George Follmer

Last updated
George Follmer
George Follmer 1973.jpg
Follmer at the 1973 German Grand Prix
BornGeorge Richard Follmer
(1934-01-27) January 27, 1934 (age 90)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Champ Car career
25 races run over 6 years
Years active1967–1971, 1975
Best finish16th – 1969
First race 1967 Indianapolis 150 (IRP)
Last race 1975 Ontario Heat 2 (Ontario)
First win 1969 Jimmy Bryan 150 (Phoenix)
WinsPodiums Poles
120
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality Flag of the United States.svg American
Active years 1973
Teams Shadow
Entries13 (12 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums1
Career points5
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First entry 1973 South African Grand Prix
Last entry 1973 United States Grand Prix

George Richard Follmer [1] (born January 27, 1934) is an American former auto racing driver, and one of the most successful road racers of the 1970s. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona. His family moved to California when he was just an infant.

Contents

Career

Follmer began his career running a Volkswagen Beetle in Gymkhana competition in parking lots in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California.

Follmer raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1967-1971 and 1974 seasons, with 25 career starts, including the 1969-1971 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his one victory in 1969 at Phoenix International Raceway. His best finish at the Indianapolis 500 was in 1971. He started 29th and finished in the 15th position driving the Grant King Racer's turbo Offy.

In 1973, Follmer competed in Formula One with Don Nichols' UOP Shadow team. He took part in his first Grand Prix, in South Africa, at the age of 39 years and 1 month - making him F1's oldest débutant since the 1950s, a distinction he still holds. [2] In 13 Championship races, his best results were 6th in South Africa and a podium 3rd in Spain, in his first two Grands Prix, which gave him 13th in the Drivers' Championship with five points. He also competed in several non-Championship races.

Follmer's 1968 AMC Javelin 1968 AMC Javelin - Sarah Stierch 03.jpg
Follmer's 1968 AMC Javelin

Follmer also had success in other racing series. In 1965, he won the SCCA United States Road Racing Championship. Follmer won two races in the 1970 SCCA Continental Championship for Formula A cars, placing sixth in the standings. He won the Trans-Am championship in 1972, winning four races with an AMC Javelin, and 1976, driving a Porsche 934 Turbo.

In 1972, Follmer was the Can-Am champion, substituting for the injured Mark Donohue in Penske Racing's Porsche 917/10, causing the racing press to dub Follmer "George Am". He was vice-champion in 1973 driving for Rinzler and 1974 in a Shadow. He collected 6 wins and 13 podiums in the three-year spell. He is the only driver to win the Can-Am and Trans-Am championship in the same year.

Follmer competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup series in 1974, with appearances in 13 of 30 races. He collected three top 5 finishes and a pole position. In 1974 and 1975, he raced at the International Race of Champions, where he won a race.

In 1977 he returned to the revived Can-Am, resulting 6th in 1977 and 5th in 1978. He won the 1978 St. Jovite Can Am in his Prophet-Chevy over Alan Jones.

After his retirement, he came back to racing for the 1986 24 Hours of Le Mans, obtaining a prestigious third place with a Porsche 956.

Though long-retired from professional motorsports competition, Follmer still competes in vintage races, often driving the very same cars in which he competed during his heyday.

In addition to his racing career, Follmer also owned a Porsche-Audi-Subaru dealership in Pomona, California, later relocated to Montclair, California, from 1977 to 1990.

Awards

2014 Saleen Mustang Limited Edition

2014 Saleen/Follmer Edition
2014 Saleen Follmer Mustang.jpg
Overview
Production2014
Assembly Saleen (Corona, California, USA)
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door 2+2 sports coupe
Platform 5th Generation Mustang
Powertrain
Engine Saleen 5.0L Hi-Revving 495HP V8
Transmission 6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 107.1 in (2,720 mm)
Length188.1 in (4,778 mm)
Width73.9 in (1,877 mm)
Height55.1 in (1,400 mm) (Coupe)
Curb weight 3,631 lb (1,647 kg)

