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Posey's Surtees TS9B at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Key Information

Samuel Felton Posey (born May 26, 1944)[1] is an American former racing driver and sports broadcast journalist.

Early life and driving career

[edit]

Posey's father, Lt. (j.g.) Samuel Felton Posey, was killed in the Battle of Okinawa when a kamikaze struck his ship, the USS Henrico. His remains were never recovered. Posey grew up on his grandfather's Connecticut estate near Lime Rock Park. Posey was bought a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL when he was 14 years old, and practiced driving the car around his family farm. He received his first racing lessons from neighbor John Fitch.[2] Sam Posey started as an amateur sports car racer, and graduated to the Can-Am, in a car designed and funded by himself in collaboration with engineer friend Ray Caldwell.[3] Posey raced the Sunoco Camaro for Roger Penske in 1968 in the Trans-Am Series. Chevrolet won the championship based on the Penske team effort. Mark Donohue was the lead driver and he won a remarkable 10 of 13 races. Posey's first race was at Bridgehampton where he finished 3rd. Other finishes were: Meadowdale, 3rd; St Jovite, 3rd; Bryar, 6th; Watkins Glen, 2nd which was the only race that Donohue was beaten by a Camaro in 1968. Posey's car was the same Sunoco Blue with yellow lettering as Donohue. Posey sported a yellow spoiler and Donohue had a red spoiler.

In 1969, he won the Lime Rock Trans-Am in a factory Ford Mustang. In 1970, Posey was the driver for Ray Caldwell's factory-backed Autodynamics Dodge Challenger in Trans-Am, racing against Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney, Mark Donohue and Jim Hall in what most racing historians regard as the greatest season of professional road racing in US history. Posey also raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1969 and 1972-1974 seasons, with 13 career starts, including the 1972 Indianapolis 500. Posey's entry was disqualified from the 1973 Indianapolis 500 after USAC Technical Director Frank DelRoy discovered Posey's team had disguised their already qualified car as another vehicle so that Posey could make another qualifying attempt to try to avoid being bumped from the field.[4] He finished in the top ten 8 times, with his best finish in 3rd position in 1969 at the Kent road course. He was the team driver for Caldwell's Can-Am racer which featured monocoque aluminum construction in two parallel longitudinal space frames, with solid front and rear axles.

As an endurance racer, Posey appeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 10 times (1966, 1969–1973, and 1975–1978) and finished in the top 10 five times. His best finish was 3rd position during the 1971 competition in which he drove the Ferrari 512M.[5] He won the 1975 12 Hours of Sebring, teaming with three other drivers.

He participated in two Formula One world championship events, the 1971 and 1972 United States Grand Prix, retiring from the first and finishing 12th in the second, thus not scoring any championship points. He drove Surtees cars on both occasions, but only the first was a works-entered car.

He also competed in a single event in the NASCAR Grand National Series (now known as the NASCAR Cup Series), the first race of the 1970 season, held on the Riverside International Raceway road course in Riverside, California.

Racing analyst

[edit]

ABC

[edit]

Posey went on to become an auto racing commentator for ABC Sports. Posey debuted on ABC for the Indianapolis 500 in 1974, serving as analyst. In subsequent years, he served as a pit reporter but would fill in as analyst when regular analyst Jackie Stewart was unavailable as Posey was second choice as analyst. Posey returned to the booth starting in 1982 as Stewart reduced his workload. By 1986, Stewart had left and Posey was their first choice as analyst.

While commentating the 1986 Indianapolis 500, as there was a yellow flag out very near the end of the race, Posey used a two-way radio to ask an impromptu question to race leader Kevin Cogan. Posey was trying to ask Cogan about his thoughts in leading the Indianapolis 500 at this stage. Cogan tried to stave off the conversation once, but Posey persisted a second time, at which time Cogan politely replied to Posey that he was "a little busy now," but would talk to him later. Posey understood the circumstances and told the audience if that were he, "I wouldn't want to talk to me either." Moments later, on a restart with two laps remaining, Bobby Rahal jumped Cogan on the restart and went on to win.

