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Martin Raffauf
JoinedSeptember 19, 2021
Articles56
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I attended my first race in 1967, an USAC Indy car event at Trenton Speedway, and the race was won by AJ Foyt. I subsequently attended my first sports car races at Daytona and Sebring in 1971 as a spectator while I was still in college. Both of these races were won by the great Porsche 917. Later I joined the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) and became a tech inspector at the local races. This then led to volunteer work as a Tech Inspector with IMSA when they first started, my first races with IMSA were in the 1973 season. After college I worked as an engineer with Bechtel building power plants. Further college studies ensued, resulting in an MBA which has led to a long career at IBM as a Systems Engineer…with time off for racing of course. I worked on and off as a Technical Inspector for IMSA through 1977, and then in 1978 I started with Dick Barbour racing (Garretson Enterprises) in Mountain View, California, as it was just a half mile from my house. Typically, I spent my days working at IBM, and the nights at the race shop. This continued through until 1984, working with Bob Garretson and Wayne Baker. This was followed by working with various teams racing a 962, sometimes for a whole season, or sometimes just for a few races as required. In 1991, I took a one year leave of absence from IBM and worked full time at Alpha in Japan in the Japanese Group C championship. Notable sidelights in 1984-86 seasons included working on the Carlsen Porsche team running 944s and 944 turbo cars in the IMSA Firehawk and SCCA showroom stock championships. Further racing efforts followed through the 1990s and on into 2015 with Kevin Doran and Doran Racing, supporting Gianpierro Moretti and Fredy Lienhard Ferrari 333 projects, Dallara’s, Grand Am Prototypes, as well as various vintage racing activities.
People & Profiles

The Racing Life of Bob Garretson

Victory Lane Sebring 1978. Bob (L), Charles Mendez and Brian Redman won the race in Porsche 935 chassis 930 890 0037. Photo – Sebring archives
In Memory of Bob Garretson (1933–2025) Bob Garretson passed away earlier this year, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday. He leaves behind a legacy that resonates far beyond the podiums and trophies. Bob was a quiet giant of American endurance racing—a man who led by example, raced with integrity, and...
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Notable Chassis

Porsche 936-004 AKA (908-80)

“908-80” at it’s first race, Le Mans 1980
936 Beginnings The Porsche 936 was an odd car for Porsche. It was the result of an almost overnight decision by Porsche Managing Director Ernst Fuhrmann in the mid 1975 time- frame.  Porsche had spent the past years since 1973 developing cars for the upcoming World Championship of Makes rules...
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Featured Content & Premium Editorials

Porsche 963 – An Overview

THE HISTORY The Porsche 963 follows on from a long line of successful cars and racing successes. Porsche 963 , #7 at Daytona during the ROAR test session entering Daytona Turn 6. Photo: Copyright Martin Raffauf Ferdinand Porsche started the company bearing his name in 1949. Almost immediately they started...
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Notable Chassis

Porsche 935: Chassis Number 930 770 0905

930 770 0905 at the National Automobile Museum Reno Nevada USA
Sports car racing went through some turbulent times in the early 1970’s. At the start (1970) the world championship was decided by the 5.0 liter sports cars such as the Porsche 917 and the Ferrari 512. The FIA /CSI (International rules body) at first did not think anyone would build...
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Book Reviews

Porsche at Le Mans—70 Years by Glen Smale

The 24 hours of Le Mans is arguably the world’s greatest race. It started in 1923. Porsche first entered the race shortly after the second World war in 1951, as a fledgling manufacturer. They have an unbroken run of competing for seventy years. When Porsche started—having just been producing the...
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Events

The “26 Hours” of Daytona Classic 24 – 2020

Yes, you might think the title is a mis- print, but it is not. HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing) put on their now annual Historic 24-hour race for vintage cars at Daytona International Speedway from 4-8 November. This event is run in a similar fashion to the Le Mans 24 historic...
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Motorsport & Racing

Daytona 24 Hour Race 2020

This year was the 58th Running of the Daytona 24. It started in 1962 at just three hours in length, expanded to 2000 km, then 24 hours in 1966. The 1972 race was shortened to six hours, and the 1974 race was cancelled due to the fuel crisis in the...
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Motorsport & Racing

2020 Roar Before the Rolex 24

The two factory Porsches approach Turn 1 which leaves the oval. The immensity of the grandstands can be seen behind. The factory cars ran well, given that they are brand new cars. Driver line-ups are slightly changed from last year: the #911 will have Nick Tandy, Fred Makowiecki and new...
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Motorsport & Racing

Laguna Seca IMSA 2019

Monterey Sportscar Championship, Laguna Seca, 15 September 2019: As usual at Laguna Seca, traffic was heavy IMSA once again came to Laguna Seca for the penultimate round in the 2019 Championship. There was a buzz of excitement in the air at Laguna this year, as the track has scheduled a...
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Events

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2019

It may have taken place just over a week ago, but the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2019 was another top-drawer event that should be celebrated for the manner in which it has lifted the profile of yesterday’s great race cars. The growth in historic race reunions, revivals, festivals and the...
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Events

The Hillsborough (California) Concours d’ Elegance

The Hillsborough (California) Concours d’ Elegance, on 21 July 2019, has been held for 63 years. It started in 1956 and is reportedly the longest running consecutive (in years) Concours in existence. It is held in Hillsborough California, a well-to-do suburb south of San Francisco. It’s well supported by local...
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Events

Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI – Laguna Seca 2018

It’s hard to know where to begin when writing a report on Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI. It was both an emotional and a sensory overload! A reunion with people not seen for a while, and the historical impact of all the rare cars. This was the sixth iteration put on...
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Motorsport & Racing

Porsche on the podium at Laguna Seca

Laguna Seca, IMSA, 9 September 2018: A view over the track shows the morning fog receding as Laguna Seca awakes The IMSA series came once again to WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway in California for the penultimate round in the 2018 WeatherTech Championship. The weather was typical California coastal September weather,...
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Motorsport & RacingPRR

Autobau – the hidden gem

The front door of Autobau, which is built inside a turn of the 20th century alcohol storage facility There is a collection of cars that every racing and car enthusiast should see. It is at the Autobau, located in Romanshorn, Switzerland. On the southern shore of Lake Constance, the Autobau...
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Motorsport & Racing

Daytona Diary 24 January 2018

Daytona paddock – 24 January 2018 Continuing with our Daytona diary, Martin has sent us the following selection of images from the Rolex 24. So catch up with the action… Wednesday’s on track activity was limited to practice for the Ferrari challenge and the IMSA Continental Challenge. The Weathertech cars...
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Notable Chassis

Porsche 935 009 00030 – The Old Warhorse

Porsche 935 chassis no. 009 00030, the Old Warhorse speeds up the hill at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed with Brian Redman at the helm This is a story of the incredible career of Porsche 935 009 00030, one of the most amazing race cars ever, or as someone...
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Motorsport & RacingPRRYesteryear

Early 1980 IMSA GT Championship

John Fitzpatrick during practice for the Sebring 12-hour race in 1980
Bob Garretson in #009 00030 during practice for the 1980 Daytona 24 hours. This is the original 1979 factory configuration on this car By the time that we reached the IMSA Riverside Los Angeles Times Grand Prix in April, the Dick Barbour Racing team’s IMSA GT championship season had been...
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People & Profiles

Conversations with Peter Gregg

Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood won the 24 Hours of Daytona on 3/4 February 1973 driving this 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 Peter Gregg was the IMSA driver every one strived to beat. He started in the early ‘70s with Porsches and had done very well. He won the first championship...
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