TRE Ep 50 Rob Dyson and Rick Knoop Racing Memories.

Hello again Racing Ears, 

This is a special episode where I was fortunate to be able to have a chat with Rob Dyson and Rick Knoop at the same time.  Rob and Rick were both very gracious to spend time with me chatting about sports car racing / professional road racing in all of its splendor and lore that was rekindled during this glorious phone call during Christmas Break 2023.    

Rob Dyson is a professional race car driver and team principal at Dyson Racing and has been involved in the sport for over 45 years.  

I first observed Rob Dyson and Price Cobb driving the #16 Porsche 962 at Laguna Seca in the 1985 Nissan Monterey Triple Crown weekend which was a part of the IMSA Camel GT series, the same race where I first observed Rick Knoop driving the Jim Busby Racing #67 BF Goodrich Special Porsche 962.   

In 2001, I became reaquainted with sports car racing again following nearby events in the American Le Mans Series at Sears Point and Laguna Seca.  In 2002, Team Dyson brought out a new to them Lola MG that was in the LMP 675 class to Laguna Seca and subsequently had their first runs with the car after acquiring it after Petit Le Mans that year.   

One of the greatest triumphs in motorsports that I have witnessed occurred in 2003 at Sears Point were Dyson Racing in their Lola MG LMP 675 #16 racing car driven by James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger beat the ever dominant Team Joest Audi R8 LMP 900 for the outright win at the 2003 Grand Prix of Sonoma.  This victory has stood out in my memory for many years.    

I want to sincerely express my thanks to both Rick Knoop and Rob Dyson and Dyson Racing for allowing this call to happen.   

Thank you so much for listening to The Racing Ear Podcast!!

Porsche 935 Number 70 owned by Charles Nearburg warming up in the paddock before a session at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 at Laguna Seca Raceway.  

Footage of The Corkscrew at Laguna Seca during the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.