On April 13, 2005, Robert Kirby, an avid SCCA club racer, died at his desk at an investment company that he helped launch 50 years earlier. Warren Buffet once said of Kirby that, if he ever needed someone to invest his money for him, it would be Bob Kirby. The 2004 Runoffs at Mid-Ohio were his last as a driver. He had won a national championship as a driver; 2005 would have been his attempt to win one as an owner with Mark Hotchkis as driver.
In May of 2005, friends of Kirby gathered in Pasadena to celebrate his life. There a plan was created to campaign Kirby’s 914 for the 2005 National Championship as a memorial to their friend. Kirby’s crew chief Warren Dennis enlisted David Finch, owner of Raetech Corporation, to prepare the car.

With Mark Hotchkis driving at the 2005 SCCA Runoffs, Mid-Ohio

From a SRC 914/6, here is a tribute to Kirby and his 914:




This model was made possible through the generous support of Matt McDonough, the one man show responsible for CG Slot Cars and an SCCA driver in the F2000 open wheel class. Matt vac formed the Ginther windscreen, designed and printed the decals, and developed and 3D printed the unique inserts for the Jongbloed wheels.
An article about Kirby and the development of his car can be found in the June 2008 issue of Excellence, The Magazine About Porsche.
The Kirby family, Mark Hotchkis and friends at Mid-Ohio following the 2005 race.

Kirby’s car is no longer raced but is shown at some Porsche events such as the gathering of air cooled Porsches known as Luftgekuhlt, among others.
In May of 2005, friends of Kirby gathered in Pasadena to celebrate his life. There a plan was created to campaign Kirby’s 914 for the 2005 National Championship as a memorial to their friend. Kirby’s crew chief Warren Dennis enlisted David Finch, owner of Raetech Corporation, to prepare the car.

With Mark Hotchkis driving at the 2005 SCCA Runoffs, Mid-Ohio

From a SRC 914/6, here is a tribute to Kirby and his 914:




This model was made possible through the generous support of Matt McDonough, the one man show responsible for CG Slot Cars and an SCCA driver in the F2000 open wheel class. Matt vac formed the Ginther windscreen, designed and printed the decals, and developed and 3D printed the unique inserts for the Jongbloed wheels.
An article about Kirby and the development of his car can be found in the June 2008 issue of Excellence, The Magazine About Porsche.
The Kirby family, Mark Hotchkis and friends at Mid-Ohio following the 2005 race.

Kirby’s car is no longer raced but is shown at some Porsche events such as the gathering of air cooled Porsches known as Luftgekuhlt, among others.
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