A WORLD CLASS WINNER

FINDING GOLD JENNIFER TORRES

But do you know him?

Part One

You might have seen his work over nearly four decades on the track, but do you know this Gold Coast Region member? He is among the most interesting men in racing!

Between 1993 and 2022 1,825 cars have raced in the Rolex Daytona 24. This mystery man has had a total of seven (7) wins, and 202 cars entered in that period! His Sebring 12 Hour record includes 23 wins, with 158 cars entered of the 1372 total cars raced during the same period. LeMans, you might ask. Three wins. And a bit closer to home at the Petite LeMans Road Atlanta, between 1998 and 2022 he has enjoyed 19 wins with 121 cars entered of 942 total raced. That is 52 First Place podium wins among these four major racing events. It does not include additional podium finishes (2nd or 3rd place), nor does it include any of the other races such as Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca, Road America, etc.

Who is he? He’s not a manufacturer, nor a car builder, engine builder, or car owner.

He’s not a driver either. Thirtyseven years of effort have made his creations the most visible of anyone in racing who has had their work driven in anger. Yet the vast majority of folks who follow sports car racing have no clue who this person is. He is a supreme talent and racing innovator who has flown under the radar—way under. As Jimmy Buffett sings, he’s a “treetop flyer.” Perhaps “off the grid” would be a most appropriate descriptive, given the industry.

The “Who’s Who” of road racing know him by first name. The likes of Derek Bell, Jacky Ickx, Hurley Haywood, and Roger Penske are among his friends, as was the late Paul Newman. Porsche Motorsports, Champion Motorsports, Alex Job Racing, Wright Motorsports and Gunnar Racing are among many competitors that have been beneficiaries of his unique talent. Porsche Motorsports? Yes, THE PORSCHE MOTORSPORTS of both North America and Stuttgart know him and have relied on his unique talent!

Article by Mark Johnson

Interested? . . . Confused?

Meet David Schnorr of Schnorr Art, a world-class motorsports graphic designer, manufacturer, and installer who has been working on road racing autos for over 37 years. He is a Gold Coast Region member. He joined GCR PCA in 2016 but has been working with Porsche vehicles since the mid-1980s. Supremely talented, professional, soft spoken and exceptionally humble, David has produced some of the most visually stunning car graphics and race livery for Porsche, Audi, Ferrari, Indy car, and even the Doc Hudson Hornet for the Disney movie, Cars

Livery for a race car or race team comprises the use of specific color and sticker design that allows for quick identification of the car, driver, or team. Different liveries originally used specific car paint colors such as the Ferrari Corsa Red or Lotus British Racing Green as determined by the manufacturer. Then additional contrasting-color stripes and numbers were painted on the vehicle for further identification. Eventually, the painted striping evolved into vinyl decaled striping (a Schnorr Art innovation), and eventually to full vehicle vinyl wrap, also a Schnorr Art innovation. Vehicle race livery allows the spectator to quickly identify their favorite car or driver based on the vehicle graphics.

David’s first design effort for a race vehicle was featured on the 1985 Porsche 935 “Coca-Cola” #5. He was approached by the owner of the Porsche 935 Coca-Cola sponsored vehicle. This red 935 needed a visually appealing and fresh graphic design. David was intrigued so he offered his talent to the owner. Although he had years of design work already achieved in other areas, race car graphic design and vehicle livery presented a different opportunity.

The Coca-Cola car owner gave the go ahead. Armed with vinyl “shelf paper,” an exacto knife, masking tape, and a few other simple tools, white vinyl was artistically affixed to the red 935, and the rest, as they say, is history. This Coca-Cola 935 is a true road racing icon, and its livery holds a unique spot in car identification. The basic 935 design has been used on multiple vehicles ever since, most of which David has personally affixed - right up to the latest 2019 Porsche Factory race car.

