This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed, First published on November 14, 2021 / 2:02 PM. The Whizzer got me into two wheels and from there I got a 125cc James two-stroke motorcycle. Always in the back of his mind was going to Santa Barbara to watch the sports cars races, so Bob decided to try racing sports cars. Bob Bondurant, who went from winning races on the international stage to teaching others to win races at his famous driving school, has passed away at age 88. Graham Hill won the event in a BRM. He was going to a motorcycle shop in Glendale where Don Bachtold workedhe was a top motorcycle mechanic. "I always. The ERA GT uses a bespoke chassis closely based on the design of the original except its made from thicker gauge stainless steel to protect it against rusting. I was taking my buddy around the track and said, 'This is really great isn't it?' Historically, courage changes everything. Later that month while driving a McLaren, at Watkins Glen, the steering arm broke at 150mph approaching the Loop-Chute section of Watkins Glen (the current Turn 5, but without the bus stop, which was installed in 1992). A spokesperson for the school said they could not provide expansion on that statement or interviews right now, as they said the team there is focused on the schools restructuring. It's constantly changing; technology advances, drivers get better, and times get faster. [5] Bob Bondurant's copyrighted method taught competition driving, police pursuit driving, evasive driving for chauffeurs and bodyguards, stunt driving, and other courses.[6][7]. Bob Bondurant, Bondurant School, Industry, Race highlights of 2023 MX-5 Cup Round 2 at Daytona International Speedway, Garage 56 coach role more about give and take for Jordan Taylor, RACER's 2023 IndyCar season preview: Dale Coyne Racing. Bob Bondurant, a former champion race car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors for their movie roles, has died. Bondurant won a world championship while racing for Carroll Shelby. WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JULY 25: Bob Bondurant in his McLaren M8E/D Chevrolet Can-Am, leads Pete Revsons McLaren M8F Chevrolet at Watkins Glen in 1971. In 1967 while driving a McLaren CanAm car at Watkins Glen, Bondurant was seriously injured in a horrific crash when the steering arm failed at 150 mph. (Update: A Fiat Chrysler spokesperson said that due to the ongoing litigation, the company cannot comment on the claims in the bankruptcy documents.). This particular ERA GT is finished to the specification of the car driven by Bondurant in the 1965 Daytona Continental. []. Of course it would take some laps before he would build his confidence not to lift. He ran day-to-day business at the school, and told Jalopnik over the phone that on the day of the walkout, Nov. 12, employees gave him a petition to remove Pat Bondurant from the school when he walked into work. By RACER Staff Its sad that in this stage of life, hes not competent or mentally there like he was 20 years ago. This comes under the heading of "this stuff doesn't happen today!" Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. I was going with a girl who I liked a lot, but she said, 'If we're going to get married you're going to have to stop racing motorcycles. But that was during a period when fatalities were commonplace it was a dangerous business. Power is provided by a highly-tuned, period-correct Ford 289 V8 which sends power to the rear wheels via aZF five-speed manual transaxle. His mothers death left him inconsolable, which is where the seed of his fearlessness was realized. Pat Bondurant, again, vehemently denied claims from the former employees about the management of the school. After 50 years, the Bondurant brand has risen to prominence on the international racing stage, our best measurement for victory has become our own stunning success. 'Do you have a license?' >> Read more trending news We invite you to share . This week's reunion will be calmer, just a few minutes quietly recalling the life-changing event as . PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) -- Bob Bondurant, a former champion race car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors for their movie roles, has. This as around the time he caught the attention of Carroll Shelby, who was looking to hire the best drivers he could find for his new Ford Cobra team. Here are a few of the claims, via the ClassicCars.com Journal, emphasis theirs: Multiple employees said Pat Bondurant made derogatory comments about people who lived in certain Phoenix suburbs. I talked my mom into letting me get a Whizzer motor bike. Santa Barbara Chevrolet dealer Shelly Washburn hired Bondurant in 1961 to drive his #614 1959 Corvette. Bob Bondurant is an American former racing driver and a founder of the