Ball Bros : racing for fun

The Ball Bros was the name taken by a pair of drivers : Mike Brockman and Steve Durst. It was the time when racing was supposed to be fun. At least some people tried to make it more fun t han business. Steve Durst and Mike Brockman began their career in the late 60s, having a go at Formula 5000 and GT Racing. They would enter IMSA racing in the mid 70s, running a Chevrolet Corvette. They would later try their hand at different kind of racing machines, while they would be out of racing for a decade or so. Their partnership would resume in a rather naturel way. Steve Durst was a businessman and Mike Brockman was a journalist/actor. Business became the priority for Steve Durst, who found later that racing was something he missed. Mike Brockman did some racing commentary for ESPN for several years, and he got the opportunity to do some showroom stock racing. Unfortunately, as he would put it, he won! The two of them would reach an agreement with Bobby Rinzler to become part of a two car team for the 1986 season. But the deal fell short, for financial reasons. They would get a cheap tenement, in the name of a Tiga GT285 Mazda. The car would do well until being reconstructed after a violent encounter with Rob Dyson's Porsche 962. For the upcoming 1987 season, the Ball Bros team had secured a brans new Spice Fiero, and Pontiac's assistance. A bunch of engines and technical assistance. Steve Durst position in business helped them assembling the sponsor package, which consisted of Jiffy Lube. The team was owned by both of them, and the budget was around $450000 for the season. The team would do very well with the new car, garnering a pair of in 1987. The car was a consistent frontrunner. The Ball Bros name traces back to when they were known as Goofball and Dirtball, so, when they formed the team, they found it natural to name it the Ball Brothers. The purpose of Racing, according to Mike Brockman, was to have fun. They would simply put That in practice, but it would not prevent them from winning. Having fun and winning races was not contradictory, for sure!

Always driving for fun, Mike Brockma and Steve Durst had some fine results