The Petersen Automotive Museum is set to celebrate one of the greatest American racers; George Follmer.
“He’s won about everything he’s been in at one time or another.”
—Parnelli Jones, About His Friend & Former Teammate George Follmer.
For its fourteenth year of celebrating Legends of Motorsport, the Petersen Automotive Museum, along with the Checkered Flag 200 Group, will present a very special “Tribute to George Follmer” program to be held at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles on Thursday, November 8, beginning with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. Certain to be a memorable dinner event for all who join the Petersen’s prominent guests, friends and colleagues, the evening’s festivities include a gallery display of George Follmer-centric race cars and memorabilia generously supported by eminent collectors.
The tribute will brim with stories about George. Forty years ago, Trans-Am Champion Follmer, subbing for Mark Donahue, was under pressure going into Mid-Ohio’s Can-Am race to drive Roger Penske’s 5.4-liter twin-turbo Porsche 917/10, while the car’s L&M sponsor coined a promotional button “Let George Do It!” The mantra stuck and fan fervor soared. Follmer drove the bristly 917, heeding team boss Penske’s pit signal to keep going in his lead while others pitted for rain tires. Follmer won the race, inspiring media scribes to brand him “George Am.” He finished out 1972 as series champion in Trans-Am and Can-Am—the only driver to win both series titles in the same year.
Of his upcoming tribute night at the Petersen, Follmer says, “I would like it to be a good time for everybody, because there aren’t too many times at this point in our lives that we’re all going to be together.” Follmer himself was lucky to survive a horrendous crash during qualifying for Laguna Seca’s Can-Am race in 1978, and George will tell about it.
The Petersen’s program will begin with no-host cocktails and a Museum presentation that includes cars and collected memorabilia representing George Follmer’s life in motor-racing. The buffet dinner follows, then a multi-monitor video screening compiled of filmed and still photo highlights from George’s extraordinary competition years. Renowned drivers and Follmer’s friends we all recognize or have read about will be introduced to tell some of their best stories from knowing George Follmer, with the tribute evening hosted and moderated by Master of Ceremonies Bill Stephens. Among the VIP guests who’ve been invited are Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, John Morton, Tony Adamowicz and a number of other familiar names from George Follmer’s racing past.
Because the Petersen Museum’s tributes are routinely capacity audience sell-outs, early ticket purchase is a must for those who don’t want to miss this “Tribute to George Follmer.” To guarantee admission for this gathering, or for more information on the event at the Petersen Automotive Museum, please call Sarah Hill (323) 964-6325, or Paul Moritz (323) 964-6359. Reserved ticket purchase is priced at $125 per person for Museum Members, $150 for non-members. Ticket price includes buffet dinner, the evening’s complete program, and parking. A cash bar will be available. Tickets are not mailed; “Tribute to George Follmer” reservations will be held at the Petersen Museum door. Tickets may also be purchased online through the Museum’s website at www.petersen.org.
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90036-3605, with enclosed Museum parking entrance just south of Wilshire on Fairfax Avenue. This “Tribute to George Follmer” one-night event is industry sponsored and brought to you by the avid Checkered Flag 200 members of the Petersen Automotive Museum. For more general Museum information, call 323-930-CARS (2277).