Robinson Sets
Sights on
Motorola Cup
Anthony Robinson has been racing
since 1976, when he started in the
sprint karting program. His father,
Gerald, was also a racer, so it’s no won
der that the younger Robinson picked
up the hobby. Now Robinson is all
grown up and racing in the Sport Car
Club of America (SCCA) circuit in a
1995 Acura Integra GS-R. He’s spon
sored by Shockteck of Pennsylvania;
Comptech USA; American Honda of
California; Brim Imports; Golden
Graphics from Ohio and Nemesis
Sportswear of Chicago. His racing
record last year was 19 wins out of 31
entries.
Robinson will continue this year on
the SCCA circuit, but says he’s ready
for the Motorola Cup Pro Series. He’s
currently courting sponsors, that is,
Anthony Robinson (center) with dad, Gerald Robinson, and crew member Blair Judson.
when he’s not working with kids.
Robinson, who has degrees in mechan
ical engineering and industrial design,
talks to children all the time, encourag
ing safe driving and persuading some to
consider careers in the motorsports
industry.
Malcom Durham -No. 48 of NHRA’s 50 Greatest D rivers
Evoking memories of the
entrance of Jackie Robinson into
major league baseball, the National
Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has
recognized
African
American
Malcolm Durham as a drag racing
superstar. The NHRA move publicly
acknowledges blacks’ involvement
in the long history of drag racing.
Born in Goldsboro, N.C., before
moving to Washington D.C.,
Malcom has had many successes on
drag strips throughout the country.
Piloting Chevelles, Camaros and
Vegas during his victorious career,
Malcolm Durham, with his long line
of Chevy Strip Blazers, was well
known throughout the drag racing
world.
From 1957 to 1984, Durham
competed with joyful enthusiasm,
receiving standing ovations wherev
H7iv C an't
We A ll Just Ruckle U p?
er he raced. Battling on the East
Coast against the likes of
DonNicholson, Sox and Martin, the
Ram chargers, Hayden Proffitt, and
Bill Jenkins, Durham was "the"
drawing card, winning most of his
races.
Durham’s first appearance on the
West Coast was in California at
Lions Dragstrip. The crowd went
wild with his long, smoky half-track
burnouts. And though he was a
quiet man, Durham had to adopt
public mannerisms to warrant his
nickname, "D.C. Lip," given to him
by racing promoters.
Lack of corporate sponsorship
finally forced Durham to quit rac
ing, but he’s finally gotten the
recognition he deserves.
—
CJ. Patterson
For updates on Robinson's racing
season,
visit
our
web
site:
www.onwheelsinc.com. To contact him
for more information, call 1-800-221-
3874.
— Jacqueline M itchell
AfM IM Needs You
The Association for Minorities in
Motorsports(AFMIM), a nonprofit
organization, has been developed to
encourage minority participation in
NASCAR and other aspects of the
motorsports industry. Its formation
was motivated by NASCAR’s recent
introduction of the NASCAR
Diversity Council, an overture aimed
at welcoming African Americans and
other minorities into racing. The
NASCAR council includes racing
greats like Ricky Rudd, Jeff Gordon
and Bill Lester.
For its part, AFMIM wants to
bridge the gap between the motor
sports and minority communities,
and plans to educate its members on
opportunities the motorsports indus
try offers.
For more information, call 336-
209-7084.
April/May 2001