Along with the Indy 500, Posey's ABC Sports duties included commentary for the CART/PPG Indy Car World Series with Paul Page and Bobby Unser, lasting through 1995. Posey also appeared on selected NASCAR broadcasts on ABC. The three-man booth of Page, Posey, and Unser was a fixture of Indy car racing during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Posey and Bobby Unser were known to engage in friendly, but sometimes heated exchanges on-air. The friction reached a level such that beginning in 1993 at the Indy 500, Unser moved out of the booth and began reporting from a remote location in turn two.

In 1989, Posey was brought in as part of the ABC Sports broadcast team covering the 1989 Tour de France. Many people were surprised by Posey's knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for the sport. ABC would bring him back as the lead anchor for the 1990 and 1991 races. Posey also worked as the play-by-play announcer for luge during ABC's coverage of the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Speedvision

[edit]

Posey moved to Speedvision (later known as SPEED) in 1996, covering various races namely sports car racing and Formula One. He also did essay work for the coverage of the Tour de France on OLN/Versus (later known as NBCSN), serving as the "Race Historian", and wrote for Road & Track magazine.

Recent years

[edit]

Posey is also the author of Playing With Trains, a book on model railroading published by Random House and his layout (the Colorado Midland) was featured in the February 1995 issue of Model Railroader Magazine, and The Mudge Pond Express, an autobiography which centers around his personal racing career and love of the sport.

An accomplished artist, painter and architect,[6][7] in 1966 he earned his B.F.A. in painting from Rhode Island School of Design.[8] Since 1995, Posey suffers from Parkinson's disease, which has attenuated his activities in recent years.[9][6]

Posey was the voice for the pre-race build-up montage slotted between the Mercedes-Benz Pre-Race Show and the actual race coverage for each Formula 1 race shown on the Speed Channel. Posey also comments on recent Formula 1 races and the championship in a segment called "Posey's Perspective" as part of the Formula 1 Debrief show (also featuring Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, Steve Matchett, and Will Buxton) on the Speed Channel. Posey narrated F1 montages for the NBC Sports Network from 2013 to 2017.[10]

Awards

[edit]

He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016.[11]

Tribute

[edit]

In 2013, the front straight at Lime Rock Park was renamed the Sam Posey Straight.[12]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 WDC Points
1971 Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Cosworth V8 RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA
Ret 		NC 0
1972 Champcarr Inc. Surtees TS9B Cosworth V8 ARG RSA ESP MON BEL FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA
12 		NC 0

Complete Indianapolis 500 results

[edit]
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team Notes
1969 – – Refused entry due to experience
1970 – – Failed to qualify
1971 Eagle Offy – – Jerry Grant Racing Bumped
1972 Eagle Offy 7 5 Champ Carr Inc.
1973 Eagle Offy – – Champ Carr Inc. Bumped

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1966 Italy Prototipi Bizzarrini Italy Massimo Natili Bizzarrini P538 Super America P +5.0 39 DSQ DSQ
1969 United States North American Racing Team Italy Teodoro Zeccoli Ferrari 275LM S 5.0 329 8th 4th
1970 United States North American Racing Team United States Ronnie Bucknum Ferrari 512S S 5.0 313 4th 3rd
1971 United States North American Racing Team United States Tony Adamowicz Ferrari 512M S 5.0 366 3rd 3rd
1972 United States North American Racing Team United States Tony Adamowicz Ferrari 365 GTB/4 GTS 5.0 304 6th 2nd
1973 United States North American Racing Team United States Milt Minter Ferrari 365 GTB/4 GTS 5.0 254 DNF DNF
1975 France Hervé Poulain France Jean Guichet
France Hervé Poulain 		BMW 3.0 CSL TS 73 DNF DNF
1976 Germany BMW Motorsport GmbH
Germany Alpina-Faltz 		Belgium Baron Hughes de Fierlandt
Germany Harald Grohs 		BMW 3.0 CSL Gr.5
SP 		299 10th 4th
1977 United States Grand Touring Cars Inc. France Michel Leclère Mirage M8-Renault Gr.6
S 3.0 		58 DNF DNF
1978 United States Grand Touring Cars Inc. France Michel Leclère Mirage M9-Renault Gr. 6
S 3.0 		33 DNF DNF
France Jacques Laffite
Australia Vern Schuppan 		Mirage M9-Renault Gr.6
S 3.0 		293 10th 5th

