6 replies to this topic

[Ron Hershman]

Speedway Hall of Fame Museum wins dispute with driver
Associated Press
Posted: April 14, 2010

A former race car driver has lost his lawsuit to force the return of a car displayed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.

The car is a Porsche 935 K3 in which Reginald "Don" Whittington, his brother, and Klaus Ludwig won the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Whittington claimed he only loaned the car to the museum when he handed it over in the early 1980s. The foundation that runs the museum argued it was donated.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago decided in favor of the museum Tuesday, ruling that Whittington didn't have sufficient documentation.

The court says the lesson is that "an unwritten contract isn't worth the paper it isn't written on."

The Associated Press left a phone message seeking comment from Whittington's attorney.

[Cheater]

Reminds me of a similar case where Grif Borgeson loaned a Miller to the LA County Museum, it being one of the two Millers Borgeson rescued from Molsheim in the '60s, I think.

He mentions his legal wrangles attempting to get the car back in his book "The Golden Age of the American Racing Car."

I think Grif was eventually successful. PdL will probably know.

[MG Brown]

I don't know who has dirtier hands - the Whittington brothers or IMS.

In 1987, Don Whittington plead guilty to money laundering charges in association with his brother Bill's 1986 guilty plea to income tax evasion and conspiracy to smuggle marijuana into the United States from Colombia. Don Whittington received an 18 month prison sentence. In addition to Bill and Don Whittington, Randy Lanier and John Paul Sr. and Jr. were part of the IMSA drug smuggling scandal of the 1980s, where a number of drivers financed their racing activities with the proceeds from drug smuggling.

[Ron Hershman]

I don't know who has dirtier hands - the Whittington brothers or IMS.

IMS hasn't got caught yet.

One of the Whittington's.... so the story goes...buried millions just in case they got caught and to have some pocket money when getting out of jail.

[TSR]

In fact there was a loan agreement, but the small print on the back was clear enough and apparently the Whittington Bros never read it. But effectively, the car was legally stolen from its rightful owners.

And indeed, it is hard to tell which of the dope dealers family or the IMS is less honest. Don't be surprised if some day, the Porsche is the victim of a sudden fire in the museum as someone may seek revenge. It's been done before...

Griff Borgeson never got his Miller back either, but in that case the Los Angeles Natural History Museum truly acted as thieves. The car ended at the Smithsonian. Borgeson never got compensated.

[Cap Henry]

IMO, It's kind of sad that a car he won a major race in won't be given back.

[TSR]

The same happened for the John Mecom Cooper-Hussein that Foyt drove, the IMS stole it from its rightful owner, and no amount of negotiations were able to resolve the issue.