Philadelphia, August 30, 2022
One of racing’s most colorful personalities, Roger Bailey, will be featured at a book signing/presentation at the Simeone Museum on October 22. The presentation is part of the museum’s week-long tribute to Ferrari on its 75th anniversary. For 52 years (1959–2012), Bailey competed as a mechanic, engine builder, crew chief, sanctioning body technical inspector, and finally, co-founder and administrator of the Indy Lights series.
Bailey worked for virtually every significant racing team in the 1960s and 1970s, including Cooper, Penske, Mecom, Alan Mann, BRM, and McLaren. In 1969 as the personal mechanic for Chris Amon, he became the first non-Italian to be a factory Ferrari mechanic. Bailey’s career came to its culmination in 1986 when he co-founded the American Racing Series with Pat Patrick. In 1991, the ARS became the Indy Lights Series with Bailey at the helm until his retirement in 2012.
“Perhaps nobody in the history of automobile racing enjoyed a career of wider reach and diversity than Roger Bailey,” said Simeone Museum Executive Director Kevin Kelly. “And Roger has a great talent for telling hilarious stories that go along with his incredible career.”
Joining Bailey on the stage will be Gordon Kirby, the author of the recently published book on Bailey’s career, “Boost! Roger Bailey’s Extraordinary Motor Racing Career,” published by RaceMaker Press. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and for Bailey and Kirby to sign. Simeone Museum Director of Programs Harry Hurst will lead the discussion.
Two cars that Bailey worked on in the day will be featured at the program: in 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II that Bailey helped crew for Alan Mann racing to run at Le Mans, and the Ferrari 612 that Bailey prepared for Chris Amon in the 1969 Can-Am series.
The presentation is part of one of the museum’s Demo Days and will begin promptly at 11 AM. After the presentation and book signing selected cars from the museum’s collection will be run on the back parking lot.
The tribute to Ferrari show will run at the Simeone Museum October 19 – 24 and will feature several examples of significant Ferraris from a variety of decades, including the museum’s 1958 TR250 Testa Rossa that raced at Sebring.
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum differs from most other automotive collections in that the cars are used to tell a story: that competition and racing improves the breed. Like Philadelphia’s famed Barnes Foundation collection of paintings, the Simeone Foundation exhibition is a personal collection, driven by a singular vision and specific ideas about how the collection should be arranged and exhibited. The central theme of the Simeone Foundation collection is “the spirit of competition.”
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to educate the public on the beneficial effects of the “spirit of competition.” Encompassing many of the most significant racing sports cars ever built, the exhibition shows the dramatic technological evolution that has resulted from seven decades of competition, leading to better automotive design and safer driving techniques. The Museum is located at 6825-31 Norwitch Drive, Philadelphia, PA., 19153.
For more information on the museum, call 215-365-7233, or visit the Museum’s web site at: www.simeonemuseum.org.
The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and is free for children under 18.
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