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Sam Posey

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from Grokipedia
Samuel Felton Posey (born May 26, 1944) is an American former professional racing driver and sports broadcaster, renowned for his versatile career in motorsports during the 1960s and 1970s, followed by decades of commentary work. Born in New York City, Posey began his racing journey in the mid-1960s with Formula Vee cars at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. In 1967, he became the first driver to complete a lap of the 1.53-mile course in under one minute, clocking 58.6 seconds in a McLaren Elva Mk II Can-Am car. Over nearly two decades of competition, he excelled in multiple disciplines, including SCCA road racing, Trans-Am, Can-Am, Formula 5000, Formula 1, IndyCar, and endurance events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and IMSA GT series. His notable achievements include third place in the 1967 SCCA U.S. Road Racing Championship, a 1969 Trans-Am win at Lime Rock in a Ford Mustang, a third-place finish at the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans, runner-up honors in Formula 5000 for 1971 and 1972, fifth place in his sole Indianapolis 500 start in 1972, and a co-driving victory in the 1975 12 Hours of Sebring aboard a BMW 3.0 CSL with teammates Brian Redman, Allan Moffat, and Hans-Joachim Stuck. After retiring from driving at the end of the 1981 season, Posey embarked on a successful broadcasting career, serving as a commentator for ABC Sports from 1982 to 1996, covering the , , and other events; he also worked for SPEED Channel and , and provided coverage of the from 1989 to 1991. In recognition of his journalistic contributions, he won an Emmy Award in sportswriting for his work on the Trans Antarctica expedition. Beyond racing and media, Posey is an accomplished artist, painter, and architect who designed three structures at —earning the front straight there the name "The Sam Posey Straight" in 2013—and a model railroad enthusiast who authored the The Mudge Pond Express detailing his racing life. Diagnosed with in 1995, he remains active in his creative pursuits from his home in northwestern . Posey was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016.

Early Life

Childhood and Family Background

Samuel Felton Posey was born on May 26, 1944, in , New York, to a well-to-do family with roots in finance and ; his grandfather headed a prominent New York company. His father, a U.S. officer, was on Okinawa shortly after Posey's birth during the final months of , leaving him an raised by his mother, Mary Posey. This early loss profoundly shaped family dynamics, as Mary, a spirited and independent woman with a strong affinity for automobiles, relocated with her young son from Manhattan's to a farmstead on the outskirts of , near her own mother's home, providing a rural setting for Posey's formative years. In Sharon, Posey grew up just a few miles from , a renowned road-racing circuit established in 1957, which became an integral part of his early environment. The proximity to the track, combined with summers spent observing road races, ignited his fascination with cars and motorsports during his pre-teen and early teenage years; at age 14 in 1958, he devoured racing autobiographies like Mike Hawthorn's, fueling a passion inherited in part from his mother's love of . This interest was nurtured amid the open spaces of the family farm, where Posey spent much of his childhood exploring mechanical pursuits. Posey's introduction to driving came informally through family support and self-directed practice, beginning with tractors and a 1950 Ford Tudor as young as age 8, under his mother's encouraging guidance. By his early teens, he honed car-control skills by navigating farm roads, alfalfa fields, and an uncle's private airstrip at high speeds, often sliding and recovering to build confidence—experiences that laid the groundwork for his later racing endeavors without formal instruction.