On August 17, 2013 Saleen introduced a limited edition Saleen | George Follmer Edition Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine Ford Mustang. Based on the #16 1969 Boss 302 Mustang racecar that he drove in the 1969 SCCA Trans-Am series, the 2014 Saleen/Follmer Edition was period correct with its livery, naturally aspirated 495HP [4] 5.0L high revving engine, track tuned suspension, and 6-speed manual transmission. Production was limited to 250 units. [5]

Motorsports career results

24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
1966 Flag of the United States.svg North American Racing Team Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Kolb Ferrari Dino 206S P 2.09DNFDNF
1986 Flag of Germany.svg Joest Racing Flag of the United States.svg John Morton
Flag of the United States.svg Kenper Miller		 Porsche 956 C13553rd3rd

American open-wheel racing

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Championship Car

USAC Championship Car results
YearTeamChassisEngine12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728Pos.Pts
1967 Rolla VollstedtVollstedt Ford PHX TRE INDY MIL LAN PPR MOS MOS IRP
17		 LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL DSF INF TRE
21		 SAC HAN PHX RSD
6		27th230
1968 George R. BryantCheetah Ford HAN
11		 LVS
15		 PHX
24		 TRE INDY
DNQ		 MIL MOS
11		 MOS
10		 LAN PPR CDR NAZ IRP IRP LAN LAN MTR MTR ISF MIL DSF INF TRE SAC MCH HAN PHX RSD
8		32nd206
1969 George FollmerCheetah Chevy PHX
1		 HAN
9		 IRP
6		 IRP
3		 MIL
11		 ISF DOV DSF INF BRN
6		 BRN
6		 TRE SAC SIR
15		 SIR
6		16th880
Ford INDY
27		 MIL LAN PPR CDR NAZ TRE
STP Racing Lotus 56 Offy PHX
DNQ
Plymouth RSD
14
1970 Brawner Hawk Ford PHX SON TRE INDY
31		 MIL LAN CDR MCH ONT
20		 DSF INF SED TRE SAC PHX NC0
George WaltherMorris Ford IRP
21		 ISF MIL
1971 Grant KingKingfish 70 Offy 159 ci turbo RAF RAF PHX TRE INDY
15		 MIL POC MCH MIL ONT TRE PHX NC0
1975 American Kids Racer Eagle 72 Offy 159 ci turbo ONT ONT
8		 ONT
DNS		 PHX TRE INDY
DNQ		NC0
Adams Automotive Eagle 72 Offy 159 ci turbo INDY
DNQ		 MIL POC MCH MIL MCH TRE PHX

Indianapolis 500

YearChassisEngineStartFinishTeam
1968 Cheetah Ford DNQGeorge R. Bryant
1969 Cheetah Ford 2727George Follmer
1970 Brawner Hawk Ford 2131 STP Racing
1971 Kingfish Offenhauser 2915Grant King
1975 Eagle Offenhauser DNQAmerican Kids Racer
Eagle Offenhauser DNQAdams Automotive

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031NWCCPtsRef
1972 Frasson Racing 18W Dodge RSD DAY RCH ONT
49		 CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV MCH RSD TWS DAY BRI TRN ATL TAL MCH NSV DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR TWS 120th9 [6]
1974 Bud Moore Engineering 15 Ford RSD
18		 DAY
20		 RCH CAR
5		 BRI
28		 ATL
4		 DAR
22		 NWS
6		 MAR
22		 TAL
28		 NSV
6		 DOV
5		 CLT 29th230.49 [7]
Penske Racing 16 AMC RSD
33		 MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR
Donlavey Racing 90 Ford ONT
32
1975 Moyer Racing 33 Chevy RSD DAY
24		 RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT 74th167 [8]
Michael Brockman 50 Chevy RSD
29		 MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT
1986 Midgley Racing 29 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN
18		 MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD
36		76th164 [9]
1987 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC RSD
40		 MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR RSD
16		 ATL 70th163 [10]
1988 50W Pontiac DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD
DNQ		 POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL NA- [11]
Daytona 500
YearTeamManufacturerStartFinish
1974 Bud Moore Engineering Ford 520
1975 Moyer Racing Chevrolet 4024

International Race of Champions

(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)

