John Fitch to be Honored at Simeone Museum

Famed aviator, race car driver and inventor John Fitch has been selected as the recipient of the third annual “Spirit of Competition” Award, to be presented at a dinner at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum Wednesday, October 20th, 2010. Fitch joins drivers Mario Andretti and Janet Guthrie, last year’s honoree, in being a Simeone Museum “Spirit of Competition” Award recipient.

In the course of a driving career that spanned almost two decades, John Fitch won numerous sports car races including the 1953 Sebring 12-hour race in a Cunningham C4R. He competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times, finishing as high as third. Fitch was the only American on the legendary Mercedes-Benz racing team and later served as the first manager for Chevrolet’s Corvette racing team, and the first general manager of the Lime Rock Park race track.