Larry Connor

Larry Connor (Born July 1, 1950 in Bellbrook, Ohio) is an American racing driver and entrepreneur. Connor competed in USF2000, the 24 Hours of Le Mans among other racing series. As an entrepreneur Connor is the head of The Connor Group, a real estate investment firm.

Auto racing

Before the founding of The Connor Group the Centreville, Ohio based driver competed in a number of notable races. His 24 Hours of Daytona debut came in 1983. Racing a Porsche Carrera RSR the team failed to finish. A flywheel failure ended their race early. His teammates were Doug Lutz, Dave Panaccione and Fern Prego.[1] Later in the season Connor made his only Atlantic Championship start. Supporting the Detroit Grand Prix Conner raced a March 80A entered by Theodore Racing/Agapiou Racing. Connor had to retire after a wreck.[2]

USF2000

In the late 1980s and the first half of the 1990s Connor competed in the Formula Continental class in the regional Sports Car Club of America series. In 1994 Connor made his debut in the USAC sanctioned professional USF2000 championship. At Indianapolis Raceway Park he failed to finish both races. His best result in that year came in the SCCA American Continental Championship. At Mosport Park he finished in fourth place. He continued to race in the national USF2000 series in 1995 and 1996 with one top five finish.[3]

Formula Atlantic club racing

Connor first raced in the SCCA Formula Atlantic Central Division in 1999 finished second in the championship standings.[4] At the SCCA National Championship Runoffs Connor scored the pole position. During the race Brian French passed Connor for the win in the race. In 2000 Connor won the Central Division championship and the Runoffs.[5] However, at the SCCA June Sprints Connor failed to finish.[6] He again won the runoffs in 2001.[7] After this success Connor raced a Benetton B191 in the BOSS SuperCup Series.

Sports car racing

Connor returned to Daytona in 2002 in a Lola B2K/40 entered by Archangel Motorsport. Connor, along with teammates Jeff Clinton, Jeff Tillman and Curtis Francois, qualified 42nd. The team did not finish the race due to engine trouble on their Nissan V6 engine. A year later, at Petit Le Mans, Connor (with Jon Field and Duncan Dayton) won its LMP675 class with a Lola B01/60 entered by Intersport Racing. At the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans Connor again experienced engine trouble, this time on their Judd engine. A third 24 Hour of Daytona appearance in 2005 proved unsuccessful. The Michael Shank Racing team retired.

Indy Lights

Larry Connor's first attempt at Indy Lights came in 2005. He attempted the inaugural Liberty Challenge supporting the 2005 United States Grand Prix. During qualifying Arie Luyendijk Jr. and Genoa Racing's Larry Connor made contact. Connor made two mid air barrel rolls with his Dallara and had to mis the race due to significant damage to the chassis.[8] His second attempt at Indy Lights came later in the season at Watkins Glen International. The Ohio native finished eighth in his debut.

Off-road

Team C Racing was founded by Larry Connor in 2014 to join the off-road racing scene.

Personal life

Connor graduated from the Ohio University in 1972. He founded Conner & Co. in 1980 which evaluated into The Connor Group in 1991.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Larry Conner". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "CASC / SCCA Formula Mondial North American Cup". Autocourse.ca. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "LARRY CONNOR - OVERALL START/FINISH POSITIONS (CLASS POSITIONS NOT SHOWN)". USF2000. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "1999 National Points for FA" (PDF). CenDiv SCCA. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "2000 National Points for FA" (PDF). CenDiv SCCA. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "Official race results for Group 6:FA/FC" (PDF). June Sprints. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "SCCA RUNOFFS DRIVER HISTORIES" (PDF). SCCA. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "MIPS: Connor flips in Liberty Challenge qualifying Read more at http://www.crash.net/indycar/news/21971/1/mips-connor-flips-in-liberty-challenge-qualifying.html#PKyqgpQbKvxoV33E.99". Crash.net. Retrieved 17 April 2016. External link in |title= (help)
  9. ↑ "Larry Connor". The Connor Group. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
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