26 replies to this topic

[Tom Glowacki]

From the Road America website:

 

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., – October 11, 2024 – Road America is saddened to announce the passing of August “Augie” Pabst Jr. on October 9, 2024, at 90. Pabst leaves behind a legacy both on and off the track, celebrated for his remarkable racing career and dedicated service to the motorsports community.

A great-grandson of Milwaukee brewing legends, Pabst embarked on a ten-year racing journey that included two national championships: the 1959 USAC Road Racing Championship and the 1960 SCCA Championship. He quickly became a charismatic and beloved figure in American sports car racing, competing in iconic vehicles such as the Ferrari TR, Birdcage Maserati, and the Meister Brauser Scarab. 

Pabst’s illustrious career also saw him race in the legendary Road America 500, securing victories in 1962 and 1963, among many other achievements. After a brief hiatus due to a crash in 1962, Pabst returned to racing, continuing to make his mark on the sport. Following his retirement from professional racing, Pabst remained a significant presence in the motorsports world, contributing to Road America’s growth and success as a Board Member. 

Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2011, Augie Pabst’s passion for motorsports never waned. His legacy continues through his family, with his son, August Pabst III, managing the Pabst Racing Team, which recently celebrated the 2024 USF2000 Championship.

The entire Road America family extends its heartfelt condolences to the Pabst family during this time. Augie Pabst will forever be remembered for his extraordinary contributions to racing and his unwavering dedication to the sport. 

Further details and his obituary can be found at this link: https://www.pagenkop...st-Augie-Pabst?

 

[Ray Bell]

Quite a memorable name...

 

To be honest, I was surprised to see he had lived this long, but good for him.

 

And especially good that he continued to contribute to the sport, that he did so at Road America is no surprise, the place seemed to suit him.

[D28]

Augie Pabst was a very important part of the classic US road racing era. Though his career was short, just 10 years, he packed a lot of achievements into that time frame.

 

A summary of his career here:

 

http://slotblog.net/...t-jr-1933-2024/

[B Squared]

I was fortunate to meet Mr. Pabst through Michael Argetsinger at Road America in 2010. He was very kind and it's sad that he is gone, but what a life. Condolences to his family and friends.

[E1pix]

This one really hits home, and will elaborate this weekend.

RIP, Augie.

[Richard Jenkins]

A good man. The kindness, time and support he gave me with the Richie Ginther book will never be forgotten.

Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[WINO]

With a keen sense of humor. He called me once, saying "Willem, it's August" and yes, it was the month of August when he called.

[d j fox]

Sad news I remember his stirring drives in the Mecom Lola Mk 6 at Brands Hatch August Bank Holiday Guards Trophy races in 1963 & 64
Condolences to family and friends

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Awww... 

 

So sorry to learn this.  Saw Augie drive a number of times at Mosport.  Most memorable was his McLaren M1A being burned to the waterline in the 1965 Canadian GP.

 

RIP.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Thanks for letting us know, Tom.  
 

He was truly one of those who achieved a lot, without a lot of fanfare.

 

I saw him race only once, Sebring, 1963.  It was a typically excellent performance. Teamed with Roger Penske he scored a GT class win and an outstanding 4th over all in the Mecom Racing Ferrari 250GTO. 
 

A long life, well lived.  R.I.P. 

[Tom Glowacki]

He must have been the last living link to the Cunningham team.  I have his autograph on the poster from the 2008 Scarab Reunion at Elkhart Lake, which is hung on the wall above my monitor..

[Tim Murray]

(posted on behalf of Willem Oosthoek; his words follow)

Nassau, December 1959. Although only briefly, Augie is leading the Nassau Trophy race with Harry Heuer's Meister Brauser Bocar.

[Tim Murray]

(more from Willem)

The inaugural Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Seca in October 1960 was probably one of Augie's best races. Driving the Meister Brauser Scarab, he dropped out in heat 1 due to brake failure and was forced the start the 2nd heat 22nd on the grid. By mid-race Augie had worked himself up to second overall in a highly competitive field, gaining on the leading Lotus 19 of Stirling Moss. He finished heat 2 in second, only 16 seconds behind Moss on a track that did not really suit the Scarab.

