The International Motor Racing Research Center has recently been gifted further items from the estate of the late John Fitch, an American automotive icon. Presented to the IMRRC by Fitch’s sons, John, Christopher and Stephen, with the assistance of Fitch motorsport historian Larry Berman, the items significantly enlarge the John Fitch Collection that was created at the Center in 1999, when papers were donated relating to his career as a safety designer and consultant, with particular emphasis on the Fitch Inertial Barrier and the displaceable guardrail.
“The collection reflects John Fitch’s remarkable and varied life as a talented international racecar driver, an innovative inventor of road and driver safety equipment, a designer of racing and production cars and an author who shared his exceptional story through his books,” said IMRRC archivist Jenny Ambrose.
“We are honored to serve as the largest historical repository of materials related to John Fitch. He is a critical figure during the exciting years of post-World War II international road and sports car racing,” Ambrose continued.
“His impact is felt outside racing circles through his contributions to road safety and automobile design. We look forward to sharing artifacts and papers that celebrate his life with researchers, visitors to the Center and racing fans.”
The Racing Research Center is an archival and research library dedicated to the preservation and sharing of the materials of motorsports, all series and all venues, worldwide. Researchers interested in the Fitch materials, or other materials in the Center’s collections, should contact Ambrose at jenny@racingarchives.org.