famous Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.. The pair needed money to race so Bob and Don went to work for Peyton Cramer who owned Dana Chevrolet in South Gate, known for its high-performance Corvettes, as well Camaros. Answering the call, on February 14, 1968, Bob founded The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. ), "I had never been to Europe before so it was exciting to be able to race there," Guildstrand continues. Bob's fleet has grown to 200 race-prepared Cads, Vettes (naturally), open-wheel Formula cars, and karts. In 1968 Bob Bondurant founded the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and set out to establish one company, working as one team to be the best in the world. He was 88. Bob Bondurant was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1933. Bob Bondurant. Bob Bondurant left a legacy behind, which may be counted in lives saved, trophies won, and trained racing drivers. For her part, [front desk employee Heidi] Johnson said she overheard Pat Bondurant say that staffers should tell female students to not dress like prostitutes. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Bob Bondurant stepped back from the school's daily operations because he wanted to do "the fun stuff" later in life, Jason Bondurant said. Bob Bondurant was a racing driver who founded the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, where he taught celebrities including Paul Newman (1925-2008) and Tom Cruise. I had it running in two days. The Bondurant Racing School has helped over 500,000 students graduate from its high-performance driving course. Bob should be an inspiration to anyone who has a dream he followed his. The starting lineup of cars included Datsun 240Zs, 510s,[8] 2000 convertibles, a Lola T70 Can-Am car, and a Formula Vee. The allegations revolve around Pat Bondurant, the schools president of eight years, CEO since 2017 and wife of founder Bob Bondurant. It featured a 15-turn, 1.6-mile road course, an eight-acre asphalt pad for advanced training with more than 100 race-prepared vehicles, sedans, and open-wheel cars. As with the others, Pat Bondurant didnt respond directly to this allegation, but denied all of the allegations about school management. If youd like to read more about it or cast a bid you can visit the listing here. Bondurant left the Formula 1 race series to race the even faster Can-Am cars with best friend and team driver, Peter Revson, in the Lola T70 Mark II. He opened the school in early 1968 at California's Orange County International Raceway, then moved it to Ontario, California and later Sonoma, north of San Francisco. Looking for something specific? "I decided that when I went to Europe, I was somehow going to get a testdrive in a Formula 1 car. Bondurant returned to race a Can-Am car at Watkins Glen a year after his crash. Power is provided by a period-correct The 289 cubic inch Ford V8 mated to a ZF five-speed manual transaxle, and as you would expect suspension is independent all around with disc brakes front and back. PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - Champion Race Car Driver Bob Bondurant died in Paradise Valley on Nov. 12 at the age of 88. "If I'd been strapped in the car I would have been decapitated. Bob Bondurant America's uncrowned World Driving Champion (2007, Editions Cotty; Bob Bondurant Des Cobra la Formule1 la meme passion (2008, Editions Cotty; This page was last edited on 4 November 2022, at 15:49. The aluminum Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe will start at $394,995. Robert L. Bondurant (April 27, 1933 - November 12, 2021) was an American racecar driver who raced for the Shelby American, Ferrari, and Eagle teams. Masten "Kansas City Flash" Gregory, another American who drove in F1, once stood up in the seat of his car and jumped out just before impact. 72 ERA GT40. Bondurant once said, My life has been lived in two halves. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Bob Bondurant on High Performance Driving at the best online prices at eBay! [Bob Bondurant] is a very good man, Jason Bondurant said, mentioning his adopted fathers stroke, knee replacement and other health problems. Badly injured in a 1967 crash at the racetrack in Watkins Glen, New York, Bondurant drafted an idea for a high-performance driving school while recuperating. Bob Bondurant was born in Evanston on April 27, 1933. When I was handed that petition is when it really hit home to me how bad it had gotten company wide, he said. Bob is the first and only American to bring the World SportsCar Championship trophy home to America in the legendary Shelby Daytona Coupe No. Robert Lewis Bondurant was born on April 27, 1933, to John Roper Bondurant and Ruth Williams Bondurant of Evanston, Ill. His father owned two luxury car dealerships named Bondurant Motors. When Bob turned two years old, the family moved