Arnold Hubert Wagner, an original partner of Andial – one of America’s most successful and respected authorities on Porsche performance tuning – died at the age of 75.
Wagner, who, along with partners Dieter Inzenhofer and Alwin Springer, worked at Vasek Polak Porsche in Redondo Beach before the three Porsche specialists formed Andial (AN for Arnold, DI for Dieter and AL for Alwin. From the company’s formation in 1975, ANDIAL established its credentials in the racing arena during an era when the privateer racing team could effectively compete. The results of ANDIAL’s Racing Division speak for itself. ANDIAL-prepared cars and engines have won on every major racetrack in the U.S.A.
“Arnold was the backbone of Andial, as he was the Porsche parts expert as well as the one who kept the business running smoothly,” said Springer, who left the business in 1997 to become president of Porsche Motorsports North America, where he stayed until his retirement in 2004.
“Not only has the Porsche community lost a skilled high performance expert, but we have all lost a friend with Arnold’s passing,” said Springer, who now works as a rules consultant for Porsche Motorsports North America.
Some of Andial’s major sports car racing accomplishments include:
- The 24-Hours of Daytona saw ANDIAL’s engine in the winner’s circle from 1983 through 1987 and again in 1989. A note of interest: In 1987, the first through fifth place finishers were in ANDIAL cars.
- The IMSA Supercar Series Championship in 1992.
- IMSA-GT Championships in 83, 85, 86, and 87. North American GT-1 Endurance Cup Championship in 1994 and GTS-2 in 1996.
- SCCA World Challenge – USA in 1994.
- Class wins Pikes Peak in 94, 96, 97, and 98.
The list of drivers that campaigned ANDIAL-powered cars include: Al Holbert, the Andrettis, the Unsers, A.J. Foyt, Derek Bell, Rolf Stommelen, J. Rutherford, Danny Ongais, the Whittington brothers, Bob Wollek, Harald Grohs, Hurley Haywood, Hans Stuck, Jim Busby, Pete Halsmer, Jeff Zwart, and many more.
Parallel to their racing ventures and utilizing the experience racing provided, ANDIAL developed their street related performance applications
In 2004, with their ex-partner Alwin officially retired from PMNA, Arnold and Dieter decided to slow down but not retire entirely. They moved to a smaller place in Fountain Valley from Santa Ana gave up the daily Porsche service business in favor of concentrating on their specialties, including special engine projects, maintaining prior special engines, restoring race or other special cars and continued supply of parts that customers had come to rely on in the past three decades. That business continues to operate today.
Arnold Wagner is survived by his wife Gerda, two children, and four grandchildren.
[Source: PCNA]
