September 2017
• John Knepp, who with Don Devendorf founded the Datsun/Nissan performance specialty company Electramotive Engineering, has died at the age of 75.
Knepp made his first splash on the American motorsports scene working with Pete Brock’s Brock Racing Enterprises as it built 2.5-Liter Trans-Am-winning Datsun 510s for John Morton and others, then hooked up with electronics engineer Devendorf in 1972 to create Electramotive. From a small base shop in El Segundo, California, they began tuning and racing Datsuns and Nissans, eventually winning championships in the production-based sedan and GT underclasses of IMSA—RS in 1977, GTU in 1979 and GTO in 1982— before aiming a bit higher, at GTP. In 1988, the first Nissan GTP-ZX Turbo produced eight consecutive wins and the first of what would be four consecutive IMSA GTP championships for lead driver Geoff Brabham. In concert with Devendorf’s groundbreaking work in electronic engine management systems, Knepp created a series of Nissan power plants that simply overpowered everyone else.
• Savannah, Georgia, will come alive with the roar of engines on the weekend of October 26-29 as the Savannah Speed Classic kicks off this year’s 16th annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival on the Grand Prize of America Road Course with a unique road race experience offering an intimate look at the inner workings of the sport. Savannah touts itself as the birthplace of Grand Prix racing in America, and Historic Sportscar Racing brings wheel-to-wheel competition back to those roots with series races and enduros, as well as a downtown racecar parade, track touring, hot lap rides and pit access. It all begins on Thursday, October 26, with registration and technical inspection. Friday offers two qualifying sessions and a 4 p.m. start for HSR’s Bob Woodman Tire International/American Challenge contest. Saturday morning will bring the third and final qualifying session, with racing commencing that afternoon with the Pre-War Feature Race. Racing continues all day Sunday, featuring a pair of B.R.M. Enduro Challenge races of one-hour duration, one at 9 a.m., and the other at 12:10 p.m. For complete information please visit www.hsrrace.com
