Bob Holbert passes on, at age 84.
As reported by the L.A. Times, Thursday, 15 November 2007 edition;
'Bob Holbert, 84 who opened one of the first Porsche dealerships in the U.S. and raced sports cars on professional circuits in the 1950's & 60's, died Monday (Nov. 12) in Warrington, Pa.
Holbert drove for the Porsche factory team at Le Mans in 1961 and finished 5th, along with co-driver Masten Gregory, in the 24-hour endurance race. He won the 1963 U.S. Road Racing championship, racked up a record six class victories at Sebring International Raceway (Florida). He gave up racing in 1964.
He was the father of Al Holbert, who achieved considerable success running his own racing team in the IMSA GT series during the 1980's. Al was killed in a plane crash in 1988. The father and son combo were 2004 inductees into Sebring's Hall of Fame in a group that included Mario Andretti and Carroll Shelby.
Born in 1923 in Warrington in Bucks County near Philadelphia, Holbert grew up working in his family's hardware store.
During World War II he served in the Navy, helping to maintain the V12 engines that powered PT boats in the Pacific.
Holbert also maintained Porsche dealerships, which began in a garage where he started selling parts for sports cars in 1951.'
*Please note: some editing on this article was done on my part.
