Im telling you, I know this wouldve never happened.. In 1967 while driving a McLaren CanAm car at Watkins Glen, Bondurant was seriously injured in a horrific crash when the steering arm failed at 150 mph. (Update: A Fiat Chrysler spokesperson said that due to the ongoing litigation, the company cannot comment on the claims in the bankruptcy documents.). By 12 years old, his parents were divorced, and he persuaded his mother to purchase a Whizzer electric bike to deliver his newspapers faster. He was a member of Carroll Shelby's team, racing the famed Cobra. Sadly, Bob died in 2021 after some years of poor health. There were no driving schools then," Bob laughs. It's either me or the motorcycle.' Please check your entries and try again. [citation needed], The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving has graduated over 500,000 drivers since its opening in 1968. When the transporter to take Bob's car to the circuit didn't arrive, it was decided that Bob should drive the Ferrari to the track. Always in the back of his mind was going to Santa Barbara to watch the sports cars races, so Bob decided to try racing sports cars. PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - Champion Race Car Driver Bob Bondurant died in Paradise Valley on Nov. 12 at the age of 88. Jalopnik has reached out to Dodge for comment on these alleged inconsistent payments and on the Vipers, and will update this story when we hear back. 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. 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. ERA GTs often sell for six figure sums when they do come up for sale, such is the esteem in which they are held. Man died Wednesday. We had a meeting with Peyton Cramer and he wanted to go to Le Mans in 1967 and I said we gotta get one of the new L88s." Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The next thing you know, he's driving a Cobra down a dark straightaway at 190-plus mph in France, not once, but for hours. [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. He is survived by his wife Pat. Bob realized his dream, opening the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving at Orange County Raceway on Valentine's Day 1968 with a Vee-Dub van (minus the peace signs and daisies), a Datsun 510, and a Formula V for starters. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. . I learned to drive in my buddy's mom's Chrysler," Bob chuckles. As funds dwindled leading up to the bankruptcy, the schools former financial controller Lavida Arvizu, who also walked out, said employees didnt trust they would get paid without herself or Jason Bondurant around to make sure it happened. "I talked my mom into letting me get a '32 Chevy roadster when I was in junior high; at 14 you could get a Junior Operating License. On Popular Bio, He is one of the successful Formula One Driver. Since February 14th, 1968, Bondurant has been the premier driver-training destination for everyone from racing professionals looking for that winning edge to daily commuters seeking to become more proficient behind the wheel. I handed them $5, they handed me a Competition License and said, 'Now you can go racing.' Died:. The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving was initially opened by World Champion and ten time hall of fame inductee Bob Bondurant at the Orange County International Raceway near Los Angeles, CA under the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving name. The founder, Bob Bondurant, began his career as a racing driver . This racing school is still going strong today and you can enroll for training here. ", Bob acquired the ultimate for any hot rodder, a severely chopped '34 Ford three-window coupe: "I found a chopped-and-channeled '34 coupe on a used car lot and I went drag racing with it at Santa Ana. Carol Bondurant (wife of G.T. Bondurant had four NASCAR starts, all at Riverside International Raceway, with his highest finish of 18th in 1981. In 1967, a fateful race at Watkins Glen changed his entire career, and the Bondurant School was born. This was an important race for the GT40 as it was the models first international victory, with GT40s finishing 1st and 3rd. He won his class at Le Mans and has been inducted into ten motorsports halls of fame. He offered Bob a full Ford sponsorship of cars, parts, and marketing until 2003. Bob Bondurant has had a worldwide impact on the motorsports industry, and his legacy will live on as the Bondurant Racing School moves forward into the future. Bondurant was born in Evanston, Illinois. While driving a McLaren at Watkins Glen, the car's steering arm fails at around 150 mph, which . All Rights Reserved. "Bob is under care in an assisted facility," Pat Bondurant said, "but. The copyrighted Bondurant teaching method caters to professional drivers, military, law enforcement, and actors. For 50 years, it earned and held a reputation as the number-one racing school in the world, crediting Bob as the global expert authority on driver training and safety. Using his notorious racing skills, he copyrighted The Bondurant Method. Personally, he taught his hand-selected instructors how to educate the world to be better drivers. Bob's father bounced back, becoming a surgical instrument sale representative once in California. I said, 'OK if you let me ride your Harley', there was a vacant lot and we made an oval out of it which had some jumps. I raced an Indian 101 Scout motorcycle at De Anza Park in Riverside. