VIN: the Bob Akin Porsche 962 chassis 113
/ Ben Tyer
HISTORY OF CHASSIS 113
Chassis 113 was the second Porsche 962 sold to New York industrialist, team owner and racing driver, Bob Akin.
Having initially taken up racing with an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider in 1957 (which was later joined by a Volpini Formula Junior and Ferrari 500 TRC), Akin quit the sport a few years later to focus on the family business: the Hudson Wire Company.
Hudson Wire had been started by Akin’s grandfather in 1901 and was the dominant player in aviation and aerospace wiring. Between 1974 and 1995, Bob Akin served as the company’s president.
Akin returned to motor sport in 1973, initially in historic machinery. He then moved up to a Porsche 911 RSR for the 1978 IMSA season which was campaigned under the Earle & Akin Racing Associates banner with his friend, Steve Earle.
That year, Akin also had a one-off drive in a Dick Barbour 935 and took in a couple of races in a stock BMW 320.
For the ‘79 IMSA season, Akin mostly ran a Dick Barbour-prepared 935. Between 1980 and 1984, Akin campaigned his own 935s and then moved up to a 962 when he took delivery of one of the five customer cars supplied in 1984: chassis 102.
Chassis 102 arrived mid-way through ‘84. It was painted Akin’s trademark red colour scheme and ran with sponsorship from his long-term backer, Coca Cola. Chassis 102 was raced until May 1985 when the car incurred heavy damage following a crash at the Charlotte 500km. Within a matter of weeks, Akin had taken delivery of a brand new 962 from Porsche: chassis 113.
In the remaining seven races of 1985, Akin’s best results with chassis 113 were a brace of fifth place finishes (partnered by Jim Mullen at the Sears Point 500km and then the Columbus 500km with Dennis Aase). At the season-ending Daytona 3 Hour Finale, Akin teamed up with Jo Gartner and came home sixth.
Chassis 113 was subsequently campaigned throughout 1986. That year, Akin scored six top four finishes and claimed three podiums. The high point was victory at the Sebring 12 Hours where Akin was co-driven by Hans-Joachim Stuck and Jo Gartner. Stuck also partnered Akin for the car’s second place finish at the Charlotte 500km. Gartner co-drove with Stuck for the third place finish at the Miami 3 Hours.
James Weaver, Price Cobb and Kees Nierop also drove chassis 113 in 1986.
After two sixth place finishes in 1987 (at Daytona and Sebring), chassis 113 was retired from competition duty. It was replaced by a 962 based around a Jim Chapman-built tub (chassis C04).
Bob Akin retained chassis 113 until his untimely death in 2002. Akin passed away four days after crashing a Nissan GTP ZX Turbo at Road Atlanta.
Notable History
Sold to Bob Akin (Bob Akin Motor Racing), New York, USA
Red Coca Cola livery
06/07/1985 IMS Watkins Glen 3 Hours (B. Akin / H.J. Stuck / J. Mullen) 12th oa, 9th GTP class (#5)
28/07/1985 IMS Portland 300km (B. Akin / J. Mullen) DNF (#5)
04/08/1985 IMS Sears Point 300km (B. Akin / J. Mullen) 5th oa, 5th GTP class (#5)
25/08/1985 IMS Road America 500 mile (B. Akin / J. Mullen) DNF (#5)
29/09/1985 IMS Watkins Glen 500km (H.J. Stuck) DNF (#5)
06/10/1985 IMS Columbus 500km (B. Akin / D. Aase) 5th oa, 5th GTP class (#5)
01/12/1985 IMS Daytona 3 Hour Finale (B. Akin / J. Gartner) 6th oa, 6th GTP class (#5)
02/02/1986 IMS Daytona 24 Hours (H.J. Stuck / B. Akin / J. Gartner) DNF (#5)
02/03/1986 IMS Miami 3 Hours (H.J. Stuck / J. Gartner) 3rd oa, 3rd GTP class (#5)
22/03/1986 IMS Sebring 12 Hours (B. Akin / H.J. Stuck / J. Gartner) 1st oa, 1st GTP class (#5)
06/04/1986 IMS Road Atlanta 500km (B. Akin / J. Gartner) DNF (#5)
27/04/1986 IMS Riverside 6 Hours (B. Akin / J. Weaver) 4th oa 4th GTP class (#5)
18/05/1986 IMS Charlotte 500km (B. Akin / H.J. Stuck) 2nd oa, 2nd GTP class (#5)
26/05/1986 IMS Lime Rock 150 lap (B. Akin / J. Gartner) 6th oa, 6th GTP class (#5)
08/06/1986 IMS Mid-Ohio 500km (H.J. Stuck) DNF (#5)
06/07/1986 IMS Watkins Glen 500 mile (B. Akin / P. Cobb / J. Weaver) 4th oa, 4th GTP class (#5)
27/07/1986 IMS Portland 300km (J. Weaver) DNF (#5)
03/08/1986 IMS Sears Point 300km (J. Weaver) 8th oa, 8th GTP class (#5)
24/08/1986 IMS Road America 500 mile (B. Akin / K. Nierop) 6th oa, 3rd GTP class (#5)
21/09/1986 IMS Watkins Glen 500km (B. Akin / J. Weaver) 9th oa, 7th GTP class (#5)
05/10/1986 IMS Columbus 500km (B. Akin / J. Weaver) 9th oa, 9th GTP class (#5)
26/10/1986 IMS Daytona 3 Hour Finale (B. Akin / J. Weaver) 4th oa, 4th GTP class (#5)
01/02/1987 IMS Daytona 24 Hours (H.J. Stuck / J. Weaver / B. Akin) 6th oa, 6th GTP class (#5)
01/03/1987 IMS Miami 3 Hours (J. Weaver / V. Schuppan) DNF (#3)
21/03/1987 IMS Sebring 12 Hours (J. Weaver / B. Akin / S. Shelton) 6th oa, 5th GTP class (#5)
Retained by Akin until 2002
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
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