What followed this initial foray into race livery were two additional vehicles, each eye-catching and unique in its own way. Together, these three cars were the beginnings of a 37-year career that spanned the globe in providing stunning design in racecar livery. David Schnorr’s work has captured the eye of the owners, drivers, fans, sponsors, and the appreciation of all who have seen their vehicle(s) race. Yet it was only those who contracted with Schnorr Art, or who watched David work his magic, who knew the artist’s name. Few others were ever aware of the person who provided talent and ability. Even within the large organizations for which he worked his magic, this was the case, as one story will show.

While working for one manufacturer prior to a major race event, the president of the motorsports operations noted a blemish on a vehicle that was to run the next day. He saw David dutifully working on the car, pointed to the blemish, and grunted: “You’ll fix this!” David said yes, certainly. He has a very casual and humble way about him. His ego doesn’t get in the way of the exceptional work he produces.

Hours later, David was introduced to the same man by the manager of the team. Apparently, the president was somewhat astonished by the genteel and professional manner exhibited by David. Later that afternoon Mr. Motorsports President and David had a long conversation, a talk that led to a twenty-year relationship with the motorsports operations. David Schnorr understood the need for dynamic graphics on race vehicle and he could relate to the team requirements. Then he simply allowed his design and installation efforts do all the talking.

In October 2021, Steve Kidd received a call David Schnorr himself, suggesting that the Gold Coast Region PCA may want to visit the graphics shop and learn some of what had transpired across the years of his involvement with sports car racing. At the time, David was in the process of shutting down his operations, attempting to retire at the end of 2021. Time itself, the many long and crazy hours, the international travel, and the chemical concoctions (fumes, carbon fiber, etc.) had all taken their toll. It was time to end the race.

On December 23, 2021, Steve and a couple Gold Coast Region members drove up to Lake Worth to visit David. Arriving in Lake Park, FL. there were several similar warehouses in the area, each with multiple bays and rollup doors. The Schnorr Art space bore no signage; we had only a street number and a lettered bay.

Towards the far south end of the building a fourteen-foot roll-up door was raised roughly five feet. Sitting in the opening was the attentiongrabber. In the opening sat a carbon fiber rear clip, an engine cover for a modern racecar. One simply does not see carbon fiber racecar body parts at a garage-warehouse space every day. Entering the Schnorr Art shop, a tall, relaxed, masked, and gloved proprietor offered a warm welcome and immediately, the amazement began.

David Schnorr and his son, Jesse, were working on a vehicle wrap for a LMP3 (LeMans Prototype, Class 3) vehicle that would race in the 2022 IMSA series, Rolex Daytona 24, Sebring 12 Hours, etc. The car’s owner was Sean Creech Motorsports. They wanted a design to celebrate the USA, so David crafted the car’s livery around an incredible American flag motif in red, white, and blue.

The stunning, flowing design accentuated the natural motion of air over and around the body shell. Graphics were initially designed on computer to be laid on the bare carbon fiber body. The vinyl had been printed on a 54” solvent jet printer in the requisite pattern. Once cut, large and small pieces of vinyl were then laid onto the carbon fiber Ligier shell to produce a highly recognizable and exceptional look. Both David and Jesse were applying the material onto the car a section at a time.

Watching the process is mesmerizing. A substantial section of printed vinyl is carefully affixed and pressed to the black carbon fiber body. Seemingly in a moment, black fiber is covered with a stunning fluid image of red and white waves. The colored vinyl wrap material effortlessly streams up from the valence and over the fender of the aerodynamic Ligier.

The car and ongoing wrapping effort were the current focal point in the space. Jesse learned the necessary skills from dad, and he is quite talented in his own right, massaging the vinyl to the carbon fiber racecar shell. If a visitor simply watched Jesse perform the transformation on this racecar it would be more than amazing and entertaining. Yet all around is a most incredible shop, crammed full of racecar vehicle history.

END OF PART ONE - The story will continue in the May issue of Die Porsche Kassette