Petersen Museum to Celebrate George Follmer

For its fourteenth year of celebrating Legends of Motorsport, the Petersen Automotive Museum, along with the Checkered Flag 200 Group, will present a “Tribute to George Follmer” program to be held at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles on Thursday, November 8, 2012 beginning with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. The evening’s festivities will include a gallery display of George Follmer-centric race cars and memorabilia generously supported by eminent collectors.

The tribute will brim with stories about George. Forty years ago, Trans-Am Champion Follmer, subbing for Mark Donahue, was under pressure going into Mid-Ohio’s Can-Am race to drive Roger Penske’s 5.4-liter twin-turbo Porsche 917/10, while the car’s L&M sponsor coined a promotional button “Let George Do It!” The mantra stuck and fan fervor soared. Follmer drove the bristly 917, heeding team boss Penske’s pit signal to keep going in his lead while others pitted for rain tires. Follmer won the race, inspiring media scribes to brand him “George Am.” He finished out 1972 as series champion in Trans-Am and Can-Am—the only driver to win both series titles in the same year.