1957. A 15-year-old prodigy from Mexico City captured the hearts of Southern California racing fans as he debuted
his motor racing skills on September 22nd at Riverside International Raceway by piloting his Porsche 550 RS to a
stunning podium finish for modified cars under 1500 cc. His name was Ricardo Rodriguez.
Ricardo’s first place Cal Club finish was 13 seconds ahead of veteran driver Jean Pierre Kunstle, with Joe Playan,
third, and Jack McAfee, fourth…all driving Porsche 550 Spyders.
Ricardo, sponsored by his father, Don Pedro Natalio Rodriguez, a wealthy financier, had previously won the
National motorcycle Championship of Mexico at age 13. His brother, Pedro, who was two years senior to Ricardo,
won the same motorcycle Championship several years earlier, also at age 13. Don Pedro fully supported Pedro
and Ricardo’s start in international motorsports.
Of the two brothers, Pedro was the first to transition to sports car racing in a Jaguar XK-120 roadster and then a
Porsche 356. However, during 1957, Pedro was unfortunately sidelined due to a bout with malaria.
1958. After winning Riverside, Ricardo and Pedro were off to Europe to race. They entered the 1958 Le Mans 24
Hour endurance race with a Ferrari 250 TR, but Ricardo was only 15 and his registration was rejected. Instead,
Pedro co-drove a North American Racing Team (NART) Ferrari 500 TR with veteran French racer, Jean Behra to a
DNF.
Over the next several years, the Rodriguez brothers successfully raced separately and together at Sebring, Mans, Targa Florio, and Nassau.
Le
1961 In sportscar racing Ricardo’s first major win was with his brother at the 1961 Paris 1000km, driving a Ferrari
250 GT.
Enzo Ferrari asked Ricardo to join their Formula 1 team. He became the youngest international driver to win
Formula 1 points.
1962. The Rodriguez brothers were honored to be driving at the inaugural Mexican Grand Prix. All of Mexico was
caught up in the new formula one race, with the hope that one of the brothers would win their Country’s Grand
Prix. .
During the race weekend, the Rodriguez brothers posed for photographs and were jubilant at the opportunity to
race against each other and that one would win the First Mexican Grand Prix. While practicing on Nov. 1st,
suddenly something went wrong with Ricardo’s Lotus as he entered a 180-degree corner. Ricardo crashed heavily
into a barrier and catapulted from the wreckage. Tragically, Ricardo died at age 20.At the State funeral, Mexico’s president read his eulogy and marched in the procession along with the Rodriguez
family. Tens of thousands of faithful fans also paid tribute to Mexico’s fallen racing hero, Ricardo Rodriguez.
Following Ricardo’s death, Pedro briefly considered retiring from racing, but decided to carry on. He returned to
racing and immediately won the Daytona Continental Race.
1963. Pedro began his Formula One career. Pedro won twice in Formula 1, with seven other podium finishes. He
won the 1967 South African Grand Prix driving a Cooper, and the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix in a BRM.
Pedro also appeared at the Indianapolis 500 but couldn’t get his Aston Martin/Cooper up to speed to qualify.
Pedro returned to the Indy 500 in 1964 and 1967 but again failed to qualify for a starting position. He also raced
NASCAR, finishing fifth in the 1965 World 600 Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
1968. In long-distance sports car racing, Pedro captured the Reims 12 hours. Pedro and Lucien Bianchi also won
the 1968 Le Mans 24 Hour race in a Gulf Ford GT 40.
1970. Pedro won eight major races in a Porsche 917K during 1970 and 1971…including the Daytona 24 Hours
twice, the BOAC 1000 at Brands Hatch by five laps. Pedro also won at Monza (Italy), Francorchamps (Belgium),
and at Watkins Glen.
1971. While leading during an Inter-series sports car race at the July 11th Norisring in West Germany, Pedro’s
Ferrari 512M entered an “S” curve on lap 12 and his Ferrari mysteriously spun out of control, crashing against a
concrete wall--coming to rest on a distant guard rail with the 512M exploding into flames. Pedro Rodriguez died--
despite a valiant effort to halt the flames and to free him by heroic course workers.
Again, tens of thousands of Rodriguez racing fans gathered when Pedro’s body returned to his homeland. The
Mexican President and Mayor of Mexico City sat with the Rodriguez family during Pedro’s funeral.
Legendary racing engineer John Wyer said, “For me, Pedro was the greatest driver of his time…I mean the greatest.
He is irreplicable.”
1973. After Pedro Rodriguez’ death, The Pedro Rodriguez Trophy was established for the winning team at the
Daytona 24 Hours Race. IMSA veteran Carrera RSR driver Peter Greg, the trophy’s first recipient spoke with
emotion of Rodriguez as “the finest sports car driver I ever saw” and said, “Let’s not forget Pedro.”
1978. Ricardo Rodríguez was inducted into the Salón de la Fama of the Confederación Deportiva Mexicana besides
his brother Pedro.
The Brothers Rodriguez…A Dynamic Racing Duo.
May their memory always be a blessing…Race In Peace.
Acknowledged Credits: Porsche AG, Porsche Werks, Motor Sports, Speed Sport, Porsche Excellence Was Expected, The Brothers
Rodrigue/Carlos Eduardo Jalife-Villalon / David Bull Publisher, Ferrari Chat, Tam’s Old Race Cars, Carlos Gonzales, Unknown
Photographers, Lee Raskin collection