Education and Initial Influences

Posey attended , a private high school in , where he graduated in 1962 and first nurtured his interest in automobiles amid the region's burgeoning motorsport scene. Following high school, he enrolled briefly at , studying English but finding challenges in mathematics and languages that led him to transfer. Posey ultimately pursued his artistic inclinations at the (RISD), earning a in in 1966 while increasingly drawn to racing as a parallel passion. During his time at RISD, he balanced studio work with weekend drives to events like the , marking the intersection of his creative and competitive ambitions. A pivotal influence was racing pioneer John Fitch, a neighbor and former Le Mans winner who owned a local car dealership near Posey's home in Sharon, Connecticut. Fitch mentored the young enthusiast, selling him a used Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing at age 14 and imparting key lessons on trackcraft, including informal driving instruction at the nearby circuit, which Fitch helped develop. This guidance culminated in Posey's first organized tryout in a purpose-built racing car, arranged by Fitch during his late teens. Posey's initial forays into competitive driving occurred during his college years, where he competed in events such as hill climbs—winning the Mount Equinox ascent in with his modified 300 SL—and regional races in a , honing skills that bridged his education and emerging professional path.

Racing Career

Entry into Racing and Early Competitions

Sam Posey entered professional in the mid-1960s after competing in events, making his international debut at the 1966 where he co-drove a GTS to an 11th-place finish overall. This marked his transition from local races at to higher-level competition under the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) sanction. Throughout 1966, Posey campaigned the GTS in several SCCA Nationals and Road Racing Championship (USRRC) rounds, achieving a third-place finish at the Lime Rock SCCA National in July. Posey's first major victory came later that year at the Watkins Glen 500 km race in August, where he partnered with in the Porsche 904 GTS. Starting sixth, they capitalized on a heavy rainstorm that caused three leading 427s to crash out, allowing the duo to secure the win and establishing Posey as an emerging talent in endurance-style events. This success highlighted his adaptability in variable conditions and paved the way for more prominent drives. In 1967, Posey competed primarily in a Mark II Chevrolet for the Autodynamics team, earning consistent results in the SCCA USRRC series that culminated in a third-place championship finish behind and Lothar Motschenbacher. Key performances included second places at and Watkins Glen, along with fourth at and sixth at Mid-Ohio and . He also ventured into the nascent series that year with a Caldwell D7, though results were modest with finishes no better than 12th at Mosport. A standout moment came at during a July USRRC event, where Posey set the track's first sub-60-second lap at 58.6 seconds in the Mark II, shattering the previous record and demonstrating the car's superior speed on the 1.53-mile circuit.

Sports Car and Endurance Racing

Sam Posey's involvement in sports car and endurance racing spanned over a decade, marked by consistent performances in high-stakes international events that emphasized reliability, strategy, and teamwork. Building on his foundational experiences in SCCA races, he transitioned to professional prototypes and GT cars, competing against factory teams from and . His career in this discipline showcased adaptability across manufacturers, from Italian exotics to German engineering, often in grueling 24-hour formats that tested driver endurance as much as mechanical fortitude. Posey competed in the ten times between 1966 and 1978, achieving five top-10 overall finishes across entries in various classes. His most notable result was overall in , co-driving a Ferrari 512M with Tony Adamowicz for the (NART); the pair completed 366 laps, capitalizing on reliability amid mechanical retirements by rivals. Other strong showings included fourth place in 1970 with Ronnie Bucknum in a Ferrari 512S for NART and eighth in 1969 in a Ferrari 275LM, also with NART support. These efforts underscored Posey's role in NART's campaign to keep Ferrari competitive in the post-prototype era, often navigating challenging weather and mechanical demands. A highlight of Posey's endurance resume was his overall victory at the 1975 12 Hours of Sebring, piloting a for BMW Motorsport alongside Brian Redman, , and . The team covered 238 laps on the bumpy Sebring airfield circuit, outlasting challengers in a battle that propelled BMW's presence in American sports car racing. This win, BMW's first at the event, demonstrated Posey's skill in high-speed drafting and pit strategy during night stints. He had previously tasted success at Sebring in , co-driving a GTB/4 to class victory with for NART. In the 1970s, Posey raced extensively in the GT and , blending GT machinery with sedan-based competition. For , he drove in the GTU class with a 260Z in 1977, securing three victories—at Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen, and Riverside—and finishing second in the championship, contributing to the model's rising profile in American endurance racing. In , he achieved multiple podiums, including third places at Lime Rock and in 1970 with a factory-backed for Autodynamics, highlighting his prowess in wheel-to-wheel battles on road courses. These series allowed Posey to collaborate with diverse teams, including efforts like the 1974 season with Ted Trudon's Porsche-Audi squad, where he earned a fifth-place finish at Lime Rock in a 911 Carrera RSR.

