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 OUR MAN AT THE RACES

Although many of the museum’s Board members have racing history behind them, a few continue to participate. Among them is the building’s Construction Project Manager Dave Patten.  Later this month, he’ll bring his Datsun 510 vintage racer to Road Atlanta for the 41^st running of “The Mitty.” “It’s a ‘Bucket List’ track, Patten says. Patten has been spectator at Road Atlanta but this will be his first time there as a driver. He’ll compete in four 25-minute sprint races over the April 27-29 weekend including a Nissan-only Featured Marque race on Saturday.

The weekend is sanctioned by Historic Sportscar Racing which also sanctions the historic Daytona 24 hour and Sebring Historic races. Nissan, formerly known as Datsun, is bringing numerous historically significant cars to the event. Comedian Adam Corolla, who has accumulated the world’s strongest collection of Paul Newman racing equipment, is bringing a car raced by the late champion driver, actor and philanthropist.

Championship driver John Morton will be the event’s Grand Marshal. He will race a reproduction of his 1971 SCCA C Production Championship Datsun 240Z. Morton won multiple championships in TransAm and IMSA GTP driving Nissan products.

Board Member Paul Giblin will be part of Patten’s crew.

Photo is from Indy and shows Patten about to make the Miata driver in front of his 11th victim of the race.