[Doug Nye]

I remember his driving the Mecom Lola GT in the 1964 Guards Trophy.  I was in awe of that visiting American platoon, Pabst, A.J. Foyt, Walt Hansgen and (driving for Elva) Charlie Hayes.  The metallic blue Lola with its Chevvy engine seemed just incredibly exotic.  I never met any of them, but recall them all with great respect.  

 

DCN

[68targa]

I regret not going to the Guards Trophy in 1964 to see these top American drivers but I did get to the TT two weeks later to witness Gurney and Phill Hill in Daytona Cobras.   I had to wait another 40 years to see Augie Pabst when he came to the Goodwood Revival and drove the Willment Cobra Coupe.  I managed to have a brief chat with him when he signed his portriat in an Art Evans book for me and he seemed to be a very nice person.  I believe he never raced in Europe other than at Le Mans and the two Brands Hatch races which probably accounts for why he was not as well known in the UK as some other US drivers although he deserved to be.

[klemcoll]

I  very much enjoyed knowing Augie who was true gentleman, both as a man and on the track. We had one race against each other at Elkhart where I was able to hold him off at the flag with his fabulous Scarab, but perhaps he helped me bit.  May God bless you, RIP.

[bradbury west]

I have finally done something I planned to do ages ago. I have purchased the Robert Birmingham Augie  Pabst Behind the Wheel, published by Dalton Watson, from the ever efficient  specialist-book-supplies (sic)  formerly Chaters, at a very modest price for such a work. Good quality narrative,  from, by and about the right people, abounding in marvellous reproduction  period photographs, it ticks all the boxes for me, especially as there is lots of material about the Lola GT and Scarabs plus  Mecom Racing. Proper job…. It reflects his very full racing life. 
As an aside, one of the first pictures I saw  as I skimmed through  the book was of  AP with his “cousin and mentor”  Dave Uihlein. It really was a small world.

Recommended.

Roger Lund

[WINO]

I received a complimentary copy at the time for supplying a number of photos of Augie, including the one on the cover. That one was taken by my friend the late Jim LaTourrette, although no credit appeared in the book.

 

It is an excellent book, but a lot of credit should have gone to the late Tom Schultz, who did extensive proofreading and rewrites, and who, based on the amount of work he did, should have been listed as Bob Birmingham's co-author.

Edited by WINO, 23 October 2024 - 17:54.

[Doug Nye]

Good Lord - I never knew that Dave Uihlein ("Eeline") was Augie Pabst's cousin.  I knew Dave towards the end of his car collecting life, and was involved when he offered his GP Mors for sale by auction with Bonhams at Carmel, California.  Dave was a pretty hard-bitten tough and crusty character who could be wonderfully entertaining when so disposed, and his deep knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, his collected cars shone brightly.  

 

He insisted upon driving his big Mors up onto the Sale ramp and he had a trio of his old-time Indy mechanic mates to assist.  Each one seemed a literally grizzled veteran, scarred and battered and one I think with the tops of some fingers missing.  The four of them looked like Racers straight out of central casting.  I thought they were just great.

 

When Robert Brooks announced the Mors, we push-started it and with a tremendous roar and to-do it fired up, ear-splittingly blasting out huge clouds of blue smoke.  Dave gave it a load of throttle, dropped the clutch and did a near drag start up the ramp.  He heaved on the handbrake to stop it on the flat up top. Then, to impress potential buyers in the packed audience, he gave it two or three more great jabs of throttle, with the huge 4-cyl engine thundering its heart out.  Then one last great big theatrical rev and ... BANG!  Huge clatter from the engine, smoke blasted from every pore, and...abrupt silence.

 

In that silence the smoke mushroom rose slowly to the floodlights in the ceiling of the huge Sale marquee, Dave coughed once or twice in the fog - and RB launched the sale.  The old lady had just coughed its last in full public view - but despite the immensely obvious serious mechanical failure (it had thrown a rod) it sold well - and passed into the tenderly sympathetic care of the Collier Collection - today's Revs Institute - to be revived, restored and to run again.  

