VIR - 1974 April National Races - program

A LITTLE NOSTALGIA

PHOTO COMING SOON

For Bob Tullius and Group 44, the SCCA Nationals at VIR bring back fond memories. Bob began racing in 1961 , but his first serious attempt at Nationals came the following season. Back then, it was a 12 race schedule which included events at the big-name tracks of that era - Daytona, Marlboro, VIR, Cumberland, Bridgehampton, and the rest.

Bob came to Danville that year with second place finishes at Daytona and Marlboro. He still had not won a National race. This was to be one of his last races with the E-Prod TR-3 since preparations on his brand new TR-4 had begun. He wanted to win VIR with the TR-3 in the worst way.

In those days, practice was not officially timed, and grid positions were determined by - believe it or not drawing numbers from a hat. Bob's number put him in the middle of the grid for the combined D- and E-Prod race.

Race day was cold and rainy. Bob made a clean start and was running amongst the leaders in the early going. A good race developed between Bob in his TR-3 and Doug Defendorfer (nobody around here remembers how to spell his last name) who was driving a D-Prod Siata (Bob remembers the car all too well). At the three-quarter mark, Bob had managed to pull ahead of the Siata and went on to take lst overall and E-Prod honors. It was his first SCCA National win. It was also Triumph's (now British Leyland) first National victory, which did not hurt future relationships between them.

Bob's VIR win gave him the points lead and he went on to win the first of his four consecutive National Championships. He liked to think that this victory was instrumental in the future development of Group 44.

VIR Pace Car

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1974 Porsche Carrera Provided by Triangle Porsche-Audi

Even The Best Need Instruction
Jim Fitzgerald & Carl White  School of Motor Racing

FEATURING

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FWS Corp. 302 Mt. Cross Road   Danville, Virginia 24541   804-797-5767

WARNING

The North Carolina Highway Patrol will have a large force of Patrolmen in the area for the entire race weekend. They will charge you with Driving Under the Influence if you leave the race track and drive on the public highway while intoxicated. The management hopes that you enjoy yourselves while here at VIR but you must be careful when leaving the track. The camping areas will be open all night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. If you have been drinking, please accept our hospitality and stay here until you are able to drive safely.

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