Formula One and Open-Wheel Racing

Posey's entry into came in 1971 when he joined Team Surtees, driving the Surtees TS9 powered by a Ford Cosworth DFV engine. He made his debut at the at Watkins Glen, where he qualified 26th and retired after 15 laps due to a piston failure. This marked his only start that season, as limited opportunities prevented further entries. In 1972, Posey returned to Formula One with Surtees, contesting the United States Grand Prix once more in the updated TS9B. Qualifying 23rd, he completed 57 of 59 laps to finish 12th, his best result in the series. With just two World Championship appearances and no points scored, Posey shifted his focus away from Formula One toward American open-wheel racing later that year. Posey's open-wheel career in the USAC Championship Car series spanned 1969 to 1974, during which he made 13 starts without a victory but achieved one podium. His best finish came in 1969 at the second Seattle race on the Kent road course, where he placed third in an STP-sponsored Lotus-Ford. That year marked his debut season with six appearances, establishing him as a competitive entrant in the series. A highlight of Posey's USAC tenure was his sole Indianapolis 500 appearance in 1972, driving the #34 Norris Industries Eagle-Offy for Champ Carr Inc. Starting seventh, he ran reliably to finish fifth, completing all 200 laps and earning rookie honors as the highest-placed newcomer. He added three more starts in 1973 and 1974 before concluding his Champ Car efforts. In a brief foray outside pure open-wheel, Posey made one NASCAR Grand National start in 1970 at the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside International Raceway, piloting a Dodge for Owens Racing. Qualifying ninth, he retired early due to engine failure, finishing 28th in his only Cup Series outing.

Key Achievements and Results Tables

Sam Posey's racing career spanned multiple disciplines, with notable successes in sports car and endurance racing through the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) series. He secured several key victories, including the 1966 Watkins Glen 500 km race in a Porsche 904 GTS. He finished fourth overall at the 1970 24 Hours of Daytona in a Ferrari 312P co-driven by Mike Parkes. His most prominent endurance win came in 1975 at the 12 Hours of Sebring, where he shared the victorious BMW 3.0 CSL (No. 25) with Brian Redman, Allan Moffat, and Hans-Joachim Stuck after the team's No. 24 car retired early; the quartet completed 238 laps for the overall victory. Posey achieved multiple podium finishes in SCCA and IMSA events, including third place in the 1967 US Road Racing Championship standings and several top-three results in Trans-Am and IMSA GT races during the late 1960s and 1970s. In Formula 5000, he finished runner-up in the championship in both 1971 and 1972. Overall, Posey made 13 starts in the USAC Championship Car series from 1969 to 1974, with a best finish of third at the 1969 200 (Heat 2). He had one start in 1970 at the Motor Trend 500 in Riverside, qualifying ninth but retiring after 82 laps due to engine failure for a 28th-place finish.

