Bugs, Trophies, and Champagne: A Night with Le Mans Legends
Many people consider themselves “car guys”. Most of our audience no doubt self-identifies as one. However, very few car guys are in the same position as Bruce Meyer. Bruce is a car guy in the same way Bruce Wayne is a billionaire; he does it right.
Through his business efforts and hard work, Bruce has also been able to turn his hobby into something unique and special. How special? He recently hosted an event at his collection in Beverly Hills to celebrate the recent acquisition of the Le Mans-winning 2009 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R. Not only was the car there, it was there in exactly the same state it was when it was put away in 2009, with dead French bugs and dried French champagne still visible. It now proudly sits among some very fine company, as I counted no less than three additional Le Mans veterans in the room, including 1965 Bizzarrini, 1979 Porsche 935 K3, and a 1960 Briggs Cunningham Le Mans Corvette.
Bruce is that kind of car guy.
But unlike many in our hobby, Bruce has the sort of connections that guarantee racing drivers also show up for an evening out. This particular evening was a night of luminaries from the Le Mans racing world. In attendance were legends like Dan Gurney mixing it up with motorcycle builder/racer Sonny Nutter. Television star and modern Le Mans driver Patrick Dempsey and Patrick Long were chatting with long-time Porsche man, Jeff Zwart. It was an atmosphere that was both convivial and intense; just the like the men.
The smiles, laughter and enjoyment went deeper than simply booze and canapés. Motor racing is a unique sport and creates uncommon bonds. It’s a sport in which the participants regularly cheat death and struggle for recognition and funds. The resulting friendships transcend time and distance.
Many people can create car collections and buy classic cars but very few have the credentials to bring a room full of heroes together for a night of storytelling and laughter, which is why Bruce Meyer is able to prove without doubt that to be a real “car guy” you’ve got to care about much more than just cars.
