American Sports activities Automobile Racing legend, August “Augie” Pabst Jr. handed away at dwelling whereas surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday, October ninth, 2024, on the age of 90. Augie is survived by his spouse, Joan “Joanie”, his 4 youngsters, James (Paisley), Christina, August III (Katherine) and Eugenie. He’s additionally survived by his 5 grandchildren, Isaac (Karen), Blu, Lucy, Madeline, August IV and three great-grandchildren, Hawk, River, and Ike. Augie was preceded in dying by his father, August Pabst and his mom Eugenie Pabst.
An inductee of the Motorsports Corridor of Fame in addition to the SCCA Corridor of Fame, Augie made a reputation for himself not just for his nice success on the monitor but in addition for his recognition and charisma off the monitor.
In 1956, after founding Pabst Motors, an imported automotive dealership in Milwaukee, Augie started his racing profession within the SCCA, which shortly led to alternatives driving for a few of the biggest groups of his time, together with Meister Brauser, Shelby American, John Wyer, Briggs Cunningham, NART-Ferrari, and John Mecom. His teammates included Walt Hansgen, Roger Penske and Invoice Wuesthoff.
Driving most of the most famed vehicles of his period — Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes, Corvette, Lotus, Jaguar, Chaparral, Lola, McLaren, Shelby Cobra, Ford GT40, and his all-time favourite, Scarab – Augie received many races. These embody main occasions at Sebring, Watkins Glen, Meadowdale, Nassau, Mosport, Daytona, and the Highway America 500. He received two Nationwide Championships throughout his storied profession. He competed in Europe within the 24hrs of Le Mans twice, and Manufacturers Hatch within the UK. He even managed to throw in a handful of inventory automotive races together with the 1963 Riverside NASCAR occasion, in a Ford Galaxy.
After a profitable racing profession, Augie went to work for Pabst Brewing Firm. He realized the science of brewing whereas attending Siebel Institute of Brewing in Chicago. He mastered the enterprise from the bottom up by working in every division of the brewery. By time and expertise, when Augie left the Brewery in 1983, after 17 years of service, he’d risen to the place of Govt Vice President and was a sitting member of the board.
Not interested by sitting nonetheless, he took over as President of Pabst Farms, a large-scale farming and industrial drying operation in Oconomowoc Wisconsin in 1984, till retiring in 2012. Pabst Farms was began by his grandfather, Fred Pabst Jr, who, alongside along with his grandmother, Ida, raised Augie after his personal father, Augie Sr., died on the age of 34. Augie spoke usually of beloved reminiscences using horses along with his grandfather, surveying the Farm. Extra lately he loved visiting the stables the place his daughter Eugenie’s horses are boarded. He loved feeding treats to the horses and “horsing round” as he known as it, being on the barn all the time introduced him again to his childhood.
Augie by no means left the racing world. All the time a well-recognized, smiling face at his dwelling monitor of Highway America, Augie served on the board of administrators and could possibly be seen drawing huge crowds whereas racing his classic sports activities vehicles. When his son Augie III’s Pabst Racing Group joined the USF Professional Championships, Augie took nice delight in seeing the group win a number of Group and Driver Championships, carrying on his legacy in motorsports.
An avid outdoorsman, Augie loved searching geese on Lake Winnebago, fly fishing the Deschutes River, searching upland recreation and cruising Oconomowoc Lake on his pontoon boat. He grew to become keen about snowmobiling after his pricey late buddies Richard Bickler and John Fitch launched him the extra trendy snowmobiles in 1984.
Joanie was the middle of Augie’s universe. Collectively, they participated in highway rallies world wide, together with The Colorado Grand, Mille Millia, Monte Carlo and Copperstate 1000. Spending time in Door County of their motorhome was a favourite getaway, particularly within the fall. They cherished spending New Yr’s Eve with youngsters and grandchildren in Land O’ Lakes, WI and loved many winters in Paradise Valley, AZ.
Augie will likely be remembered for his light nature, thoughtfulness and altruistic generosity. His smile lit up the world. He was the embodiment of kindness and selflessness, all the time placing others first. His life was wealthy with love, laughter and achievement. He cherished treating his household and buddies to dinners at Purple Circle Inn -or as Augie known as it “The Inexperienced Sq. Out”-, Hartland Inn, OLC and Glenda’s. His witty humorousness and his fierce love for these in his life will likely be sorely missed by all who had been lucky sufficient to know him. And sure, he drove his Hertz Ford Falcon rental automotive into the Mark Thomas Resort pool in Monterey, CA in October of 1961, on a guess.
A household burial and a non-public celebration of life will likely be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Augie’s title could also be made to the Pabst Mansion, a spot close to and pricey to his coronary heart.
As Augie was recognized for saying, “drive quick!”.