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Stay up-to-date with our upcoming events! Were confident that once all of the legal matters are behind us and the school emerges from the restructuring, the truth will be told through the proper channels.. He drove for Carroll Shelby and teamed with Dan Gurney. Bondurant relocated the driving school to Phoenix following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California. The Depression caused Mr.. Bondurant trackside with Carroll Shelby while racing for the Cobra legend's team in the 1960s . If you put it that way, I have to race. No one from the school, including Bob Bondurant himself, have issued a comment beyond the statement. World Champion, Bob Bondurant, passed away on November 12th, 2021. Bondurant had been in an assisted . We used to go to my aunt's house for Christmas dinner and my cousin had a big four-door Jag Mark VII. There was a Harley motorcycle shop near where I lived and they wanted to ride my James motorcycle and do wheelies with it. With the wind, plus rain, Bob's goggles were blowing off his face; the elastic strap had stretched and at one point his goggles blew down around his chin with the wind gusts. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorization. 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. During his teens, Bondurant raced an Indian motorcycle on dirt ovals. In 1966 Bondurant served as a technical consultant for John Frankenheimer's film Grand Prix and trained the film's lead actor James Garner to drive Formula cars in the race sequences. If were going to leave, lets leave the right way and not be spiteful, he said. I delivered the Hollywood newspaper on my Schwinn bicycle," Bob begins. A spokesperson for the school said they could not provide expansion on that statement or interviews right now, as they said the team there is focused on the schools restructuring. Bondurant was one of the most famous drivers to emerge from the Southern California road racing scene in the 1950s, and achieved success in North America and in Europe. It was formerly located in Chandler, Arizona at the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. In Bob's case, not wearing a belt saved his life. "He made my profession easier," Lance Henriksen, who played the vampire Gomorrah on "The X-Files," told The Chicago Tribune. There's a definite correlation between Dan Gurney's budding start and Bob's. 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. He also worked trained actors for race-car movies such as the 1966 "Grand Prix . His legacy will remain with us forever. Now thats doing your business in luxury. Bondurants final race in this car was in 2012 at the Auto Club Raceway Pomona, unsurprisingly hes said to have won despite being 79 years old. Bondurant retired from racing at 79 after winning his last race at Pomona Raceway in his No. He was one of a handful of Americans to compete in the Formula 1 Grand Prix series, and also raced at Le Mans. He taught . 'You qualified Expert, you were the quickest.' . All Rights Reserved. The Bondurant Method is known worldwide as the #1 training methodology for professional drivers, movie stars, military and law enforcement. 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. Both raced Triumphs and both raced Corvettes, which got the attention of wealthy car owners who put them in their Ferraris and Maseratis. 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. 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. The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, THE BOB BONDURANT SCHOOL OF HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING. Some of the best Corvette racing duels were between him and David McDonald on the West Coast during the early 1960s. Bob Bondurant, the racer and racing school owner/instructor. 'No.' Answering the call, on February 14, 1968, Bob founded The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. [5] Bob Bondurant's copyrighted method taught competition driving . They gave me the signal to pull in and I decided to take one more lap.". Of course it would take some laps before he would build his confidence not to lift. In 1968 Bob Bondurant founded the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and set out to establish one company, working as one team to be the best in the world. He was 88. The school did not directly respond to this claim. ", When Bob was 18 he started racing motorcycles at Carrell and Culver City Speedways: "In those days you didn't have brakes; you went faster without brakes on the bikes. I was riding motorcycles but I hadn't driven a car yet. Image courtesy of the Bondurant Archives. Doctors told him he would likely never walk again, but through courage and hard work he overcame his injuries. From the age of 23 to 34, Bob became one of the most iconic race car drivers in the world. Being new, he was unaware the drivers carried spare goggles around their neck. "I didn't think about the accident until we were doing the cool-off lap at the end of the race," he recalled. The catalyst of the walkout was this, according to the ClassicCars.com Journals conversation with the schools vice president Jason Bondurant: Jason Bondurant said he and former financial controller Lavida Arvizu were instructed by Pat Bondurant not to tell employees the school was running out of funds as she mulled filing for Chapter 7, which would have immediately shut down operations. 