A tribute to John Bishop

John Bishop nowadays

Charismatic leader of the IMSA of which he is the founder. John Bishop got tightly acquainted with auto racing while attending a race at Watkins Glen in 1950. After having worked at Sikorsky (the helicopters) then at Martin Company, he was contacted by Dave Allen, from the SCCA, with whom he wanted to purchase a Volkswagen. The latter spoke to him about a job which was vacant, which consisted in managing the SCCA Contest Board. John Bishop accepted and took his quarters in Westport, Connecticut. His career in automobile racing had just begun. His work consisted in setting up technical rules for the various classes of the SCCA. Much administrative work also awaited him (checking of the licences, recording of entries etc...). He got himself known in a world implied in auto racing and these relations would prove very useful in the future. He had good relations with Jim Kimberly, the President of the club and this, in spite of his rather unforeseeable character. In 1958, great changes were going to intervene within the SCCA where the elections of the leaders would occur in each local area. A new job was created: that of executive director, who would manage the whole staff. This one, Hugo Rush, was going to be at the root of the Dave Allen's departure. His relationship with Hugo Rush was not always good but these years spent with him were made profitable because he learned a lot. As soon as the tensions appeared, they only had to speak about aviation and everything would then be alright. He accumulated an incomparable experience. He was going indeed to show his qualities of manager, whenever it appeared at every level, management, troubles or dealing with people, he was always good at it. Later, the dissensions which would agitate the SCCA would later lead to Hugo Rush's departure. The most important point in these discussions was to know if it were or not necessary to step into professionalism. John Bishop would be propelled then to the rank of executive director. Responsible for the new Pro program within the SCCA, he was charged to rewrite considerable technical rules, a task of which he was obviously particularly gifted. Also charged of the amateur program, he was overwhelmed with numerous tasks, but never to surrender. From 1962, the SCCA would be charged to manage the races of the World Championship for Makes with the three top races : Daytona, Sebring, Bridgehampton and Watkins Glen with the US Grand Prix. The creation of the USRRC championship for sports cars also showed his tenacity to recover the races "stolen" by the USAC. His diary more than was provided at that time and he proved he had fantastic working capacities. The SCCA was on the good way and the creation of the Trans Am and the Can Am showed that the club was on the good way. He helped these two series at their beginning. John Bishop took part in the development of part of the rules. He was also member of many technical commissions, those being primarily centered on the installation of technical rules for all types of cars. The influence of the SCCA, at this time, was at its paroxysm. In 1968, members in charge of the management of the Can Am, Trans Am and USRRC let know that they wished to get more autonomy, and John Bishop, as a burning defender of the system then in place, placed himself like the principal opponent. The quarrels then became more personal. In 1969, the staff, helped by some personalities, decided in their favour. Consequently, John Bishop had nothing more to do but one alternative: he resigned. He found himself then personaly implied and decided to think about his future. In fact, this period really was to change his future because he accepted a call from Bill France, the owner of the NASCAR, who invited him at Daytona "to drink Scotch, go fishing and discuss", dixit Bill. This last knew that John had left the SCCA and he wished to create his own organization. In fact, many circuits were in construction at the time and it was necessary to promote new events... and to create a new series. The conditions were perfect to create a new organization. Bill France knew that John was the right man for the job and he wanted to launch it as such: he gave him unlimited power. John thus accepted. This organization would be a professional organization, with prices for all the participants, and it would be managed as such. Bill France could finance it and give him the autonomy which he needed. The NASCAR would have three quarter of the shares and John one quarter. He came back to Connecticut and rented a modest office. It is at that time that he created the name International Motor Sport Association, drew the famous logo, traced the broad outline of the organization and contacted banks, insurance companies. He was to deal with the legal actions due to such a creation. He was also put at work to set up the future rules for the IMSA. He recruited soon his former secretary Edythe Hindle, then Bob Gilmartin, who was to take care of the advertisement. The official date of creation of the IMSA was on May 9, 1969, it would mark history. One of John Bishop's main concern was to create technical rules which would be easy to understand, while remaining quite precise and clear. The SCCA had some rancours then when the IMSA settled in Fairfield, Connecticut, not far from its own headquarters. Some official bulletins circulated then, threatening its members with penalties, if those were going to take part in any IMSA event. The IMSA made its own promotion then and used the local press while inserting applying bulletins in newspapers such as "Competition Press". The first series which the IMSA could set up was a program of Formula V and Formula Ford. The enthusiasm which followed was significant and the first race took place with Pocono. There still, the SCCA still showed its reserve and threatened the direction of the circuit to withdraw him its eligibility for the next SCCA races but, fortunately, that did not last and Pocono could nevertheless be rent, for an additional $10000 fee, for this very first race. John Bishop knew that if IMSA were to undergo such pressures, its credibility would be reached, and he then decided to borrow more money to be able to rent Pocono. The race thus took place and was run without any trouble. 328 witnesses had showed up for this inaugural race. This race, won by Jim Clark of Michigan, counted 23 participants of which some pilots who were going to become accustomed series. Thus, one could see Fred Opert, Carson Baird or Skip Barber, to name a few. The technical inspection took place in the paddock and the drivers were treated with doughnuts by the ladies responsible for the inscriptions. One month later, a second race took place at Talladega, Alabama and one could see that the word of mouth had well worked because beautiful Formula Ford, Vee or sedans fields were displayed. Larry Dent was chief steward at this race and he introduced Bob Zuehlke to John Bishop. Bob Zuehlke acted as his assistant for this race and then went on to work for IMSA after that, but Larry Dent did not do so. However, John Bishop and Larry Dent remained good friends but Larry wanted to get back his SCCA membership after a quarrel with the sanctioning body and that was all. All the competitors could have fun but there were yet only 500 spectators The first season was already finished but the IMSA had already prepared the following one and 10 races were set. Bill France, following some financial setbacks, would reduce his investments but would make it possible to new investors to give their support. Those investors purchased many of Bill France's assets and, in the end, they made a good bargain. The season 1970 was on its way, but the races did not attract large crowd, with share on the races organized jointly with the NASCAR, where the witnesses "were somewhat taken as an hostage". Some accidents took place, without gravity fortunately. But an awakening took place at this time, and it decided really future of the series. It started from an observation: the single-seaters did not attract crowd. Then John Bishop, while thinking about the issue, remembered that he had helped establish the fundations of the "J appendix". Those related to the cars taking part in the World Championship for Makes. He started from an obvious observation: put aside Daytona, Sebring and Watkins Glen, these cars did not have any other race where to run. As of the end of the season 1970, the advertisement of the organization of a new Championship was made. The allowed cars would be those of groups 2 and 4, that is to say Touring and GT Cars. Would be then allowed Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs, Porsche 911s and 914s, Alfa Romeos like much of other cars. The races would be enough long to give its chances to everyone, in short the main word was: equity. The advertisement of this new series was welcomed with happiness by Joseph Hoppen, of Porsche-Audi, who could foresee that his cars could shine. The future gave him reason. The IMSA had all the ingredients to produce a great series and it used them with happiness. John Bishop was a leading man and he knew how to use and make profitable his experiment within the SCCA to manage the IMSA. His qualities made the remainder. His relationship with the pilots or the various partners proved that he was a tremendous leader and he proved the right man in managing the different aspects of his organization. According to the pilots, the mechanics, of the teams, he was an exceptional fellow and he knew how to get the best out of everyone. He deserves our respect. He is a great man.