Racing

Profile: Andy Porterfield

“One of The Most Unforgettable Characters I’ve Ever Met.”

Art Evans··
Last updated:
During the fifties, Andy Porterfield was sponsored by Los Angeles dealership Harry Mann Chevrolet. From left to right: Frank Milne, Peter Mann and Harry Mann, leaning on the car, with Andy in the driverÕs seat. Photo: Andy Porterfield Collection

I remember that the Reader’s Digest used to have a series of articles titled some-thing like “The Most Unforgettable Character I’ve Ever Met.” High on my own list of such characters is my close friend, Andy Porterfield. Andy is amazing for a number of reasons. Among other accomplishments, Andy has won more than 400 SCCA races. (He says, “I don’t know the exact number; I didn’t keep track; I just wanted to race.”)

I met Andy in 1957 when we raced against each other at that long-abandoned course in Southern California’s Agoura Hills, Paramount Ranch. In those days, Andy was racing a 1957 Corvette and I was in my 1954 XK120 Jaguar. Most of us in the over-1500-cc production group knew one another or were at least acquainted. Andy and I struck up a friendship that has lasted our lifetimes. After all of these years, we still get together for lunch every month or so.

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