| Ron Grable did not fit the
normal profile of a race driver. Not only did he begin
his racing after graduating from college, he raced
sports cars, stock cars, formula cars, production
cars, IMSA Prototypes, Trans-Am and Can-Am cars. He
raced at tracks all over the United States, at Le
Mans, in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and South
America. Over the course of his three-decade career,
Grable won championships in sports cars, sedans and
formula cars. Throughout this period, he was an
engineer for several high-tech firms and a technical
writer for several well-known automobile, airplane and
motorcycle magazines. Oh, yes, he also operated a
restaurant and flew a Pitts Special Bi-Plane in
aerobatic competition. Clearly, Ron Grable was cut
from a different cloth.
Raised in Southern
California, after completing high school, Grable
enrolled at San Diego State in 1957 with aspirations
of becoming an engineer. During his college days,
there was nothing to indicate that a career in racing
was in his future. Upon graduating with an engineering
degree in 1961, Grable bought himself a graduation
present—a Porsche Speedster. Unbeknownst to him,
this vehicle would become much more than just daily
transportation.
Grable moved to Arizona and
took up residence with several friends. His new
roommates also owned Speedsters and were involved in
autocross competition. It wasn’t long before Grable
took up this sport in his Speedster and enjoyed the
experience. He did well enough to earn an award at the
state autocross championship…a paid entry to the
local SCCA Drivers School. After passing the course,
Grable decided to enter a few local races in Arizona
and more races in Southern California. These first few
races were enough to whet his appetite for more
road-racing competition.
Relocation and First Racing
Success
In 1962, he accepted a job
offer from Westinghouse in Baltimore, Maryland, so he
packed up and moved to the East Coast with the
Speedster in tow. After settling into his new job and
residence, he resumed road racing in local SCCA races.
His first race was in April of 1963 at Virginia
International Raceway where he drove his Speedster to
a 3rd-place finish in E-production followed by a
1st-place two months later also at VIR.
The year 1964 would bring a
much busier race schedule with Grable competing in
events at VIR, Cumberland, Vineland, Reading,
Bridgehampton, Watkins Glen, and Thompson. With
several wins and other top finishes, he was Northeast
Division E-Production champion and was invited to the
first American Road Race of Champions at Riverside
where he finished 2nd in class. There was no turning
back now…he was fully hooked on racing!
The following year, Grable
continued racing his Speedster, but a new opportunity
surfaced during the season that would provide a
glimpse into the future. Quite out-of-the-blue, Grable
received a call from a Dodge factory representative
with an offer to co-drive a Plymouth Barracuda at the
12 hours of Marlboro. Due to an illness, one of the
original drivers could not participate, so when the
Dodge representative needed a local driver as a
replacement, Grable’s name was suggested and he was
offered the drive. With co-driver Nelson Sims, they
qualified the sedan 5th, then in the race, they
finished 1st in class and 8th overall. After the race,
the Dodge rep offered Grable his first sponsorship in
the form of a car, parts, and expenses. There was only
one catch…he’d have to move to the West Coast.
While mulling over this offer, Grable continued racing
his Speedster and did well enough to finish the 1965
E-Production season in 4th place.
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