After he became a Ferrari dealer in 1957, Von Neumann’s new 625 TRC (#11) is shown chasing after his older Ferrari 500 TR, in the hands of his shop manager Richie Ginther, at Pomona. Their positions were reversed at the checker.
Von Neumann winning the main event at Torrey Pines in 1952 with his topless Porsche Le Mans Coupe.
John Von Neumann was one of those towering figures in the sports car world of the ’50s. He was one of the founders of the California Sports Car Club that eventually became the largest Region of the SCCA. He pioneered Porsche in the Western U.S., not only in racing, but also as daily drivers. He was also instrumental in helping elevate Ferrari to the top of the heap. And he was my friend.
One day during the ’90s, my kids and I were playing in the pool at our home on Rose Avenue in Palm Springs. My wife came out and said, “Hey, did you hear, our neighbor Johnny (Von Neumann) was kidnapped?” “What happened,” I asked, “is he okay?” “Yes,” she said, “they set him free and he’s back home now.” She had heard about it from a neighbor, Anna Polak (Vasek’s wife). All three of us had homes on the same street then.
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