The Driver
Raymond 'Buzz' Fyhrie
Professional Race Car Driver · Plantation, Florida
Buzz Fyhrie is the complete road racer. In the ultimate man and machine interaction, Fyhrie combines skill, perception, and judgment with an excellent knowledge of the mechanical and engineering intricacies of a sophisticated racing car. As a driver, racecar chassis setup specialist, and engine builder, Buzz has done it all.
Career Timeline
A Life in Racing
1959–1964
The Beginning — Go-Karts
Buzz began his racing career at age 11, driving single and twin-engine go-karts under his father's direction. He raced at regional and national events throughout the central United States, winning the 'Karting International' National Championship in Quincy, IL in 1962 — with the trophy presented by Hot Rod Magazine. In 1963, he and his father won the IKF National Championship Father-Son Combined trophy.
1970–1971
Midwest Council Champion
Buzz purchased a 1966 427 red race-prepared Corvette Roadster and won the Midwest Council of Sports Car Clubs 'A-Production' Championship back-to-back in 1970 and 1971 — competing at Blackhawk Farms and Milwaukee against the best regional talent in the Midwest.
1973
Can-Am with Gregg & Haywood
A chance meeting with Hurley Haywood in Wheaton, IL led to Buzz joining as team mechanic for Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood's 917-10 Twin Turbo Porsche Can-Am car. He traveled throughout the United States and Canada, helping the team to a 3rd overall in the 1973 SCCA Can-Am Series season.
1975–1976
Trans-Am & SCCA Nationals
After graduating from Bob Bondurant's Advanced Racing School with top grades, Buzz competed in SCCA Trans-Am races and multiple SCCA National events. He was invited to the 1976 SCCA Road Atlanta National Runoffs — hit from behind and knocked off track, he still fought back to finish 5th in A-Production against the best big-block Corvette racers in the country.
1977–1978
IMSA Daytona 24 Hours
Buzz competed in the IMSA 24 Hours of Daytona twice — in 1977 and 1978 — co-driving AA/GT Camaros at Daytona International Speedway. He also drove the Mancuso Chevrolet Greenwood Corvette in Trans-Am races, including the Watkins Glen IMSA 6-Hour with Paul DePirro as co-driver.
1979–1983
Eight Seasons of Trans-Am
Buzz competed in eight seasons of the SCCA Trans-Am Series from 1976 to 1983, racing at Elkhart Lake, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, and beyond. Highlights include a 5th place IMSA GTO finish at Mid-Ohio in 1982 and a 3rd place at the prestigious June Sprints at Road America.
2004–2009
The C5-R Corvette
Buzz built his own 1998 C5-R Corvette from scratch in his garage — a full-bore 602 HP Pro Competition Coupe — and returned to competition in NASA and PBOC events at Moroso Motorsports Park, Sebring International Raceway, and Homestead-Miami Speedway. In 2006, he qualified on pole at the NASA Moroso event on both Saturday and Sunday.
Beyond the Track
Beyond the Track
Buzz's background includes a career as an Electrical Design Engineer at Bell Telephone Laboratories, followed by roles as Sales Manager for Dan Gurney's Checkpoint America and National Sales Manager for PME/Pro-Motor Engineering — a Chicago-based engine company whose powerplants won 3 APBA World Offshore Championships and 40 APBA National Offshore races. He is currently President and Owner of PMA Insurance (Performance Marine Associates Insurance Services), a Ft. Lauderdale-based marine insurance agency he has operated for 38+ years. Personal interests include Harley-Davidson motorcycles, scuba diving in the Florida Keys and Caribbean, snow skiing, playing drums to rock-n-roll and jazz, and producing multi-camera race video movies from his extensive library of in-car and trackside footage.
Competition Licenses
Racing Schools
Bob Bondurant Advanced Road Racing
Grade 9/10
Bob Bondurant Advanced Road Racing
Grade 3.8/4 — highest in class
Bob Bondurant Advanced Road Racing
Grade 3.9/4 — highest in class
Jim Hall II Racing Go-Kart School
2nd overall in year-end run-offs