John Buffum
Encyclopedia
John Buffum is the most successful U.S. rally
driver ever, winning 11 national titles and 117 national championship events.
From 1977 to 1980, when British Leyland dropped out of U.S. racing, he won both the SCCA ProRally
series and the North America Rally Championships. In 1981, he competed with an Audi 80
and Peugeot 504
, but they were not competitive compared to Rod Millen
's factory Mazda RX-7
rally cars.
In addition to his North American schedule, Buffum cherry-picked rallies in Europe, where he became the first and still the only American to win a European Championship event, taking the 1983 Sachs Rally in West Germany and the 1984 ERC Rally in Cyprus, both with Audi Quattro. He also ran the 1969 Monte Carlo Rally in a Porsche 911.
He also helped re-start the Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race
in 1990.
Since the late 1980s, Buffum has owned and managed Libra Racing based in Colchester, Vermont. He has been responsible for building cars for the Hyundai Factory rally programme in the US and has worked alongside Vermont Sports Car on their Subaru Factory programme as a consultant. In 2009, he built the first open class Mitsubishi Evolution X, to campaign in the Rally America national series and the Canadian Rally series.
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
driver ever, winning 11 national titles and 117 national championship events.
From 1977 to 1980, when British Leyland dropped out of U.S. racing, he won both the SCCA ProRally
SCCA ProRally
SCCA ProRally was an American rally racing series, run by the Sports Car Club of America from 1973 until 2004. The SCCA discontinued it for 2005, allowing Rally America to replace it, utilizing most of the same venues and existing infrastructure.-Rallies:...
series and the North America Rally Championships. In 1981, he competed with an Audi 80
Audi 80
The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the German car manufacturer Audi, from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon car/sedan, and an Avant...
and Peugeot 504
Peugeot 504
The Peugeot 504 is a large family car manufactured by French automaker Peugeot between 1968 and 1983, with licensed production continuing until 2006.-1968 — introduction:...
, but they were not competitive compared to Rod Millen
Rod Millen
Rodney K. "Rod" Millen is a racing competitor, vehicle designer, and business owner. He has competed in numerous genres of motorsports, including rally racing, off-road racing, hillclimbing, drifting, and super touring.-Personal life:...
's factory Mazda RX-7
Mazda RX-7
Series 1 is commonly referred to as the "SA22C" from the first alphanumerics of the vehicle identification number. This series of RX-7 had exposed steel bumpers and a high-mounted indentation-located license plate, called by Werner Buhrer of Road & Track magazine a "Baroque depression."In 1980...
rally cars.
In addition to his North American schedule, Buffum cherry-picked rallies in Europe, where he became the first and still the only American to win a European Championship event, taking the 1983 Sachs Rally in West Germany and the 1984 ERC Rally in Cyprus, both with Audi Quattro. He also ran the 1969 Monte Carlo Rally in a Porsche 911.
He also helped re-start the Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race
Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race
The Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race, also known as the Climb to the Clouds, is a timed hillclimb auto race up the Mount Washington Auto Road to the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. It is one of the oldest auto races in the country, first run on July 11th and 12th, 1904, predating...
in 1990.
Since the late 1980s, Buffum has owned and managed Libra Racing based in Colchester, Vermont. He has been responsible for building cars for the Hyundai Factory rally programme in the US and has worked alongside Vermont Sports Car on their Subaru Factory programme as a consultant. In 2009, he built the first open class Mitsubishi Evolution X, to campaign in the Rally America national series and the Canadian Rally series.
External links
- Libra Racing, John Buffum's company.
- JohnBuffum.com - John Buffum's homepage.
- In Like a Lamb...Out LIke a Lion Champion co-driver and former National PRO Rally Manager, Tom Grimshaw, tells John Buffum's story and the course of rally racing in the United States.
- 2006 SCCA Hall of Fame Class Announced