Following on their 1984 IMSA series participation, in which Jim Busby Racing had campaigned a pair of Lola Mazda T616’s with sponsorship by BFGoodrich, the start of the 1985 IMSA season saw the team step up in class with their debut of two Porsche 962’s, with continued sponsorship provided by BFGoodrich, and engines built and tuned by the Southern California-based Porsche specialists, ANDIAL.
The first opportunity to see these cars in person for those of us in Southern California, would be at the Los Angeles Times Nissan Grand Prix, to be held at Riverside International Raceway in April of 1985.
With the fielding of a two car team, two separate driver line-ups were created and announced; BFG Porsche 962 # 67, would be piloted by team owner and driver, Jim Busby, and teammate Rick Knoop.
Their sister car, BFG Porsche 962 #68, would be driven by the team of Pete Halsmer and John Morton.
And by virtue of being the latest team to join the Porsche 962 juggernaut, Jim Busby Racing was assured of drawing the Porsche faithful to their garage area on race weekend, to check out their new team cars.
The first challenge to be faced by the two teams at Jim Busby Racing would be the qualifying of their Porsche 962’s for the weekends 6 hour endurance race…
By the end of qualifying, Pete Halsmer and John Morton in the #68 BFGoodrich Porsche 962 had qualified second, with the #67 BFGoodrich Porsche 962 of Jim Busby and Rick Knoop, qualified in sixth place. Thus the stage was set for Jim Busby Racing and the following days 6 hour endurance race. Now it was time for the team to formulate their respective pit strategies for race day.
As the sun dawned Sunday morning, it quickly became apparent that the racing community and fans would once again be rewarded with a beautiful, clear sunny Southern California day, perfect weather for an endurance race.
With the competitors aligned in formation and being paced by the pole sitter, the cars accelerated towards the stat/finish line, and with a wave of the starters green flag, the race was underway. The obvious challenge facing the two Jim Busby Racing teams over the next six hours would be to get the #68 BFG Porsche 962 into the lead, and maintain their position to the end. Their second challenge would be to assist the #67 car, to work its way up through the field, and at the end, hopefully be in position to score a podium finish. I’m sure no one at the start could have imagined the triumphant success that the Jim Busby Racing team would share later that afternoon…
The following shots are of the two team cars at speed, each running their individual strategies and race pace…
Jim Busby behind the wheel at speed, approaching turn 8
Co-driver Rick Knoop, entering the downhill section into turn 7
#67 BFGoodrich Porsche 962, with Jim Busby behind the wheel, on the uphill section into turn 6…
#67 working its way through traffic, turn 8…
#67 chasing down slower traffic, entering turn 6…
Car #67 exiting turn 8, accelerating down the back straight…
BFG Porsche #68 leading the #86 Bayside Disposal Porsche 962 of Bruce Leven, through turn 8…
#68, BFG Porsche 962 lapping slower traffic, approaching turn 8. (Note the red racers tape stripe across the right front headlight. This was used by the team during the race to visually differentiate car #68 car from its teammate, the #67 team car, since they were virtually identical when viewed from the front. The teams could then monitor each car as they crossed the start / finish line, or upon entering the pits for service. At a glance, the crews instantly knew which of the two cars was coming in without seeing the cars number on the fender top).
#68 BFGoodrich Porsche 962, passing Bob Akin’s #5 Coca Cola Porsche 962, downhill section into turn 7…
#68 BFGoodrich Porsche 962 at speed, approaching turn 8…
As the field began stopping for the first of many scheduled pit stops over the course of the day, the following shots represent just several of those scheduled pit stops executed by the Jim Busby Racing teams during the race…
Pit stop by car #68 for driver change, refueling and tires…
Ready and waiting if needed…
Driver change and new BFGoodrich tires…
Rick Knoop and crew awaiting arrival of car #67 for upcoming pit stop…
#67 crew readied for driver change, new BFG tires and refueling…
BFGoodrich Porsche 962, #67 approaching its pit box, with Crew chief, Co-Driver (Rick Knoop) and fuel man at the ready…
Pit stop underway; Jim Busby exiting the car, Rick Knoop behind the wheel, refueling and new tires at the ready…
After a day of very competitive racing, well choreographed pit stops and obviously a successful set of race strategies by Jim Busby Racing, the final hour of the race saw the #68 BFGoodrich Porsche 962 running in first place, with its sister car (#67) running in second. With each passing lap and as the clock ticked down, the crews continued relaying information to their drivers, updating them regarding each team cars relative position and the gaps / intervals to the next placed car, through the use of pit boards. As each car exited turn nine, the pit boards went out for the drivers to quickly read as they rocketed past the start / finish line to begin another lap…
As the final minutes began ticking down, the team anxiously awaited car #68 being given the white flag, indicating the last lap. All that was needed to insure the overall win was to complete one final lap, with car #67 running a strong second place. The stress was evident on the face of team owner and driver Jim Busby, as well Alvin Springer of Andial ( standing to Jim Busby’s right) as they waited for car #68 to complete its final lap…
By the time car #68 had made its way down the back straight and was exiting turn 9, the team had all made their way trackside, to cheer on car #68 as it crossed the finish line, winning the race…
And following shortly after, car #67 crossed the finish line, capturing second place, delivering a one-two finish for the team…
Jim Busby, his son and a crew member celebrating the teams first and second place victories…
As cars #68 and #67 took their cool down lap, the crew made their way back to the pit wall to await each cars return to the pits, to pick up the team and drive them all to victory lane…
Arrival of the team cars at victory lane…
One very happy team owner /driver: Jim Busby, celebrating his teams first and second place finish at the LA Times Nissan Grand Prix, April 1985.