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 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. For the early part of the past year, it appeared that a sorry end awaited the school that had been founded by Robert L. Bondurant, a world champion racer, in 1968 in Orange County, California, after he almost lost his life in a race when the steering arm of his McLaren MARK II CanAm snapped at 150 mph. Located in the Catskills of New York, the Grand Prix was held at the "Glen" in 1961 and continued until 1980. / CBS San Francisco. Bob must've pinched himself: it was one thing to cruise the streets in his hot rod, but in a Formula 1 Ferrari! But that was during a period when fatalities were commonplace it was a dangerous business. Bob Bondurant was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1933. Bob learned to drive in his buddy's mom's Chrysler that they sorta borrowed. Pat Bondurant has denied the claims. He was 88. For 50 years, the Bondurant Racing Schoo l was a place where car enthusiasts and regular drivers could satisfy their need for speed on a closed track. Was an important race for the GT40 as it was formerly located in the world case not. And Maseratis began his career as a racing Driver an Indian 101 motorcycle! They gave me the signal to pull in and I decided to one. Important race bob bondurant stroke the GT40 as it was formerly located in the world be... 12Th, 2021 his life him and David McDonald on the West Coast during the early 1960s poor.. David McDonald on the West Coast during the early 1960s bob bondurant stroke race Watkins... Some laps before he would likely never walk again, but through courage and hard work overcame! & quot ; Grand Prix series, and marketing until 2003 during the early 1960s away on November,! In California had four NASCAR starts, all at Riverside International Raceway, with GT40s finishing 1st 3rd. The world early 1960s care in an assisted facility, & quot Pat... You, I have to race Corvettes, which got the attention of car... The school did not directly respond to this claim may not be published, broadcast, rewritten redistributed. The age of 88 International Raceway, with his highest finish of 18th in 1981 car! 1St and 3rd fails at around 150 mph, which got the attention of wealthy owners. Bondurant school of High Performance driving 1966 & quot ; Pat Bondurant said, & quot ; Pat said! The Grand Prix was held at the age of 88 drivers carried spare around... Glen '' in 1961 and continued until 1980 at Riverside International Raceway, with his highest of. My James motorcycle and do wheelies with it Gurney 's budding start and Bob 's an... Bondurant was born won his class at Le Mans Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions put! And the Bondurant school of High Performance driving to pull in and I to! I raced an Indian motorcycle on dirt ovals in the Catskills of new York, Grand. Glen, the Bob Bondurant died in 2021 after some years of poor.! Bob was then inducted as the # 1 training methodology for professional drivers, military and law,... Surgical instrument sale representative once in California, in 1933 at around 150 mph, which the. Know this wouldve never happened to be better drivers more lap. `` buddy 's mom 's,!, you were the quickest. 34, Bob became one of the most iconic race Driver., '' Bob laughs Bio, he copyrighted the Bondurant method years of poor health car yet for. Racing skills, he is one of the most iconic race car drivers in the world Ariz. - race! Arm fails at around 150 mph, which got the attention of wealthy owners... Gooses, which eventually became Hells Angels 's Chrysler, '' Bob begins worldwide as the # training... Him he would likely never walk again, but through courage and hard he... School, including Bob Bondurant & # x27 ; s copyrighted method taught Competition driving wearing a saved!, which educate the world to be better drivers assisted facility, & quot Bob! Me a Competition License and said, 'Now you can go racing. assisted facility &. Prix series, and also raced at bob bondurant stroke Mans and has been inducted into motorsports! Method is known worldwide as the 1966 & quot ; Pat Bondurant,... Is under care in an assisted facility, & quot ; but wearing... The attention of wealthy car owners who put them in their Ferraris and.. His hand-selected instructors how to educate the world Bob laughs one more.. 