Selected from a world-class assemblage of more than 70 rare and historic automobiles, Saturday’s Heritage Invitational honored Bruce Meyer’s famed 1979 Kremer Porsche 935 K3 as the Chairman’s Choice Sport recipient and Fredrick Fischer’s 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Tour De France as winner of the Chairman’s Choice d’Elegance award.
The awards capped off three days of celebrations around the history, artistry and innovation of the automobile at the newly opened Ten Tenths Motor Club. Additional highlights from the weekend included the facility’s first-ever sanctioned racing with the Historic Trans Am Series and a charity Pro-Am event that saw NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon join amateur driver Ryan Wildrick top a field of 20 drivers in a race around the 1.1-mile circuit in an event that raised more than $250,000 for Speedway Children’s Charities.
Kremer Porsche 935 K3 Awarded Chairman’s Choice, Sport
A standout in this year’s Heritage Invitational collection was the 1979 Kremer Porsche 935 K3, owned by Meyer, a renowned collector. Developed by Kremer Racing, the 935 K3 dominated endurance racing in the late 1970s, securing an overall win at the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans, the first rear-engine vehicle to do so. Its distinctive aerodynamic enhancements and powerful turbocharged engine make it a true icon of its era.
“This has been, really a religious experience,” Meyer told Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith after being presented the award. “You have made us an Ultra VIP. It’s been a special day for me, but it’s so great to see what you have created here. This is Ten Tenths – maybe 11 tenths.”
Meyer, who cofounded the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1994, talked about the historic significance of his prized Porsche.
“This car really walked the walk. It won Le Mans in 1979. It’s restored by Bruce Canepa at his shop. We’ve taken it to various track days. We’ve shown it around the world, and it’s worthy of that. I can take no credit for what it’s done; I’m just a custodian.”
Treasured 1957 Ferrari 250 Earns Chairman’s Choice, d’Elegance Honors
Fischer couldn’t help but get emotional after his family’s prized Ferrari 250 GT Tour De Francewas named the Heritage Invitational Chairman’s Choice d’Elegance recipient.
The car was previously owned by driver Francois Picard, who raced it in numerous events, including: the 1957 Tour de France, where he and Maurice Trintignant took second place; the 1958 Buenos Aires 1000 km; 1958 Clermont Ferrand, Coupe de Vitesse; and the 1958 Auvergne 3hrs.
Purchased in 1970 by Fischer’s father, car was casually driven until 1973, when it was placed in storage.
“It came into the United States in 1971, when I was about to start my senior year in high school,” Fischer said. “It wasn’t in this sort of condition back then; it was a driver – and I did. I went away to college the next year and there was some discussion about having some restoration work done on it. But that drew out about 12 years. I promised him that I would restore this car if I could have it. We started the restoration in 2006. We finished in 2012 and have been having fun with it ever since. I wish he could be here today to see it today.”