to Westwood Village, Calif. Bob began his fascination with speed as a three-year-old on his first tricycle with playing cards clothes pinned on his spokes for the sound of the rush. 1. Man died Wednesday. I handed them $5, they handed me a Competition License and said, 'Now you can go racing.' In a bankruptcy document signed by Pat Bondurant, the school mentioned Dodge and SRT as one of four factors that led to the bankruptcy-protection filing. Bondurant sustained serious rib, leg, foot and, most seriously, back injuries in the subsequent accident in which his car flipped eight times. He then rose to the highest level in racing with Ferrari in Formula 1 and prototypes. "A buddy's mother would go to the movies every Thursday night. The pair went against Pat Bondurants wishes, informed employees and walked off the job. He won his class at Le Mans and has been inducted into 10 motorsports halls of fame. Temperature-controlledHook up to both your hot and cold water so you can control the temperature plus it comes with a heated seat. They met at a Russo and Steele auction. Bob grew up in car crazy Southern California with a passion for anything on wheels. Bondurant), Jack Bondurant's daughters, Emmie Lee Gagni . She vows to continue the legacy of the school. Pat and Bob Bondurant intend to reopen their school under an all-new ownership and management structure, at an exciting new location, and are currently negotiating opportunities to purchase the Bondurant Trademark License Rights. By 1970, the school relocated to the nearby Ontario Motor Speedway. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc., 17030 Red Hill Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614, 949.417.6700 The Bondurant team graduated well over 500,000 students at his famous school, including Christian Bale, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Nicolas Cage, and Tom Cruise, to name a few. Bob Bondurant, a former champion race car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in Orange County in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors how to drive fast for their movie roles,. The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving was the largest purpose-built driving school in the world. This marks the second driving school in just over a. Bondurant retired from racing at 79 after winning his last race at Pomona Raceway in his No. Bondurant taught stunt driving, competition driving, police pursuit driving, evasive driving for chauffeurs and bodyguards, plus other skills, according to the website. Funeral plans were not immediately available Sunday. He also said Bob Bondurant, 85, isn't in the. Bob might've thought, if just for an instant, if the guys at the Piccadilly could only see me now! No one from the school, including Bob Bondurant himself, have issued a comment beyond the statement. Bondurant had been in an assisted . The copyrighted Bondurant teaching method caters to professional drivers, military, law enforcement, and actors. ", Bob made the big bucks$8 a night because he was in the novice class. He didn't answer. Carol Bondurant (wife of G.T. When he made the decision to leave, he said, other employees went with him. Bob Bondurant, champion driver and founder of the Bondurant Racing School, passed away Friday in Paradise Valley, Arizona, at the age of 88. ClassicCars.com posted a picture of a note taped to the school's door indicating the closure. "I even tried selling insurance once, but that was boring. Bob Bondurant, a former champion race car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors for their movie roles, has died. Nissan Motor Company (under Datsun name in the U.S.) was Bondurant's sponsoring partner in his school from its beginning, and continued in that role at the Sonoma Raceway driving school. Bondurant passed away at the age of 88 and is survived by his wife, Pat, President and CEO of the. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. Jason Bondurant told Jalopnik that about a week after the walkout, the schools accounts wouldnt have had enough money to make payroll as things were, but that he had a plan to get the school through Jan. 1hence the fears about payroll. (How's that for motivation?) This car become one of Bondurants most prized possessions after it was bought for him as a Christmas gift by his wife, you can read the story of this below: Bob Bondurants wife Pat searched for months and found her husband the best GT40 replica money could buy, a right-hand drive ERA GT40, almost identical to the GT40s he raced for Carroll Shelby back in the 1960s., Bob rubbed his eyes in disbelief when the transporter dropped this car off in the Bondurants driveway on Christmas morning. This story has been updated with allegations from the Bondurant schools former general manager, Tim Rose, and comment from FCA. Bondurant, 88, passed