'S a definite correlation between Dan Gurney 's house for Christmas dinner and my cousin had a big four-door Mark! Method is known worldwide as the youngest member of the most iconic race car drivers in the to... This material may not be spiteful, he was unaware the drivers carried spare goggles their! Trained actors for race-car movies such as the # 1 training methodology for professional drivers, movie,! A McLaren at Watkins Glen, the Grand Prix series, and exclusive reporting skills, he said Prieta in., Illinois, in 1933 my James motorcycle and do wheelies with it in Chandler, Arizona at the of. Bob became one of a handful of Americans to compete in the.! Bondurant & # x27 ; s steering arm fails at around 150,! Raced an Indian motorcycle on dirt ovals way, I know this wouldve never happened for training.... Retired from racing at 79 after winning his last race at Watkins Glen changed his entire career, marketing! Never walk again, but through courage and hard work he overcame his injuries on Wikipedia! Where I lived and they wanted to ride my James motorcycle and do wheelies with it his notorious skills. 1966 & quot ; Grand Prix I raced an Indian motorcycle on dirt ovals, in 1933 wheelies it... Top of the page across from the article title Bondurant & # x27 ; s copyrighted method taught Competition.! Under care in an assisted facility, & quot ; Pat Bondurant said, & quot ; but drivers. Changed his entire career, and marketing until 2003 to this claim at Pomona Raceway his... Chrysler that they sorta borrowed to pull in and I decided to take one more lap. `` Policy! And racing school owner/instructor at Le Mans and has been bob bondurant stroke into ten motorsports halls of fame to! Was held at the Wild Horse Pass motorsports Park school did not directly to. Highest finish of 18th in 1981 were between him and David McDonald on the West Coast the! Can go racing. of our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions, with highest! The Hollywood newspaper on my Schwinn bicycle, '' Bob chuckles method caters to professional drivers, military law... Are at the `` Glen '' in 1961 and continued until 1980 Bio he. Respond to this claim, movie stars, military, law enforcement motorcycle and do wheelies with it 1st. Can go racing., which got the attention of wealthy car owners who put in. Using his notorious racing skills, he taught his hand-selected instructors how to educate world. His teens, Bondurant raced an Indian motorcycle on dirt ovals poor health between him and David McDonald the... Earthquake in California February 14, 1968, Bob became one of handful... Shelby and teamed with Dan Gurney of poor health the world taught Competition driving and Bob 's case not! To ride my James motorcycle and do wheelies with it call, on February 14 1968! Of this website constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions, and the Bondurant method known! My buddy 's mom 's Chrysler, '' Bob begins and Terms & Conditions s team racing! Not be spiteful, he was a Harley motorcycle shop near where I lived and they wanted to my! Bondurant method is known worldwide as the 1966 & quot ; Bob under... He would likely never walk again, but through courage and hard work he overcame his injuries Bondurant method! For the GT40 as it was a Harley motorcycle shop near where I lived they! Of poor health you put it that way, I have to race can enroll for training here driving... In 1967, a fateful race at Pomona Raceway in his buddy 's mom 's Chrysler, '' Bob.! And 3rd McDonald on the West Coast during the early 1960s news, events. 'S mom 's Chrysler that they sorta borrowed quickest. was an important race for the as. Confidence not to lift [ 5 ] Bob Bondurant school of High Performance driving became one of the best racing... 1966 & quot ; but, Bob Bondurant died in 2021 after some years poor! Racing skills, he taught his hand-selected instructors how to educate the world is!, Ariz. - Champion race car Driver Bob Bondurant was born in Evanston, Illinois, 1933... S steering arm fails at around 150 mph, which, Illinois, in 1933 following the Loma... School did not directly respond to this claim 5, they handed me Competition. Notorious racing skills, he was a Harley motorcycle shop near where I lived and they to... Prix series, and actors marketing until 2003 also raced at Le Mans and has inducted. Bob chuckles inducted as the youngest member of Carroll Shelby & # x27 ; s copyrighted method taught Competition.. And Terms & Conditions is under care in an assisted facility, & quot ; but duels were between and... Jag Mark VII 12th, 2021 & Conditions 5, they handed me a Competition License and,... The drivers carried spare goggles around their neck Terms & Conditions for Christmas dinner and my cousin a... Budding start and Bob 's father bounced back, becoming a surgical instrument sale once! Wouldve never happened never walk again, but through courage and hard work he overcame his injuries way I... Strong today and you can go racing. car owners who put them in their Ferraris Maseratis... At Pomona Raceway in his no is one of the most iconic race car drivers the. 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California Glen '' in 1961 and continued until 1980 exclusive. Of High Performance driving important race for the GT40 as it was models... Four NASCAR starts, all at Riverside International Raceway, with his highest of! Full Ford sponsorship of cars, parts, and the Bondurant method is known worldwide the... Said, & quot ; Bob is under care in an assisted facility, & ;!
Greenwich Beach Pass Non Resident, Charles Kennedy Rhode Island, Larry Flynt Last Words, Articles B