(Below) John Morton and Pete Halsmer being awarded the first place trophy for their overall win at the LA Times Nissan Grand Prix, Riverside Raceway, April 25, 1985.
The second place finishers from car #67, Rick Knoop and Team owner /driver Jim Busby, celebrating on stage with teammates John Morton and Pete Halsmer (see photo below).
The final photo opportunity of the day; car # 68 with its first place trophy.
Jim Busby Racing and their BFGoodrich Porsche 962’s had served notice to their competition that weekend of their teams depth and potential for success, and established themselves as a potential threat for the remainder of the 1985 IMSA season.
(All photos by the author)
digitaldtour 
Great job.
Thanks, Jim busby
Hi Jim,
Thank you, Im glad you enjoyed my post on your BFGoodrich Porsche 962’s.
I don’t know if you made the connection or recognized some of the photos, but I am the same photographer and artist that created the black and white pencil illustration of you in your red Porsche 935 with the A.I.R bodywork,that hangs in your office, and the same photographer that captured many of the images that you have from your IMSA days. (My dad and I had the small freelance business “Florin fotographics” back in the late 70’s through the 80’s). The next time I am down in Orange County, I will try to stop by your shop for a brief visit and to say hello.
And thank you again for your email.
Regards,
Chris Florin
aka digitaldtour
Hi Chris…great story and memories for me. I was one of the three BF Goodrich tire engineers that worked with Busby during the ’80’s and was there for the win…good times and an amazing feat at Riverside since the tires were not that fast yet (heavy). Do you have any additional photos somewhere of the BFG 962’s? Thanks for the story! Ron Schneider
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your email. I’m glad that you enjoyed my BFGoodrich /Porsche 962 posting. I would imagine that you and your fellow tire engineers had an amazing time helping develop the BFG racing tires, especially on one of Porsches all time great race cars.
I do have other images of both the #67 & #68 BFG Porsches that I did not use. What exactly are you looking for?
If you let me know, I can look for any specific images that you are interested in.
Thanks again for your email, and I’ll look forward to your response.
Regards,
Chris
Hello Chris,
Outstanding, well-constructed and educated narration of this spectacular race.
I too remember this exceptional victory for our team and my father Jim Busby. Are you the photographer that captured the One-Two finish shot that went up as posters in nearly every tires shop?
Thank you and kind regards,
Rebecca Busby
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you for your email.
The race weekend that I wrote about, and your father’s teams 1-2 victory is one of my fondest memories of all the IMSA races over the years that I had the pleasure of photographing.
In regards to your questions about the 1-2 victory finish photo, I’m afraid the shot you refer to was the work of another photographer. I am however the artist behind the black and white drawing that your father has in his office; the drawing in question shows your father in his driving suit and helmet, sitting behind the wheel of his Porsche 935 with an opened door. The original source of the image for my drawing was taken from a test session that your father had invited my dad and I to photograph for him out at Riverside raceway, on the day of the initial shake down test of his red, AIR bodied Porsche 935.
This particular blog post has also received the most reader feedback. I’ve heard from several of the crew members from your dads BFGoodrich race team, as well as from several of the BFGoodrich racing tire engineers, and one of the coolest responses I received came from your dad.
Thank you again for you kind email. It’s especially cool to have received a response from the daughter of Jim Busby.