 

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 23 October 2024 - 22:11.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Good Lord - I never knew that Dave Uihlein ("Eeline") was Augie Pabst's cousin.  I knew Dave towards the end of his car collecting life, and was involved when he offered his GP Mors for sale by auction with Bonhams at Carmel, California.  Dave was a pretty hard-bitten tough and crusty character who could be wonderfully entertaining when so disposed, and his deep knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, his collected cars shone brightly.  

 

He insisted upon driving his big Mors up onto the Sale ramp and he had a trio of his old-time Indy mechanic mates to assist.  Each one seemed a literally grizzled veteran, scarred and battered and one I think with the tops of some fingers missing.  The four of them looked like Racers straight out of central casting.  I thought they were just great.

 

When Robert Brooks announced the Mors, we push-started it and with a tremendous roar and to-do it fired up, ear-splittingly blasting out huge clouds of blue smoke.  Dave gave it a load of throttle, dropped the clutch and did a near drag start up the ramp.  He heaved on the handbrake to stop it on the flat up top. Then, to impress potential buyers in the packed audience, he gave it two or three more great jabs of throttle, with the huge 4-cyl engine thundering its heart out.  Then one last great big theatrical rev and ... BANG!  Huge clatter from the engine, smoke blasted from every pore, and...abrupt silence.

 

In that silence the smoke mushroom rose slowly to the floodlights in the ceiling of the huge Sale marquee, Dave coughed once or twice in the fog - and RB launched the sale.  The old lady had just coughed its last in full public view - but despite the immensely obvious serious mechanical failure (it had thrown a rod) it sold well - and passed into the tenderly sympathetic care of the Collier Collection - today's Revs Institute - to be revived, restored and to run again.  

 

DCN

Very evocative description of the scene, Doug.  But for the mechanical mayhem I would have laughed out loud. 

[FastReader]

I have finally done something I planned to do ages ago. I have purchased the Robert Birmingham Augie  Pabst Behind the Wheel, published by Dalton Watson, from the ever efficient  specialist-book-supplies (sic)  formerly Chaters, at a very modest price for such a work. Good quality narrative,  from, by and about the right people, abounding in marvellous reproduction  period photographs, it ticks all the boxes for me, especially as there is lots of material about the Lola GT and Scarabs plus  Mecom Racing. Proper job…. It reflects his very full racing life. 
As an aside, one of the first pictures I saw  as I skimmed through  the book was of  AP with his “cousin and mentor”  Dave Uihlein. It really was a small world.

Recommended.

Roger Lund

Remarkably, Dalton Watson still have copies of the signed edition for sale.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Remarkably, Dalton Watson still have copies of the signed edition for sale.

I couldn’t find a way to purchase it on the web site, unless the signed edition is $99.

[FastReader]

I couldn’t find a way to purchase it on the web site, unless the signed edition is $99.

Yes, the signed edition is $99 (plus p&p) and has to be a bargain at that price. The standard edition is listed separately at $79. Just hit the "Add to Cart" button on the link on my post and then a small window with "View Cart" will pop up and you can proceed from there.

[B Squared]

I've been going through a bunch of old Ferrari Club of America Prancing Horses and came across this Elkhart Lake archive photo showing Mr. Pabst and Walt Hansgen after winning the 1964 Road America 500 in John Mecom's 250 LM Ferrari

[D28]

I've been going through a bunch of old Ferrari Club of America Prancing Horses and came across this Elkhart Lake archive photo showing Mr. Pabst and Walt Hansgen after winning the 1964 Road America 500 in John Mecom's 250 LM Ferrari
 

A brand new 250 LM, Augie picked up the car at Milwaukee airport and drove directly to Road America; the car was still in Ferrari red.

[tampaguy]

I have attended hundreds of races beginning in 64 through the late 90’s. I also had access to the pits the majority of the time. I never remember ever seeing a driver smile like Augie. RIP knowing you left behind many great memories for those left behind.

[Tom Glowacki]

I am reminded of him everytime I drive to Milwaukee, right past the Pabst Farms sign right on I-94.