Pocholo Ramirez
Encyclopedia
Pocholo Ramirez was a Filipino
race car driver and television host. Also known as "Tito Poch", Ramirez was hailed as a racing legend in the Philippines, with a career in racing that spanned 45 years.
racer, then as a rally car driver starting in 1964. He won the Shell Car Rally Championship in 1966 and 1970, and was named Slalom Driver of the Year in 1967 and 1968.
Ramirez began circuit racing in 1969 and formula racing in 1974. Between 1973 and 1986, Ramirez participated in several prominent Grand Prix races in Southeast Asia, including the Macau Grand Prix
, the Malaysian Grand Prix
, the Selangor Grand Prix and the Indonesian Grand Prix. He placed second overall at the 1972 Macau Grand Prix (saloon car), and third overall the following year. Ramirez was named Best Southeast Asian driver during the 1978 and 1979 runs of the Macau Grand Prix.
In 1995, Ramirez established the Subic International Raceway
at Zambales. The racetrack at Subic soon became the haven of hundreds of race car drivers who would train there, and would eventually host several international and local racing events.
Ramirez raced competitively until around 2008, when he was 75 and already battling cancer. In 2000, he was the Blaze Super Saloon Champion. Shortly before his death from cancer, Ramirez was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Automobile Association Philippines, the national authority on motorsports.
, which aired on the National Broadcasting Network
.
In 2005, Ramirez gained renewed popularity when he appeared in a popular advertisement for Petron, taking on a driving challenge that required him to traverse 1,114 kilometers across the Philippines on one full tank of gas. His tag line, "Traffic? Bring it on!" became popular and was widely imitated.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
race car driver and television host. Also known as "Tito Poch", Ramirez was hailed as a racing legend in the Philippines, with a career in racing that spanned 45 years.
Racing career
Ramirez was born in Manila. He began his racing career at the age of 30., beginning as a kartKart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
racer, then as a rally car driver starting in 1964. He won the Shell Car Rally Championship in 1966 and 1970, and was named Slalom Driver of the Year in 1967 and 1968.
Ramirez began circuit racing in 1969 and formula racing in 1974. Between 1973 and 1986, Ramirez participated in several prominent Grand Prix races in Southeast Asia, including the 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...
, the Malaysian Grand Prix
Malaysian Grand Prix
First included in the Formula One World Championship in 1999, the current Malaysian Grand Prix is held at the Sepang International Circuit at Sepang, Malaysia. FIA-sanctioned racing in Malaysia has existed since the 1960s...
, the Selangor Grand Prix and the Indonesian Grand Prix. He placed second overall at the 1972 Macau Grand Prix (saloon car), and third overall the following year. Ramirez was named Best Southeast Asian driver during the 1978 and 1979 runs of the Macau Grand Prix.
In 1995, Ramirez established the Subic International Raceway
Subic International Raceway
Subic International Raceway is a racing circuit in the Philippines, built in 1994 on the site of a US naval base destroyed by eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Established through the efforts of famed race car driver Pocholo Ramirez, the site was bought by Sport Values Inc.The racing circuit is built...
at Zambales. The racetrack at Subic soon became the haven of hundreds of race car drivers who would train there, and would eventually host several international and local racing events.
Ramirez raced competitively until around 2008, when he was 75 and already battling cancer. In 2000, he was the Blaze Super Saloon Champion. Shortly before his death from cancer, Ramirez was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Automobile Association Philippines, the national authority on motorsports.
Personal life
He is survived by his wife, Ellen, and children Kookie, Georges, Louis, Michelle and Miguel.In media
Ramirez was the long-time co-anchor (together with Butch Gamboa) of the racing show Motoring TodayMotoring Today
Motoring Today is a sports program which airs the latest news about the motoring industry, traffic management, public service and the world of Motorsports...
, which aired on the National Broadcasting Network
National Broadcasting Network
People's Television is the flagship government television network owned by the Philippine Government through People's Television Network, Inc. . Its head office, studios and transmitter are located at Broadcast Complex, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City .-History:The country's government...
.
In 2005, Ramirez gained renewed popularity when he appeared in a popular advertisement for Petron, taking on a driving challenge that required him to traverse 1,114 kilometers across the Philippines on one full tank of gas. His tag line, "Traffic? Bring it on!" became popular and was widely imitated.