Bob Earl
Encyclopedia
Bob Earl is an American
former racing driver from Claremont, California
. He began racing in Formula Ford
in 1972 and was the 1973 national champion. In 1979 he made his professional debut in Formula Atlantic
and won the 1981 Macau Grand Prix
(which at the time was contested using Atlantic cars), becoming the only American to do so.
He moved to sports cars in 1985 and drove a Pontiac Fiero
for Huffaker Racing in the IMSA GTU series
for two years. He moved up to the GTP cars in 1986 driving for a prototype for Spice Engineering
. Earl and the Spice team earned a class victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona
in 1987. He continued with Spice in GTP class in 1988, but in 1989 moved to Roush Racing
's Lincoln-Mercury effort in the GTO class, capturing class honors at Daytona. He moved to the Nissan GTP factory team in 1990 and captured victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring
, Miami and Watkins Glen. He stayed with Nissan until they left the series in 1993. For the 1993 season he competed in the Camel Lights prototype class in a Acura
powered Spice.
He retired as a competitor after the 1995 season to become a driver coach. In 1996 he was hired to start the Derek Daly
Academy at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
. In 2000 he returned home to the Marin County to resume freelance driver coaching. From 2002 to 2009 Bob was the Technical Director at the Jim Russell Racing School at Infineon Raceway
in Sonoma California.
Since then he has developed a keen interest in racing video games
. He has also developed and sells the "Virtual Racing Chassis", an advanced racing sim for use with Racing video games.
Currently Bob is still doing freelance driver coaching, selling the Virtual Racing Chassis, spreading the word about Alkaline foods and water for your health and working as an assistant for Sandi Bowman, his soul partner who is a Real Estate agent for Alain Pinel Realtors in Marin County, CA..
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former racing driver from Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
. He began racing in Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
in 1972 and was the 1973 national champion. In 1979 he made his professional debut in Formula Atlantic
Formula Atlantic
Formula Atlantic is a specification of open wheel racing car developed in the 1970s. It was used in professional racing through the IMSA Atlantic Championship until 2009 and is currently primarily used in amateur racing through Sports Car Club of America Formula Atlantic.-History:The history of...
and won the 1981 Macau Grand Prix
Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix is a motor-racing event held annually in Macau, one of China's Special Administrative Regions. It is known for being the only street circuit racing event in which both car and motorcycle races are held...
(which at the time was contested using Atlantic cars), becoming the only American to do so.
He moved to sports cars in 1985 and drove a Pontiac Fiero
Pontiac Fiero
The Pontiac Fiero is a mid-engined sports car that was built by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1984 to 1988. The Fiero—meaning "proud" in Italian and "wild", "fierce", or "ferocious" in Spanish—was designed by George Milidrag and Hulki Aldikacti as a Pontiac sports car...
for Huffaker Racing in the IMSA GTU series
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
for two years. He moved up to the GTP cars in 1986 driving for a prototype for Spice Engineering
Spice Engineering
Spice Engineering was a British racing team founded by driver Gordon Spice with his brother Derek Spice in the early 1980s, later becoming a successful sports car constructor in 1986...
. Earl and the Spice team earned a class victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
in 1987. He continued with Spice in GTP class in 1988, but in 1989 moved to Roush Racing
Roush Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is a racing team competing in NASCAR racing. As one of NASCAR's largest premier racing teams, Roush runs teams in the Sprint and Nationwide Series, and formerly in the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series.Roush first entered NASCAR competition in 1988, but had...
's Lincoln-Mercury effort in the GTO class, capturing class honors at Daytona. He moved to the Nissan GTP factory team in 1990 and captured victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
, Miami and Watkins Glen. He stayed with Nissan until they left the series in 1993. For the 1993 season he competed in the Camel Lights prototype class in a Acura
Acura
Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. The brand has been available in the United States and Canada since March 1986, marketing luxury, performance, and near-performance vehicles. It was introduced to Hong Kong in 1991, Mexico in 2004, and China in 2006...
powered Spice.
He retired as a competitor after the 1995 season to become a driver coach. In 1996 he was hired to start the Derek Daly
Derek Daly
Derek Daly is a former racing driver from the Republic of Ireland. He won the 1977 British Formula Three Championship, and competed as a professional racing driver for 17 years participating in 64 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on April 2, 1978. He scored a total of 15...
Academy at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
. In 2000 he returned home to the Marin County to resume freelance driver coaching. From 2002 to 2009 Bob was the Technical Director at the Jim Russell Racing School at Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
in Sonoma California.
Since then he has developed a keen interest in racing video games
Sim racing
Sim racing is the collective term for computer software that attempts to simulate accurately auto racing , complete with real-world variables such as fuel usage, damage, tire wear and grip, and suspension settings...
. He has also developed and sells the "Virtual Racing Chassis", an advanced racing sim for use with Racing video games.
Currently Bob is still doing freelance driver coaching, selling the Virtual Racing Chassis, spreading the word about Alkaline foods and water for your health and working as an assistant for Sandi Bowman, his soul partner who is a Real Estate agent for Alain Pinel Realtors in Marin County, CA..