U.S. Porsche pioneer Bob Holbert dies

[austin552]

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/FREE/71114010/1023/LATESTNEWS

Robert McCormick Holbert, one of the United States' first Porsche dealers and a prominent Porsche race driver in the 1950s and '60s, died in his native Warrington, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 12.

Holbert was born in Warrington in 1923, and he opened a garage in the late '40s. The business moved to the more famous Holbert's Garage building across the street in 1951, when Holbert started a repair and parts business specializing in foreign and sports cars. In 1954, Holbert's Garage became one of the first authorized Porsche dealers in the country, and it continues today as one of the most well-known and oldest Porsche dealerships in America.

Holbert's love and knowledge of cars included a distinguished racing career, with awards ranging from the New York Times' "Best Sports Car Driver" for three separate years to top finishes in the 12 Hours of Sebring. He drove to a record six class victories at Sebring, including second overall in 1960. Holbert started racing in 1953 in an MG, then switched to Porsches in 1957 after seeing driver Jack McAfee pass seven drivers--all in cars with bigger engines--in a Porsche 550 Spyder at Cumberland Raceway. His subsequent racing activities in Porsche's RS-550 and RSK led to four SCCA national championships and a podium finish at Le Mans with Masten Gregory. Holbert also sold Roger Penske his first race car in 1958.

"Through his dealership and racing successes, Bob Holbert helped establish the Porsche brand in America," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "He was a true American Porsche pioneer."

Holbert later became a Shelby Cobra team factory driver, winning the first United States Road Racing Championship title in 1963. He and 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 Holbert's decision to retire from racing later that year.

Holbert's son Al helped run the dealership and was the president of Porsche Motorsport North America. He had a strong racing career of his own, winning Sebring twice (1976 and '81), the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times and multiple IMSA titles before his career was cut short by a 1988 plane crash. Holbert's other son, Larry, has been the president and general manager of the family-owned dealership for the past 25 years.

[pwd72s]

I'm probably among the few here who even remember the guy...RIP, Bob Holbert...

[chapo]

Sad. Al was my favorite as a kid. Of course, i rooted for the Dekon Monzas to beat the 911s. Bob was a legend, RIP

[Scott at Pelican Parts]

#14 lives on

[Noah930]

Many thanks to the Holbert family for some great racing (and Porsche) memories.

[Paul T]

RIP - My grandfather knew him and bought several cars from him...even stopping by his house once on 4th of July because he couldn't wait till the next day to drive home a beauty he just saw in the showroom! At least that's the story my grandmother used to tell me....wish I had gotten the chance to meet him.

[Vern Lyle]

RIP indeed. I knew him for a long time; he was a member of our local PCA and sponsored many free events over the years. Betsi just bought her 993 from him a month ago, and I bought several cars from him as well. One was a used VW that promptly broke the crank on my first trip. Bob had said he'd take care of anything that went wrong with the car so I towed to a dealer in Rhode Island and told him to repair it and Holbert would pick up the tab. He didn't believe me, but just nodded when Bob told him on the phone that it was OK.

Al worked on some of my cars at the dealership and built his first racecar, a 914-6, in the washbay. The Dekon Monza was built in a rented garage across the street. I worked on his pit crew when he won Sebring in '76, and watched the building of the Lowenbrau car later on.

Someone from Riesentoter Region put together a booklet about his career some years back and I'll try to post pix from it (no scanner yet). The second shot is Al at Pocono.



Vern

[Joeaksa]

Another legend heads West. RIP...

[Palum6o]

Probably the best car buying experience I've ever had. Bob Johnson, Scott Bretherick, and whole team are superb. Al’s 962, the No. 14 Löwenbräu Special is parked in the showroom.

[Vern Lyle]

A few more pirated pix. Sorry for the poor quality but the booklet itself was pix of pix.

Holbert's first racecar, a blown MGTD




Holbert's car, 140 and Penske's #6




The man at work




More serious work




Victory celebration Sebring '61: l to r; wife, Eleanor, who passed away just a few months ago, Bob Holbert, Roger Penske, and Roger's first wife, Lisa Stauffer. The guy betwen them is a factory PR guy, Otto something, I think.




Bob was crew chief when Al won Daytona in the Lowenbrau car