| My Formula 5000 |
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| Black American Racers, Inc. |
Black American Racers, Inc (BAR) was incorporated in 1973. It's driving
force was Leonard W. Miller and BAR's mission was to publish a
yearbook, to create a Black American Racers Day at a drag racing
facility, and to raise the visibility of black contributions that contributed to
the development of black racing and racers.
Coyle Peek, Randy Bethea and Benny Scott were just a few of the many
drivers who campaigned under BAR. Benny Scott being the most
prominent. Starting out in a Lola T324 Super Vee and moving into
F5000 cars. BAR's first F5000 event was the Long Beach Grand Prix in
1975. Benny finished 11th in his Lola T332 despite losing his clutch on
the 11th lap, and shifting without it for the remainder of the race.
Hoping for the same success at Laguna Seca wasn't going to happen.
Benny got in a bad shunt with Mario Andretti in a qualifying heat and
badly bent the monocoque thus ending the weekend. Lloyd's of London
insured the car on a race-to-race basis. The bill to replace the tub and
other pieces came to $45,000 The insurance policy paid off.
BAR's 1975 sponsorship with Viceroy cigarettes came to a sudden end
in the beginning of 1976. It's slipping sales had reduced it's work force
and no longer could justify it's sponsorship in the F5000 series. Mario
Andretti and Al Unser where also sponsored by Viceroy
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| Black American Racers, Inc Press Kit 1975 _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ |
Radio interview Leonard W. Miller & his son Leonard T. Miller recorded on 2/20/2010 |