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Reflections on a Racing Career: Rob Dyson

Photos courtesy of the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) Archives & Garage Style Magazine

Rob Dyson, who started his racing career in 1974 at Watkins Glen International,  In 1981 he won the Sports Car Club of America’s GT2 national championship, and began racing professionally in IMSA GTO and the SCCA Trans-Am in 1982.

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The following year, to support his professional racing efforts, he founded the Dyson Racing Team, which over the next few years grew to be one of America’s premier sports car racing teams. From their base in Poughkeepsie, New York over the course of nearly four decades the team won 19 championships, 72 race victories, started 72 times from the pole and achieved 224 podium finishes. Among the team’s notable accomplishments is a pair of overall victories in America’s premier endurance race, the Rolex 24, at Daytona International Speedway. And In 1986 Rob found himself behind the wheel of a Porsche 956 at the famed Circuit de la Sarthe: Le Mans.

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Notes

  • Your personal attempt at the LeMans 24; you had a successful run starting in 1982 in TransAm, what was your Road to LeMans like?
  • Had you raced in Europe before 1986? If so, where, how did that go?
  • When you got there, what were your first impressions of Le Mans? (this was still in the last few years before the major track changes.
  • Let’s talk about the Liqui-Moly Porsche 956 you campaigned in 1986. This was during the overlap period between the 956 (Group C) and Porsche 962. Why the 956? What was it like to Drive?
  • What do you feel is the most challenging part of driving at the 24 hours of LeMans? 
  • This was not the last time “Dyson Racing” would appear at Le Mans – what was it like coming back as a team principal? What has changed with all your return visits to Le Mans? 
  • We just celebrated the 101st (92nd) Le Mans – Any thoughts on the Porsche 963? 
  • You’ve seen a lot of change in the last 40+ years; what are some of the best “new” things to have come to LeMans since you started there?

and much, much more!

Transcript (Evening With A Legend)

Highlights

Transcript (Keynote)

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During his 21 seasons as a professional racing driver Dyson drove in 92 races, scoring four overall race wins (including the 1997 Rolex 24 at Daytona) and a total of 18 podium finishes. Dyson continued to compete episodically in professional racing through 2007 and today remains active driving his collection of vintage Indy cars in a variety of demonstration events.

He was named chairman of the board of directors of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 2021 following a decade as a member of the board, he is guiding the institution through its $89 million transformational renovation as it charts its future path as the repository of the history and related artifacts of America’s oldest active and most storied racing facility. And he’s still involved in the Dyson Racing Team, supporting his son’s racing efforts, including Chris’ three attempts in ’04, ‘09 and 2014. 


Rob’s Keynote Address

The 7th Annual Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History was held at Watkins Glen International on Nov. 3rd and 4th, 2023. Rob Dyson, the Keynote for the event, presented “A Driver’s Reflections on Watkins Glen at 75.” An appreciative crowd gathered to listen and the IMRRC was extremely grateful that Mr. Dyson made the trip to Watkins Glen to join the conference.


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Evening With A Legend (EWAL)

Evening With A Legend is a series of presentations exclusive to Legends of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans giving us an opportunity to bring a piece of Le Mans to you. By sharing stories and highlights of the big event, you get a chance to become part of the Legend of Le Mans with guests from different eras of over 100 years of racing.

ACO USA

To learn more about or to become a member of the ACO USA, look no further than www.lemans.org, Click on English in the upper right corner and then click on the ACO members tab for Club Offers. Once you become a Member you can follow all the action on the Facebook group ACOUSAMembersClub; and become part of the Legend with future Evening With A Legend meet ups.

 


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International Motor Racing Research Center- PRESERVING & SHARING THE HISTORY OF MOTORSPORTS. Our mission is to collect, preserve and share the global history of motorsports.

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