John Paul, COM member from the '60s

[eastcoastbumps]

I was going through the COM history page and decided to google this guy to see if he was still around. Cool to think a COM member was World Endurance Champ. After reading his bio on wikipedia, I'm not sure I would trust him as COM treasurer.

You could make a movie about this guys life!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul, ... ng_driver)
http://www.comscc.org/about-com/history/

[rousespointer]

I saw him race once in a SCCA Nationals race at Watkins Glen in 1970 with his big block cobra. In those days you could walk out to the guardrails on the back stretch and almost lean out and touch the cars whizzing by. The next day was the Trans Am race, and I was awaiting the classic Parnelli Jones and Mark Donohue shoot-out. In the end Vic Elford won the race by not changing back to dry tires (I had never heard of Vic Elford before). interestingly, John Paul was friends with Paul Choiniere in Burlington, VT who was running a Saab-Jensen-Alfa dealership with John Buffum (the rally guy). Yes I did indeed buy a couple of Alfas. Paul Choiniere still has an exotic car dealership next to the main dealership (now Mazda) which his son (Paul Jr) operates, and also ran rally cars.

[grovefromnh]

I know both John Paul and Jr. Senior was VERY intense. not the kind of guy you''d turn your back on. Junior was very 'creative' in financing his pro racing. I think he is still in Levenworth.

[chaos4NH]

I remember the Unsolved Mystery episode about him. Interesting guy.