Robert Gage Lesnett (born 27 September 1953) is a former Sportscar and

Formula racing Formula racing, also known as open-wheel racing in North America, is any of several forms of open-wheeled single-seater motorsport. A "formula", first devised by FIA for its post–World War II single-seater races, is a set of regulations for ...

driver, team owner and

race engineer A race engineer is a motorsport team member who analyses data to achieve the best performance from the vehicle and driver. The race engineer communicates with the team's data analyst, mechanics, and driver, both between and during races. Off the ...

. With 14 championships, over 60 career wins, Lesnett's career spanned the most competitive amateur open wheel series (Formula Ford, Sports 2000 and F2000) and includes numerous professional accomplishments including winning the

24 Hours of Daytona The 24 Hours of Daytona, also known as the Rolex 24 At Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car racing, sports car Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Flo ...

and a driver and engineer, winning the Sebring 12 hours and SCCA National, Divisional and Regional Championships.

Racing career

Bob Lesnett started racing just out of college in formula V, and quickly progressed into regional Formula Ford Racing. In 1980 he founded Pfeiffer Ridge Racing, a full service support shop for Formula Ford, Atlantic, F2000 and Sports 2000 competitors. As a driver his break-through championship came in 1982, in the hard-fought San Francisco Region Formula Ford class. Numerous Regional and West Coast championships followed, culminating with his first National Championship in the S2000 class, in 1988. The West Coast–based driver first appeared at the national level in 1986. Racing at the

SCCA National Championship Runoffs The SCCA National Championship Runoffs is the end-of-year championship race meeting for Sports Car Club of America Club Racing competitors. Divisional champions and other top drivers from the SCCA's 116 regions are invited to participate at the ...

Lesnett competed in the

Sports 2000 Sports 2000 is a restricted-rules class of two-seat, mid-engined, open-cockpit, full-bodied sports-prototype racecar used largely in amateur road racing. Sometimes known as S2000 or S2, the class was developed by John Webb, then of the Brands Ha ...

class. Lesnett finished his debut Runoffs race in sixth place competing in a

Lola Lola may refer to: Places * Lolá, a or subdistrict of Panama * Lola Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, United States * Lola Prefecture, Guinea * Lola, Guinea, a town in Lola Prefecture * Lola Island, in the Solomon Islands People * Lol ...

T86/90. Lesnett returned in 1988 winning a National Championship in the S2000 class with a

Swift Swift or SWIFT most commonly refers to: * SWIFT, an international organization facilitating transactions between banks ** SWIFT code * Swift (programming language) * Swift (bird), a family of birds It may also refer to: Organizations * SWIF ...

DB2. With Pfeiffer Ridge Racing Lesnett made his

IMSA GT Championship IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada. History The series was founded in 1969 by John and Peggy Bishop, and Bill ...

debut in the Camel Lights class.

Tom Blackaller Thomas David Blackaller Jr. (January 6, 1940 – September 7, 1989) was a world-champion American yachtsman, America's Cup helmsman, sailmaker, and racecar competitor. He was a two-time world champion in the Star class keelboat, a world champi ...

and Lesnett finished tenth overall at the final edition of the

Los Angeles Times Grand Prix The Los Angeles Times Grand Prix was a sports car race held at the Riverside International Raceway. The race was held throughout the track's existence, from 1957 until 1987. The race was sponsored by the ''Los Angeles Times'' to raise money for ...

. In 1988 Lesnett also won the American City Racing League, an S2000 based series. Over the years of his professional career Bob partnered outstanding drivers like Dan Marvin,

Parker Johnstone Parker Johnstone III (born March 27, 1961) is a former race car driver and motorsports announcer from Redmond, Oregon. An accomplished musician, he was the principal trumpet of the International Youth Orchestra, touring Europe, playing with Herb ...

, Steve Cameron, Doug Peterson. Also in 1988 Bob received the Motorsports Press Association Closed Wheel Driver of the Year Award. Also in 1988 he was recipient of the SCCA's Kimberly Cup, for the Outstanding Driver of the Year. Through the years Lesnett made a number of IMSA GT appearances. He made his debut in the

1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...