International Race of Champions results
YearMake1234Pos.PtsRef
1973–74 Porsche RSD
4		 RSD
1		 RSD
5		 DAY
5		5th- [12]
1974–75 Chevy MCH
5		 RSD
2		 RSD
5		 DAY
8		7th- [13]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789101112131415WDC Pts
1973 UOP Shadow Racing Team Shadow DN1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA
6		 ESP
3		 BEL
Ret		 MON
DNS		 SWE
14		 FRA
Ret		 GBR
Ret		 NED
10		 GER
Ret		 AUT
Ret		 ITA
10		 CAN
17		 USA
14		13th5

Non-Championship Formula One results

(key) (races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678
1971 Brian O'Neil Racing Lotus 70B Chevrolet 5.0 V8 ARG ROC QUE
30		 SPR INT RIN OUL VIC
1973 UOP Shadow Racing Team Shadow DN1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC INT
6

Complete Canadian-American Challenge Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCarEngine1234567891011PosPts
1966 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford V8 MTR
5		 BRI
Ret		 MOS
DNS		10th4
Chevrolet V8 LAG
17		 RIV
5		 LVG
Ret
1967 Roger Penske Racing Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet V8 ROA
18		 BRI
3		 MOS
6		 LAG
3		 RIV
6		 LVG
Ret		7th10
1968 Agapiou Racing Lola T70 Mk.3B Ford V8 ROA BRI EDM LAG
Ret		 RIV
Ret		 LVG
2		7th6
1969 Agapiou Racing Ford G7A Ford V8 MOS MTR WGL EDM MDO
DNS		 ROA
Ret		 BRI MCH LAG RIV TWS NC0
1970 Advanced Vehicle Systems AVS Shadow Mk I Chevrolet V8 MOS
Ret		 MTR
Ret		 WGL EDM MDO ROA ATL BRA LAG RIV NC0
1971 Roy Woods Racing McLaren M8D Chevrolet V8 MOS MTR ATL WGL MDO ROA BRA EDM LAG RIV
9		31st2
1972 Penske Racing Porsche 917/10 Porsche Flat 12 MOS ATL
1		 WGL
5		 MDO
1		 ROA
1		 BRA
4		 EDM
3		 LAG
1		 RIV
1		1st130
1973 Rinzler Motoracing Porsche 917/10 Porsche Flat 12 MOS
Ret		 ATL
1		 WGL
Ret		 MDO
2		 ROA
3		 EDM
2		 LAG
Ret		 RIV
Ret		2nd62
1974 Phoenix Racing Organisations Shadow DN4 Chevrolet V8 MOS
2		 ATL
2		 WGL
2		 MDO
Ret		 ROA
Ret		2nd45
1977 U.S Racing Lola T332C Chevrolet V8 MTR LAG WGL ROA
Ret		 MDO
Ret		 MOS
2		 CTR SON
Ret		 RIV
2		6th35
1978 U.S RacingProphet 1 Chevrolet V8 ATL CLT MDO
2		 MTR
1		 WGL
Ret		 ROA
4		 MOS
5		 CTR LAG
DNS		 RIV 5th1088
1979 U.S RacingProphet 1 Chevrolet V8 ATL CLT
DNS		 MOS
4		 MDO
Ret		 WGL ROA BRA CTR LAG RIV 14th3
1980 U.S RacingProphet 1 Chevrolet V8 SON MDO MOS WGL ROA BRA CTR ATL LAG RIV
DNS		NC0
Source: [14]

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References

  1. ↑ "George Follmer". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  2. ↑ "The F1 FAQ". Atlas F1. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  3. ↑ George Follmer at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  4. ↑ "Follmer Edition". saleen.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  5. ↑ seyth miersma (17 August 2013). "2014 Saleen George Follmer Edition Mustang debuts at Laguna Seca". Autoblog. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "George Follmer – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  7. ↑ "George Follmer – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  8. ↑ "George Follmer – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  9. ↑ "George Follmer – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  10. ↑ "George Follmer – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  11. ↑ "George Follmer – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  12. ↑ "George Follmer – 1974 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  13. ↑ "George Follmer – 1975 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Can-Am - final positions and tables". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2022-05-20.

Further reading

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