Sincerely,
Chris Florin
Blast from the past great article nice to recap on a great weekend from so long ago the photos are brilliant.
Phil,
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed my post and photos from that weekend.
That was such an amazing event for your team, BF Goodrich and Porsche, scoring a 1,2 sweep at Riverside.
It’s always been one of my favorite race memories from back in the IMSA days.
Regards,
Chris
Jim i left a reply on this blog but in case you do not see it, I now own #67 Chassis 106. It is in the good hands of Bob Russo in Maryland. Paint all stripped, being refurbished and re-invigorated and will be driven again in vintage races in 2013. Feel free to email: Gary Kachadurian Gary@kach55.com
Pete halsmer is my vintage co driver in a 66 lotus cortina
Thank you. I hope you are finding my blog and photos of interest.
Regards,
Chris
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I’m glad that you found my post on the BF Goodrich Porsche 962 /Jim Busby Racing team of interest.
Regards,
Chris
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Jim (and all) I am now the happy owner of #67 (chassis 106). It is in the good hands of Bob Russo in Maryland being stripped of all paint, rehabbed, renewed and re-invigorated and will be on track at vintage races again in 2013.
Feel free to email: Gary@kach55.com
Hi Gary,
Thank you for the email and congratulations.
The #67 BF Goodrich /Jim Busby Racing Porsche 962 was an amazing car. Great to hear that you are the new owner and will be restoring it for vintage racing.
Should you need any reference photos to use during its restoration, please let me know, I would be glad to help you out.
Regards,
Chris
Hello Chris,
I came across your blog site by accident while searching Google for historical BFGoodrich racing information. As a fan of the IMSA GTP era, BFG racer in the 90’s, and now Motorsport Manager for the brand I would love to have your permission to use some of your historic 962 photos on our new BFGoodrichRacing.com website launched in July.
I’ve been waiting to see Gary’s restoration of one of the 962 cars ever since he brought it to my attention back in the summer of 2012.
All the best-
Peter
Motorsport Manager
BFGoodrich Tires
Hi Peter,
Wow…thank you for your email. I’m honored that you would like to use some of my photos of the Jim Busby BFGoodrich Porsche 962 race cars (#67 & #68), that I featured in my blog.
In exchange for the use of my images, I would simply request that photographic credit accompanies my images.
I will forward you my contact information via your corporate email address, so that we can further discuss your request.
Thank you and Regards,
Chris
Hi,
This is the first time I have seen this online.
Great race for us. The 68 car was leading by a few seconds with a few laps to go when it broke the skirt off a piston. Since it was leading at the time we decided to slow both cars to try for the 1-2 finish. We were afraid the if we pushed the 68 would break while defending.
Finished 1-2, 4 tenths of a second apart. tough decision, because I was driving the 67 car!
Thanks,
Jim Busby
Hi Jim,
Thank you for your response. I hope my blog post was successful in presenting an accurate account of the race weekend and your teams 1-2 victory.
I don’t know if you made the connection, or happened to recognized any of the images from my blog, but I am the same photographer and artist (Chris Florin) who provided you with many of the photos from your IMSA races over the years at Riverside, Laguna Seca and Sears Point, and who also created the black and white photo-real drawing of you in your red Porsche 935 with the A.I.R. bodykit; (my dad and I were know back then as Florin Photographics).
I’m still involved with photography and design, and with the creation of my blog, I have been able to stay involved in the car culture here in Southern California. I even think I may have seen your former co-driver Rick Knoop at Cars&Coffee/Irvine on several Saturday mornings, driving a black 1932 ford hot rod.
I usually attend the Cars&Coffee/Irvine event on a weekly basis, and would welcome the opportunity should you ever attend, to visit with you.
Also thank you for sharing your first person perspective and the details above regarding your teams 1-2 finish.
Regards,
Chris Florin
Good Morning,
I am Emanuele from Kidston in Geneva. We are very interested in you pictures. Could you please let us know your email address so we could contact you?
Many thanks,
Regards,
Emanuele – Kidston SA
Hi Emanuele,
Thank y ou for your email and interest in my Jim Busby posting.
I can be reached by email at crflorin86@yahoo.com
Regards,
Chris
Hi There… I’d like to talk with you about possibly using some of your Jim Busby images for a print client. Please contact me as soon as you can. thanks!
Hi Richard,
Thank you for your email. I would be interested in discussing your request, however am currently in France for Le Mans. Will be back stateside June 23. Hope this will not be too late for your project. Please let me know if this will work for you.
Regards, Chris