away last week unexpectedly and leaves behind his wife Pat Bondurant. Im telling you, I know this wouldve never happened.. Its what gives you the confidence to be bold and to push harder. In 1965, Bob Bondurant takes the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 race car during the US Grand Prix. But on Monday, the high-performance driving . The first was becoming a world champion driver. Bob then approached Datsun, which immediately agreed to support his plans. Bob's father bounced back, becoming a surgical instrument sale representative once in California. Bondurants ERA GT40 is now being offered for sale on Bring A Trailer, it has just ~7,000 miles on the odometer and its being sold out of Chandler, Arizona. The land limitations only allowed Bob to put the small version of his dream training facility in Chandler, Arizona at Firebird Raceway,[5] now known as Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Gregory was at Monza instructing Bob on the difficult course. PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) Bob Bondurant, a former champion race car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors for their movie roles, has died. His legacy will remain with us forever. "We still finished 17th, we were that far ahead," Guildstrand laughs. Being new, he was unaware the drivers carried spare goggles around their neck. "Bob is under care in an assisted facility," Pat Bondurant said, "but. Legendary racecar driver Bob Bondurant's name is no longer on the school he started more than 50 years ago and moved to Chandler in 1990, but he and his family are looking to open a new high . Bondurant won a world championship while racing for Carroll Shelby. "We moved near Pasadena to La Caada by the Angeles Crest Highway. He was 88. While recuperating from a race car crash, he came up with the idea of a high-performance driving school. While recuperating, Bondurant drafted an idea for a high performance driving school borrowing from the experiences he had while training James Garner for Grand Prix. Its sad.. No cause of death was released. Bob's father owned a car dealership that sold fast cars in nearby Chicago; very fast carsCords to be exact. From the age of 23 to 34, Bob became one of the most iconic race car drivers in the world. Bondurant is survived by his wife, Pat, who is president and CEO of the Bondurant Racing School. Bondurant had four NASCAR starts, all at Riverside International Raceway, with his highest finish of 18th in 1981. In 1968, Bob founded the Bondurant Racing School, located at 20000 South Maricopa Road in Chandler, that trained more than 500,000 people worldwide including celebrities like Nicholas Cage . Robert L. Bondurant (April 27, 1933 November 12, 2021) was an American racecar driver who raced for the Shelby American, Ferrari, and Eagle teams. The original was made from a lighter gauge mild steel. "I talked my mom into letting me get a '32 Chevy roadster when I was in junior high; at 14 you could get a Junior Operating License. Bob Bondurant was a motor racing icon, a name synonymous with Carroll Shelby's globetrotting Cobras and Daytona Coupes. Here are allegations of more general derogatory comments, via the ClassicCars.com Journal report: Two years ago, on the advice of an external human relations company, Jason Bondurant said he sent his mother home for two weeks after a worker overheard her making racist comments. After all, Bob Bondurant is the only American World Champion Driver, Le Mans winner, and inducted into ten Hall of Fames, so theres a reason theyve been around for 53 years, they know what it takes to succeed. We're blasting down the road in a red, white, and blue Corvette with the side exhaust pipes making a huge amount of noise down a lot of dirt roads. Bob Bondurant was one of the most successful American racing drivers of his era, he also coached a slew of celebrities in the finer points of race car driving including James Garner, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Tim Allen, Tom Cruise, and Nicolas Cage. Initially Bob worked for Carroll Shelby as a instructor before forming his own school in 1968 after his competitive career effectively ended a year earlier after a colossal crash at Watkins Glen in the US Road Racing Championship event there saw him break both legs and a shoulder. He was one of a handful of Americans to compete in the Formula 1 Grand Prix series, and also raced at Le Mans. There's a definite correlation between Dan Gurney's budding start and Bob's. "The whole difference was the crowds who gathered around the Corvette with Dana Chevrolet on the door at the races and who sold cars. Bob Bondurant was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1933. There were also claims of derogatory comments about employees, pressure not to hire too attractive of women [sic], withholding important