SideXSide Action - January 2008 - (Page 49) B I O MIKE FOLLMER Growing up in the fast paced world of professional motor sports has proven to be an excellent training ground for Mike Follmer. Coming from a racing family that includes his Uncle, the world famous Auto Racing Hall of Famer, George Follmer, Mike was not even able to drive when he started receiving his hands-on experience as a crew member for a variety of motor racing teams. At the age of sixteen, his desire to compete drove Mike into the bruising, physically demanding and ultra competitive sport of motocross racing. Immediate success as a high school motocross champion was pivotal to his being asked to ride as a professional with the Maico Motorcycle Motocross Racing Team. Completion of the Jim Russell International Driving School in England launched Mike into his auto-racing career. A fourth place finish in the competitive E-Production Class of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) firmly established Mike as a serious competitive driver. Opportunities soon arose for Mike in the Date of Bir th: November 16, 1955 Residence: Newpor t Beach, Califor nia Occupation: Business Owner - Mike Follmer Specialties field of racing management. He worked with Roger Penske’s - International Race of Champions (IROC), the U.S. Racing Team and The American Spirit Racing Team in the SCCA Can-Am series, in addition to several Super-Vee teams. Mike also possesses unusual experience for a driver in that he has worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, a major racing supplier and sponsor. Due to this record of involvement, Mike has first-hand awareness and experience on all facets of the motor racing coin, representing familiarity with the motivation behind sponsorship and the racing industry. In 1978, Mike returned to racing, immediately scoring impressive victories, winning eight of eleven races in Formula SuperVee. That record secured the SCCA Formula Super-Vee - Regional Championship for Mike. The next season, progressing to the new Formula Continental Class, Mike again proved his racing heritage and prowess by winning five of the seven events, and earning the SCCA - Southern Pacific National Championship title. The mantle of this championship qualified Mike to compete for the 1979 SCCA National Championship at the annual Runoffs at Road Atlanta in Georgia. Mike finished an impressive third in a field of the finest drivers in America. professional competition, Mike decided to apply his vast knowledge of motorsports and utilize his many connections garnered from years of traveling the racing circuit, to found his racing-oriented specialty promotion company, Mike Follmer Specialties. In 1983, Mike was invited to compete in the Toyota, Veteran-Rookie Race at Riverside Raceway driving identically prepared Toyota Celicas against a field of veteran race car drivers and rookies. He finished fifth in the field of twelve. He entered and won his first race as a beginner on a YAMAHA 701 Raider in San Felipe, Mexico on October 29, 1994. Starting in 1995, Mike founded Mike Follmer Watersports, and campaigned in the International Jet Sports Boating Association (“IJSBA”) Region 1 - Offshore Championship Series where he finished second in the novice class. In 1996, utilizing his past automotive team experience, Mike formed a team and jumped up in class to race as an expert and finish second overall in the LongCourse series, fifth overall in the 785 GranPrix series and third overall in the 1200 Open GranPrix series. 1997 found Mike finishing fourth overall in the GranPrix series and second overall in the LongCourse series. Was recognized for his organizational and team building expertise by being awarded the prestigious “Image Maker of the Year Award.” In 1998, Mike signed a contract and became a factory rider with YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION. With his new factory backing, he competed in three separate series and placed fourth overall in the LongCourse series, second in the GranPrix series and fourth overall in the Oval series, as well as placed second in class at the Laughlin Challenge. In 1999, Mike, again under contract with the YAMAHA Factory, finished the year third in the GranPrix Series, seventh in the LongCourse Series and thirteenth out of one hundred and twenty riders for the absolute overall competition. 1999 also saw Mike being awarded the “Image Maker of the Year Award” for an unprecedented second time. To see Mike Follmer’s complete BIO log onto our website @ www.sidexsideaction.com and read more about his career achievements and view more photos! Graduating to professional racing in 1981, Mike ran for the Bosch/Super-Vee Championship title. This same year, Mike expanded his behindthe-wheel experience to sedan racing, where he proved that sedan racing was not an obstacle to success either. Among a variety of sedans, Mike co-drove with his uncle in a factorybacked Toyota Celica, competing in the IMSA - Camel GT series. The pair finished fifth in the Pabst 500 at Road Atlanta in 1981. During this year of WWW.SIDEXSIDEACTION.COM 49 http://www.sidexsideaction.com http://WWW.SIDEXSIDEACTION.COM
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