. Legendary American racing driver Bob Bondurants name will be forever linked with the Ford GT40, a car he drove at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965, helping the team win theInternational Championship for GT Manufacturers. Bondurant trackside with Carroll Shelby while racing for the Cobra legend's team in the 1960s . ERA GTs often sell for six figure sums when they do come up for sale, such is the esteem in which they are held. Bob Bondurant was a racing driver who founded the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, where he taught celebrities including Paul Newman (1925-2008) and Tom Cruise. His mothers death left him inconsolable, which is where the seed of his fearlessness was realized. Bondurant's closing, the details and terms of which are still unclear, comes after serving the industry for 50 years, following a filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October of 2018. (Update: A Fiat Chrysler spokesperson said that due to the ongoing litigation, the company cannot comment on the claims in the bankruptcy documents.). PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. Bob Bondurant, a champion race car driver who later opened a driving school in 1968 and taught several top actors, died Friday. Bob a full Ford sponsorship of cars, parts, and marketing until 2003 confidence to be and... 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