. Racing a

Ferrari Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello. Founded in 1939 by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), the company built Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, its first car in 1940, adopted its current name in 1945, and be ...

powered

Argo In Greek mythology, the ''Argo'' ( ; ) was the ship of Jason and the Argonauts. The ship was built with divine aid, and some ancient sources describe her as the first ship to sail the seas. The ''Argo'' carried the Argonauts on their quest fo ...

JM19B Lesnett was joined by Tom Phillips and Steve Johnson. The team failed to finish after 165 laps. Lesnett returned in 1991 finishing seventh overall in a factory entered

Acura Acura is the luxury and performance division of Japanese automaker Honda, based primarily in North America. The brand was launched on March 27, 1986, marketing luxury and performance automobiles. Acura sells cars in the United States, Canada, M ...

powered

Spice In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, Bark (botany), bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of pl ...

SE90P. The team finished seventh overall, first in the Lights class. Lesnett also made a one-off appearance in the 1991 IMSA Supercar Championship racing a

Consulier GTP The Consulier GTP is an American sports car that was produced by Consulier Industries between 1988 and 1993 and successfully used in professional racing. Consulier Industries spun off their automotive division into Mosler Automotive which then re ...

. Lesnett also competed in the inaugural

USF2000 The USF2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tire is an American racing series using an American variation of the Formula Ford standard, "F2000", that resumed operation for the 2010 season. As of 2022, it is sanctioned by the United States ...

championship and was successful with two victories, at

Mesa Marin Raceway Mesa Marin Raceway was a paved oval race track, located near the junction of California State Route 178, CA 178 and California State Route 184, CA 184 (Kern Canyon Road), east of Bakersfield, California, Bakersfield, California. It opened ...

and

Cajon Speedway Cajon Speedway was an oval race track near El Cajon, California. History Located between Gillespie Field and the San Vicente Freeway, the 0.25 mile dirt oval track opened in 1961. Named Cajon Speedway, the track expanded to a 0.375 mile dirt tr ...

. Lesnett was the runner up in the USAC sanctioned championship, behind Vince Puleo, Jr. For 1991 Lesnett raced a partial

Atlantic Championship The Atlantic Championship Series is an American open-wheel racing series with races throughout North America. It has previously been called Champ Car Atlantics, Toyota Atlantics (after its then engine supplier for sponsorship reasons), or just ...

campaign. At the Des Moines Street Circuit Lesnett scored his best result, finishing seventh. In 1993 Lesnett Founded Summit Motorsports, focused on supporting and engineering professional level competitors in Indy Lights (Doug Boyer driving). His engineering success culminated in 2003, as he engineered

Kevin Buckler Kevin Buckler (born c. 1959) is an American race car driver and entrepreneur. He founded Adobe Road Winery and currently owns The Racer's Group, a professional sports car racing team; TRG Motorsports, formerly a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team; an ...

, Michael Schrom, Timo Bernhard and

Jörg Bergmeister Jörg Bergmeister (born 13 February 1976 in Leverkusen) is a former racing driver from Germany and an ambassador of Porsche. His late father, Willi Bergmeister, owned a workshop and dealership where Michael Schumacher learned his trade as a ca ...

to an extraordinary overall win as all of the prototype competitors failed to finish.

Business, Karting and Vintage racing career

In 2004, Bob retired from active competition to found Lesnett Real Estate, a business he operates to the present. In 2007, and 2012 Bob entered and won the RedLine Karting Championship, where he won the 80cc Shifter Championship. In 2018 he made a return to Formula Ford Racing by entering the Crossflow Cup, Historic Formula Series in his restored Titan Mk 6, with which he has posted several podiums and CSRG club wins. In 2019 Lesnett competed in the Formula Ford group at the Rolex Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca. Out of 56 cars and drivers (which included pros Mikel Miller, Ethan Shippert, Danny Baker) Bob achieved a pole and win in the pre-reunion and P4 in qualifying for the Sunday Feature (he has a DNS due to a car fire on Sunday). in 2020 Bob finished P2 in the Crossflow Cup Historic Championship and was also the Masters Champion.

Motorsport results

SCCA and professional racing results and awards

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lesnett, Bob 12 Hours of Sebring drivers 1953 births 24 Hours of Daytona drivers Atlantic Championship drivers IMSA GT Championship drivers Living people Racing drivers from California SCCA National Championship Runoffs winners U.S. F2000 National Championship drivers