Bob Butte, Jim Russell, and the Birth of a Racing School (Part 1)

update 4/2/26

Bit of an update

live_SRO_at_Sears_Point_today_visiting_with_Cosmo_and_Tyler__20260328_110542

Testing sound at the SRO event at Sears Point last week

Moving Mountains & Formula Cars: The Final Days of the US Jim Russell School with Bob Butte

The logistics of racing aren't always glamorous—sometimes they involve dinosaur ramps, sea containers, and a balancing act across time zones. In this third and final installment with Bob Butte, host Rob Klyver dives into the high-stakes, low-budget reality of managing the world’s most famous racing schools. Bob recounts the "stupidity" and "youthful enthusiasm" of running four locations across the continent with only five people, including a fascinating look at the short-lived Skip Barber Hawaii and the technical "dumb luck" behind balancing a fleet of Mitsubishi school cars. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * The Global Grind: Managing parts and logistics from Italy to England to the Midwest. * The Great Migration: How the school moved an entire fleet of cars from Canada to Bridgehampton and Florida using creative (and questionable) methods. * The "Kiss of Death": Bob’s tenure during the closure of legendary tracks like Riverside, Ontario, and Bridgehampton. * Building the Mitsubishis: How Rob and Jacques Couture built a fleet of school cars from scratch that were so well-balanced they didn't need front stands. * Tom Sawyer’s Fence: The reality of the Mechanic Training Program (MTP) and turning seat time into professional careers. Whether you're a fan of racing history or curious about the "men and women who do the work," this episode provides a raw, unfiltered look at the business of speed. Jim Russell Racing School, Motorsports Logistics, Racing History, Skip Barber West, Formula Ford, Van Diemen, Motorsports Careers, Racing School Management, Hawaii Raceway Park, 4G63 Racing, Lola Cars       Music tracks: Synergy by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music [https://freetouse.com/music] Royalty Free Background Music Free Vlog Music Without Copyright  Creative Commons_Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0 Music promoted by Vlog Music

Bob Butte: Dinosaurs, All-Nighters, and the Birth of Formula Mazda

"In part two of our conversation with legendary mechanic Bob Butte, we dive into the high-stakes logistics of the Jim Russell Racing School in the early '80s. Bob shares the harrowing reality of loading cars onto 'dinosaur' ramps, the frantic debut of the Formula Russell at the 1984 Long Beach Grand Prix, and the sleepless 72-hour grinds required to keep the wheels turning. From the birth of Formula Mazda to the inner workings of Mont-Tremblant, this episode is a raw look at the grit behind the glamour of motorsports.   * People: Bob Butte, Jim Russell, Jacques Villeneuve, Rob Swarthout, Vince Loughran, Tommy Kendall, Johnny O'Connell, Lawrence Stroll. * Tracks & Locations: Laguna Seca, Riverside International Raceway, Mont-Tremblant, Long Beach Grand Prix, Ontario Motor Speedway. * Racing Classes & Cars: Formula Mazda, Formula Russell, Formula Ford, IndyCar, Hayashi Wheels, Formula One. * Industry Terms: Race Mechanic, Motorsports Engineering, Track Management, Racing School, Race Transporters, Prototype Development, Fasteners, Aerospace Hardware. Music tracks: Synergy by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music [https://freetouse.com/music] Royalty Free Background Music Free Vlog Music Without Copyright  Creative Commons_Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0 Music promoted by Vlog Music

Bob Butte, Jim Russell, and the Birth of a Racing School (Part 1)

Part 1 of this three-part series, The Mechanicians – Racing Stories features Bob Butte, the first mechanic student of the legendary Jim Russell Racing School. Bob shares how a passion for racing led him from Midwest SCCA events to Mont-Tremblant, working alongside Jacques Couture during the school’s earliest days. From Formula Ford racing to wrenching for seat time, this episode explores the origins of professional racing schools and the mechanics who built them from the ground up. A rare, first-hand look at the people behind the scenes—before racing schools became institutions.   motorsports, racing, mechanics, racing school, jim russell, formula ford, racing history, motorsport stories, race cars, racing education, engineers, motorsports industry, vintage racing, behind the scenes   Music tracks: Synergy by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music [https://freetouse.com/music] Royalty Free Background Music Free Vlog Music Without Copyright  Creative Commons_Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0 Music promoted by Vlog Music