Paul Newman and Santa Barbara

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While a number of individuals associated with professional motor racing have lived in our community, or been involved in our community, one very notable individual appears to have been forgotten: the late great Paul Newman.

Known in racing circles as PLN; his middle name was Leonard.

Northwest corner of Chapala and Victoria Street. There is a car repair shop there now, I think, but back in the late 1970's 1978 and 1979 to be specific--there was a slightly different "shop." It was called Newman Freeman Racing, for a car racing team that was one of the front runners in Can Am racing--which then had been reduced to a North American series with North American teams but still used cars and drivers from all over the world.

A three-car team with drivers Elliot Forbes-Robinson (whom PLN raced with at the Daytona 24-hours in 1977), future world champion Keke Rosberg, and Randy Townsend. The team manager? The ex Formula One, long distance sports car and Indy 500 driver who was always regarded as a character, Masten Gregory. And there were all sorts of internationally renowned mechanics and engineers.

They built and maintained the cars there on the corner, and ate and drank in the local restaurants and bars, and certainly put Santa Barbara on the professional motor racing "map."

The Newman/Freeman Racing did have one particular "problem." The main team that they were racing against was also the importer of the basic car that both teams were using, and somewhat understandably, the importer always made sure there was a slight delay in passing along the latest development "tweaks." Frustrating !

1980 saw the closing of Newman Freeman Racing but Paul Newman was approached by the importer of the cars, Carl Haas, to see if Paul would be interested in running a car for a certain Mario Andretti!

Newman/Haas Racing was formed, and became one of the top teams racing in the Champ Car series and now the Indy Racing League.

Drive by and think about when those huge racing cars and mammoth transporters used to be sitting in the sunshine in their Budweiser livery. It is a building of historical significance !

We should mount a plaque to say "cheers" to all that merry crowd, but particularly to PLN.

Many thanks to Roy Miller, East West Motors, for the mutual rattling of each others memories ! Tony Griffiths

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