Auto Racing came into Ed’s multifaceted life when one of his flying buddies, who also owned an airplane, bought a Alpha Romero and talked to Ed about his plans to race it in vintage auto races at race tracks around the Southwest. Ed had never race autos before but became infatuated with the idea. It didn’t take long before he had purchased two Porsche race cars (one was sort of a mistake... but since it was such a good buy…), one was a 1960 356 roadster and the other a 1964 356 cabriolet. Both cars had lengthy racing histories and had been modified for racing but would, as Ed soon learned, would require quite a bit of “fine tuning” to make them competitive…like new engines, transmissions and suspensions and, of course new paint jobs. Ed joined most of the racing clubs west of the Mississippi and spent four days going through Bob Bondurant’s Grand Prix Racing School at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix. Ed found a “toy-hauler” in Phoenix which just fit the bill of a combination trailer and home away from home for his racing adventures. His first experience at Buttonwillow Raceway, California, was a disaster. No one hurt but the car was obviously not ready and neither was Ed.

He and several friends spent most of the time trying to keep the car running and Ed spent his time trying to keep the car ON the track. He discovered that the Porsche with its rear engine was a different driving experience, especially at ragged-edge speeds on a sports car road track.

After about five or six races at places like Phoenix International Speedway, Sandia Raceway in Albuquerque, Las Vegas Raceway, California Speedway – Fontana and Laguna Seca he began to get his racing legs under him and could hold his own with the middle of the pack. The whole idea of vintage auto racing is supposed to be to have fun, enjoy some gentlemanly competition and show off your car and its history and capability. Right! 

Ed has been racing now for ten

 years and has had some racing success although most of it is just getting the whole rig home in one piece. He has taken two checkered flags for winning races...in one he won fair and square over seven other 356 drivers. In the other one he was the only one in his class to finish! All the other cars in his class failed make the finish line for various reasons and he just outlasted them to get the checkered flag. But sometimes success is just surviving.

In February 2005, Ed took "First in Class - 2.0 Liter" for Porsche 356 racers at the  Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) "Historics", at the Phoenix International Raceway. 
Ed is convinced that auto racing is an addiction and he has given into the fact that he is 'hooked'.

Edward E. Hanley III
Coldwell Banker 1st Affiliate
195 W. Hwy 89A Sedona, AZ 86336
Business: (928) 340-5001
Fax: (928) 282-3716  Cell: (928)  300-7000
info@edwardehanley.com

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