Bob Akin 1936 – 2002

By: John Zimmermann
Atlanta, Ga., April 30

Veteran road racer Bob Akin has succumbed to the multiple injuries he suffered in an accident at Road Atlanta last Thursday. Akin was testing a 1988 Nissan GTP-ZX Turbo in preparation for last weekend’s 25th Annual Walter Mitty Challenge historic races at the Georgia circuit when he made contact with another car and crashed heavily.
Akin was a fixture on the IMSA circuit in the late ’70s and ’80s, the highlight of his career a pair of victories in the 12 Hours of Sebring. He won there first in 1979, teamed with Rob McFarlin and Roy Woods in a Porsche 935, and again in 1986, sharing his own Porsche 962 with Hans Stück and Jo Gartner. The 115.82mph average speed they maintained for the 12 hours that day is still the event record.
Akin’s familiar red and white Coca-Cola livery was applied to a variety of Porsches that were regular contenders on the IMSA circuit until he retired from active professional competition in 1991, having earned four top-10 finishes in the IMSA championship, topped by a best of third in 1983.
He did, however, remain active as a driver on the historic circuit, and also prepared cars for historic racing customers at his Bob Akin Motorsports operation in Ossining, N.Y.
He is survived by his wife Ellen, son Bobby IV. and daughters Susan and Johanna. Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at Kisco Presbyterian Church, Mt. Kisco, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in his memory to the
Robert M. Akin Memorial Fund at Hackley School,
293 Benedict Ave.,
Tarrytown,
NY 10591.

RealRide/Pennyweb