Bill Rutan

Rutan was a frequent competitor in the Sports Car Club of America racing scene.

In 1954 Rutan competed in the SCCA National Sports Car Championship at Thompson Raceway.

Together with car owner William Brewster the duo attempted to win the S3.0 class in an Austin-Healey 100S.

In that era the race was competed according to FIA World Sportscar Championship regulations.

[4] In 1958 Rutan competed in a Volvo at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for sportscars.

The car was modified countless times as Rutan tried different body styles, engine positions, etc.

Facing professionally built sportscars such as the Aston Martin DBR2 and Jaguar D-Type the Porsche Special pulled off impressive results.

Tim O'Neil won the overall hillclimb almost two minutes faster than Rutan in a Volkswagen Golf Rallye.

Series presenter Wayne Carini raced the Porsche Special at the Grand Ascent in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in 2012.

In 1961 Riley and Rutan led the race but an extra pitstop dropped the Volvo PV544 entry to second place overall.

A year later, at the Runoffs at Riverside International Raceway, Rutan finished fourth with the underpowered Saab engine.

[21] In 1968 Rutan won the SCCA North East division Formula C championship beating Peter Rehl.

He also competed at the Lime Rock Grand Prix, part of the SCCA Continental Championship.

After graduating high school he joined the United States Army in the Korean War conflict.

He retired in 2014 as a master craftsman at Centerbrook Architects & Planners[23] and died on April 4, 2018, after a brief illness.