On Jan. 29, the automotive and Hollywood worlds collided when over 500 guests arrived at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, to pay tribute to actor James Garner and his American International Racing team (AIR). Among the many personalities present were AIR team members James Garner, Davey Jordan, Scooter Patrick, Dick Guldstrand and Lothar Motschenbacher as well as racing legends Parnelli Jones, Carroll Shelby and Bob Bondurant. Guests were treated to dinner, followed by a showing of the movie “The Racing Scene” featuring Garner and AIR’s off-road, endurance and F5000 racing exploits in 1969 and 1970.
According to museum foundation co-chairman, Bruce Meyer, the impetus for the evenings gala was the “Rockford’s Racers” article published in the Aug. 2002 issue of Vintage Racecar Journal. “I got so excited by that article, I felt that we had to do something to honor Jim and his team’s racing achievements.”