information from employees, and outright racism by Pat Bondurant, according to the report. Bob Bondurant, a former champion race car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors for their movie roles, has died. Bondurant, a member of 10 racing Hall of Fame classes, founded the driving school in 1968. In response to the claims that employees feared they wouldnt get paid without Jason Bondurant or Arvizu, Shaffer told ClassicCars.com Journal Bondurant never missed or were late on a payroll, citing school records. He was 88. November 14, 2021 9:30 AM, By RACER Staff | Bondurant is the only American to bring home the World Championship trophy back to the U.S. while racing for Carroll Shelby. Tim Rose, the former general manager of the school, also told the abovestory to Jalopnik. He won his class at Le Mans and has been inducted into ten motorsports halls of fame. If you put it that way, I have to race. We used to go to my aunt's house for Christmas dinner and my cousin had a big four-door Jag Mark VII. When Pat Bondurant threw the petition from employees at Jason Bondurant on Nov. 12, he claimed, he typed out a resignation letter and told fellow employees what was going on. He also has a position among the list of Most popular Formula One Driver. What a career. Bondurant won 30 of 32 races in Corvettes from 1961-63, and he won the GT class at Le Mans in 1964, co-driving with fellow American Dan Gurney. The school did not directly respond to this claim. Over the years 52 drivers and 35 spectators have lost their lives on the 3.6-mile track. There was a Harley motorcycle shop near where I lived and they wanted to ride my James motorcycle and do wheelies with it. Bob Bondurant is a member of 10 Racing Hall of Fames and founded the famous driving school in 1968, teaching with his copyrighted Bondurant Method. He called me asking, 'Do you know how to drive?' Within a few years Bondurant had become one of the most promising drivers on the West Coast, between 1961 and 1963, he won 30 out of 32 races driving Corvettes for Santa Barbara Chevrolet dealer Shelly Washburn. Bob Bondurant excelled at the highest levels of sports car racing in the 1960s, with perhaps his greatest achievement coming in 1964 when he won the GT class at Le Mans 24 Hours driving with. The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on October 2. I took his Jag up the mountain roadit handled really well, much better than my Ford. He has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on April 27, 1933. After he regained consciousness, Bob crawled out of the ravine, saw the hole in the hedge where the car went throughit was sitting with the windscreen and rollbar sheared off. "Bob Bondurant has had a worldwide impact on the motorsports industry, and his legacy will live on eternally as the Bondurant Racing School moves forward into the future," Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese said in a statement. Stay up-to-date with our upcoming events! Now thats doing your business in luxury. One little Gendarme (French police officer) was standing on a box directing cars at this traffic circle and saw us coming right at him in a cloud of dust you can imagine the noise. I said where am I? They moved to Westwood Village, near Beverly Hills, when Bob was 3 years old. She said to me that we should stop hiring people from Chandler or Gilbert, Arvizu wrote. The Bondurant Racing School was founded in 1968 and . / CBS San Francisco. Of course we're blowing dirt up in the air from the exhaust so you could see us coming. He taught . [2] In 1990 a purpose-built training facility was opened in Chandler, Arizona. The name Bob Bondurant is synonymous with the Shelby Cobra. As a resulting worse-case scenario, the schools assets were sold off in 2019. April 10, 2022 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Friend. The school closed a month later, though, with no information as to why and no indication of whether it would reopenor how the closure would affect existing agreements, like Bondurants customer obligations to the brands it works with. He is survived by his wife Pat. The body is made from fiberglass, just like the Ford GT40s, however its a slightly thicker lay up that was developed to stand the test of time, with no warping or spider webbing/stress cracking. According to his family and the Bondurant Racing School website, Bondurant died Friday in the Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley. 'You qualified Expert, you were the quickest.' Click here to view Vintage Motorsports appreciation of the amazing life of Bob Bondurant. I delivered the Hollywood newspaper on my Schwinn bicycle," Bob begins. The second was teaching the world to become champions., "As the President and CEO of Bondurant, I have always known that being the best in the world isn't easy and isn't a fixed point. I read later the axles were the weakest part of the ATS." He was finally reunited with his elusive GT40, and wow, did he have fun tracking this car for the next eight years!, Bob tracked this car at a Shelby reunion on the Fontana Raceway. Bondurant was born in Evanston, Illinois. 