It is no secret that a lot of us at Gran Touring are track junkies. As a group we can push upwards of 100 days on track every year and the most invested among us drive 25+ days just by themselves. As a result we’ve driven nearly every track in the eastern timezone of the United States and every year we organize big events at new or distant tracks. We’re dreaming big and have our sights set on making it all the way to the west coast, but this past weekend at PittRace we met someone who puts us all to shame. Meet Kona Bob…
>Excerpt Below< as seen on Track Mustangs, Online Forum [as of April 2019]
… I purchased my car in Houston in May of last year and went straight to COTA the next morning and ran with the [NASA] Texas Group. I was the second owner and the car had 3,200 miles on it when I purchased it. Running 4 times for 20 minutes 36 hrs after purchase was outstanding, thank you Texas Region. I then took the car to San Pedro, California where I have a unit in a controlled indoor facility. I started off this year February 2nd-3rd at a two day VARA event at Buttonwillow Raceway then onto Chuckwalla, Sonoma, Phoenix Wild Horse Pass, Utah Motorsports Park and finally Pueblo this weekend, all with NASA. My next event is COTA then NOLA, Barber Motorsports Park, Road Atlanta then Sebring on June 22nd. I have yet to finalize my Eastern Seaboard adventure after June 22nd. I will return to Kona for Marlin and Big Ahi Fishing during the month of July. (It is typically one of our best months) I will be back on the Tour August. There are many good tracks on the Eastern Seaboard so I am doing my research. I plan on my last event being Watkins Glen on October 5th and 6th, weather permitting.
This adventure was conceived by my wife Dianne and I two years ago after selling our business to our children and our manager. We were going to buy a large RV, a purpose built car and trailer and race it across the country on the same format. I officially was scheduled and did retire on January, 1st 2019. Prior to my retiring in July of 2017 my wife and partner of 47 years peacefully passed away in her sleep alongside me. I was inches away and did not feel her pass. Myself and my children (two sons and a daughter with spouses) were devastated … I have been on this adventure solo, seeing people, family and friends along the way.
The Shelby GT350 was my alternate choice to the Big RV, trailer and another car. I am keeping it simple and really enjoying driving the car from event to event. It is a great touring car and track car with a fantastic warranty. I am an avid golfer so the 1st and most important item in the trunk was my set of golf clubs. All my clothes and support tools, jack, jack stands, etc, etc, etc had to fit in after the golf clubs.
There it is, my dream adventure I am on is to honor my wife and my passion. I am not waiting to chase my bucket list. Life can change in minutes. My children and relatives are backing me 100% so it is a family affair. I have always attacked life with a positive attitude. I would appreciate any advice for tracks to visit on the East Coast, Central Region, Lime Rock, VIR and Watkins Glen are on the list already. I hope all of us can pursue our passion racing wherever and whenever we can. Looking forward to meeting all of our fellow Mustang track addicts. If I can help anyone in anyway let me know.
See you at the track!!! Aloha, Kona Bob
WHOA!
We met Bob Tremain, a laid-back 35-year Hawaiian resident on a mission to drive his 2017 GT350 on as many tracks in North America (including Canada) as possible this year, at PittRace with HookedOnDriving (August 2019). As you read (above), he picked his car up in Los Angeles and has driven nearly 15,000 miles to over 14 tracks across California, Texas (COTA), Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Louisiana (NOLA), Kentucky (NCM), Florida (Sebring), Alabama (Barber MSP), North Carolina, Pennsylvania (PittRACE), Maine, and has more lined up before the season ends. If my math is correct that’s already two times more tracks than One Lap of America in one season. 🤯 How does he do it?!
Managing your consumables is important for any track day let alone as many as Bob is attempting back to back. Bob’s been building his own network of Ford dealerships closest to each track and uses them for any service the car needs after each event. He also works with them to order new brake pads and tires before the next event. Selecting a tire that can survive long road trips, rain, and abuse on track required some investigating. After a few calls with the engineers at Nitto, Bob settled on the NT-05 as his “all around” tire. A fresh set is already waiting for him at his next service stop.
It’s not just a regular ol’ epic journey around the country. Bob is working on his own special project in Hawaii – a brand new 2-to-3 mile racetrack on a 450 acre plot on the main island of Kona carved out of the extinct Kohala volcano. 🤯🤯 Throughout this trip he’s been meeting with and interviewing the owners of the tracks he visits to know exactly how to build, run, and maintain a top notch facility! He has the support of the local county government and is looking for investors to fund the project to get the ball rolling. When it officially opens the track will be able to host road races, track days, autocross, and drag racing at minimum.
We’re super excited to see new courses being developed and can’t wait to drive it ourselves when it opens! More importantly, Bob has another GT350 waiting for him at home and will be using it to test “the feel” of his new course as development progresses. And the question you all might be asking yourselves at this point: What happens to Bob’s mustang when this is all over? Well … he plans to return to California to sell it. And maybe one of us will be lucky enough to snatch up his “track proven” mustang. I know I would. #fullsend.
Even though Bob says “he’s solo” on this adventure, the love and support of his family keep him going, and communities like ours are here to make sure he feels welcomed and help fuel the excitement and enthusiasm of Motorsport across this great nation. Many of us got to run in the same sessions as Bob and it was a lot fun dicing it up with him on track and the conversations afterwards have definitely made a long lasting impression. If you happen to see Bob and his mustang at your next track day, don’t be shy 👋, he definitely isn’t and ask him how the adventure is going! Next up, Chapter 15: VIRginia International Raceway – followed by Lime Rock, NJMP, Mid-Ohio, Calabogie (Ontario, Canada) and more!
“I am humbled and can only hope that my story spreads the fever of our passion for road course racing to others who want to chase that same dream. It seems like everywhere I go when people want to talk about the Mustang I am recruiting another future road courser if they haven’t done it already. Nothing better than seeing the look on someone’s face when they get out of the car after their first 20+ minute session at 120+ mph!!! ” – Bob.
From all of us at GTM HQ – Bob… we wish you the best of luck! Get to that final checkered flag where ever that might be… and leave us comments below! If you need any help while traveling the east coast, don’t hesitate to reach out. Because at GTM, “you never go to an event alone.” – Aloha!
