He was the longtime executive editor at Car and Driver magazine—and contributed to The Washington Post, Playboy, The American Spectator, Boating, Vintage Motorsports, as well as other publications.
[6][7] He was survived by his wife, Pamela, sons Brock, Jr., and Daniel, a daughter, Claire Lilly, stepdaughter, Stacy Bradley and three grandchildren.
Beginning with his 1968 critique of the American auto industry, its management, and its products: "The Grosse Pointe Myopians," Yates established a recurring theme in his nonfiction work that American automotive management had grown arrogant, lost touch with its markets, and failed to respond to changing public needs/tastes, technology, and energy/environmental concerns.
He was a commentator on racing and vintage cars at various points between 1995 and 2013 for the Speed Channel, a U.S. cable affiliate of Fox Sports.
Conceived by Yates and fellow Car and Driver editor Steve Smith, the first run was intended both as a celebration of the United States Interstate Highway System and as a protest against strict traffic laws coming into effect at the time.
"[12] The first competitive race was won by Brock and Formula One and Le Mans winner Dan Gurney in a Sunoco blue Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona.
The event has continued on in the form of the Tire Rack One Lap of America Presented by Grassroots Motorsport Magazine.
Yates also wrote the screenplay for The Cannonball Run (1981)[15] film with the intention of giving the lead role to Steve McQueen.