We’ve been ruminating about Florida and cars associated with the esteemed Steve McQueen for a little bit now. Here’s another example: Amid the buildup for the Rolex 24 last week, a big part of the race’s history was entering a new chapter. Brumos Porsche of Jacksonville, Florida scored four overall wins in Daytona’s 24-hour race, most of them involving the legendary duo of the late Peter Gregg and co-driver Hurley Haywood. Gregg came to lead the dealership, now known as Porsche Jacksonville, before his untimely death. Last week, the Brumos Collection of historic racing cars opened its doors in Jacksonville, and there’s a McQueen-linked car involved.
Among the collection’s exhibits is this 1970 Porsche 917K prototype that had a star turn in McQueen’s famed cinematic racing epic, Le Mans. The collection gathers historically significant competition cars going back to the 1914 Peugeot L45, the pioneering Grand Prix car whose overhead-cam racing engine inspired designers from Harry A. Miller to Ettore Bugatti. It’s located in a new, dedicated building and ready for your visit. You’ve definitely got to check this important collection out. Tell Brumos that we sent you.
Jim Donnelly On Wheels 