OnInnovation: Visionaries thinking out loud. A video oral history project advancing a culture of innovation powered by The Henry Ford.

Unser had automobile racing in his blood. His brother and uncles all raced, and two of them -- his Uncle Joe and his oldest brother, Jerry -- lost their lives in racing-related accidents. A driver as well, Unser's father was a respected mechanic with a garage on Route 66. From his earliest days racing modified passenger cars on dirt tracks near Albuquerque, Unser learned how to make things work on a shoestring and without buying the newest or best parts. This skill prepared Unser well for a career of continuous experimentation and refinement of virtually every aspect of automotive performance.

Like many race car drivers and automobile technicians, Bobby Unser recognized that every performance advantage, even a small one, could spell the difference between winning and losing. As a driver, he brought a hands-on perspective to his experiments in the shop. Despite never finishing high school, he instinctively applied the scientific method when solving technical problems. His systematic, intensely practical approach led to a quick, inexpensive method of measuring airflow under race cars, putting him at the forefront of the new aerodynamic development known as "ground effects."

Bobby Unser Enterprises
Wikipedia - Bobby Unser
Unser Racing Museum
Book "Winners Are Driven: A Champion's Guide to Success in Business & Life"

driver, Indianapolis 500, midget races, Pike's Peak, sprint cars, technician, racing