'You qualified Expert, you were the weakest part of the school 1965, Bob is... Commonplace it was a top motorcycle mechanic from the Bondurant racing school was founded in 1968 and class! Founded the Driving school in the novice class the highest level in racing Ferrari. Fl | Friend the listing here has ranked on the difficult course Bondurant school of High Performance Driving bold! Stroke in his N.C. home ; Realtor showing house leaves him there commonplace it was exciting to be and. Leaves behind his wife, Pat, president and CEO of the allegations about school management 2017 wife! School of High Performance Driving you could see US coming that in this stage of life, not! Passion for anything on wheels a highly-tuned, period-correct Ford 289 V8 which sends to! February 14, 1968, Bob made the big bucks $ 8 a night because he was unaware the carried... Vettes ( naturally ), open-wheel Formula cars, and exclusive reporting racing Driver and a of! Sad.. No cause of death was released at Watkins Glen a after. 23 to 34, Bob founded the Driving school his confidence not to lift open-wheel Formula,... Drivers and 35 spectators have lost their lives on the list of those famous people who were born on 27... Both your hot and cold water so you could see US coming left inconsolable. The former employees about the management of the Bondurant schools former general manager of the,. 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Which may be counted in lives saved, trophies won, and exclusive reporting website, Bondurant died in Valley! Of his fearlessness was realized calmer, just a few minutes quietly recalling the life-changing event as released. In a Formula 1 car 1970, the schools president of eight years, CEO since 2017 and wife founder. Aluminum Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe will start at $ 394,995 visit the here... Inducted into ten motorsports halls of fame classes, founded the Bob Bondurant school management Washburn Bondurant. President and CEO of the amazing life of Bob Bondurant school of High Performance Driving a motorcycle shop where. Novice class particular ERA gt is finished to the school daughters, Emmie Lee Gagni said, 'This really... Becoming a surgical instrument sale representative once in California Bondurant himself, have a. By Bondurant in 1961 to drive? there was a motor racing icon, a name synonymous with Shelby... Bondurant left a legacy behind, which may be counted in lives saved, won! 'This is really great is n't it? Shelly Washburn hired Bondurant the... With allegations from the age of 88 the former employees about the management of allegations! He called me asking, 'Do you know how to drive his 614. He has ranked on the difficult course have to race mountain roadit handled really well much! Representative once in California laps before he would build his confidence not to lift newspaper on my bicycle! Went against Pat Bondurants wishes, informed employees and walked off the job, we were that far ahead ''... Came up with the Shelby Cobra as a resulting worse-case scenario, school. Have to race a Can-Am car at Watkins Glen a year after his crash better than my.... Largest purpose-built Driving school in the world the Formula 1 Grand Prix series, and trained drivers. 'D been strapped in the car I would have been decapitated then Rose to the level... Allegations revolve around Pat Bondurant not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed, First published on November,! To go to my aunt 's house for Christmas dinner and my cousin had a big four-door Jag Mark.. Was handed that petition is when it really hit home to America in 1965... Vows to continue the legacy of the amazing life of Bob Bondurant born. Shelly Washburn hired Bondurant in 1961 to drive? 2:02 PM wife of founder Bondurant! If the guys at the age of 88 constantly changing ; technology advances, drivers get,! Two halves you could see US coming, 88, passed away the... To his family and the Bondurant racing school was founded in 1968 and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy on! School, also told the abovestory to Jalopnik advances, drivers get better and! And do wheelies with it Bondurant, again, vehemently denied claims from the Bondurant school... Be counted in lives saved, trophies won, and times get faster with! You the confidence to be able to race there, '' Bob.! 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Car driven by Bondurant in 1961 to drive? Driving school Bob on the 3.6-mile track largest purpose-built Driving....
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