Formula One World Championship Results

YearGrand PrixEntrantChassisEngineQualifyingFinishLapsStatusPoints
1971Team SurteesSurtees TS9Ford V826Ret15Piston0
1972Champ Carr Inc.Surtees TS9BFord V8231257+2 laps0

Indianapolis 500 Results

Posey attempted to qualify for the four times between 1971 and 1974 but started only one race.
YearQualifying PositionFinishLaps CompletedStatusEntrantChassisEngine
197154 (bumped)DNQ-Bumped from field---
197275200RunningNorris IndustriesEagle 72Offenhauser TC
1973-DNQ-Bumped from fieldNorris IndustriesEagle 72Offenhauser TC
1974-Did not enter-----

24 Hours of Le Mans Results

Posey competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 10 times between 1966 and 1978, achieving one podium finish and five top-10 overall results. Detailed results for select participations are listed below; full data for all entries confirms no class or overall wins but consistent competitiveness in GT and prototype classes.
YearTeamCarTeammate(s)ClassClass PositionOverall PositionLapsStatus
1966Prototipi BizzarriniBizzarrini P538 Super AmericaMassimo Natili (ITA)P 2.0-DNF39Pit violation
1969North American Racing TeamFerrari 275LMTeodoro Zeccoli (ITA)S +5.01st8th329Running
1970North American Racing TeamFerrari 512SRonnie Bucknum (USA)S +5.03rd4th313Running
1971North American Racing TeamFerrari 512MTony Adamowicz (USA)S +5.01st3rd366Running
1972North American Racing TeamFerrari 365 GTB/4 DaytonaMilt Minter (USA)GT3rd9th336Running
1973North American Racing TeamFerrari 365 GTB/4 DaytonaJean-Pierre Jarier (FRA)GTRetDNF46Accident
1975BMW MotorsportBMW 3.0 CSLHans-Joachim Stuck (GER)GTS1st6th360Running
1976North American Racing TeamFerrari 365 GT4 BBJean-Pierre Jarier (FRA)GTXRetDNF44Engine
1977North American Racing TeamPorsche 934/5George Follmer (USA)GTX2nd8th375Running
1978North American Racing TeamPorsche 935George Follmer (USA)GTC1st11th381Running

Broadcasting Career

Work with ABC Sports

Sam Posey joined ABC Sports in 1974 as a pit reporter and analyst, marking the beginning of his broadcasting career while he was still actively competing in on a part-time basis. His role allowed him to leverage his firsthand experience as a driver to provide insightful commentary, particularly during the overlap between his racing and media endeavors. This transition was facilitated by his retirement from full-time driving in 1974, though he continued select races until 1981, enabling a smooth shift to full-time commentary thereafter. Posey's most prominent contributions at ABC came in the coverage of major motorsports events, where he served as . He provided analysis for the from 1982 to 1996, working alongside play-by-play announcer Paul Page and fellow analyst in a highly regarded broadcast booth. His expertise helped demystify the technical aspects of open-wheel racing for American audiences, drawing on his own competitive background in the series. Beyond IndyCar, Posey's work extended to a variety of broadcasts, showcasing his versatility. He contributed to and Champ Car event coverage, offering detailed breakdowns of strategy and vehicle performance. Posey also participated in telecasts during select years, analyzing stock car dynamics with the same precision he applied to sports cars. Additionally, he ventured into non-automotive events, serving as a commentator for the cycling race from 1989 to 1991, where his articulate style bridged endurance sports.

Speedvision and Subsequent Roles

Following his tenure with ABC Sports, Posey joined Speedvision—later rebranded as the Speed Channel—in 1996, where he provided commentary for races and sports car events, drawing on his extensive driving experience to offer nuanced analysis. His work on Speedvision established him as a prominent voice in specialized motorsports coverage, particularly for international series like F1, where he collaborated with teams including Bob Varsha and David Hobbs to deliver live broadcasts starting in the late 1990s. He maintained an ongoing role in and analysis through the early 2010s on Speed Channel platforms, providing driver-perspective insights that highlighted strategic decisions and on-track dynamics. Throughout these roles, Posey earned recognition for his articulate style and ability to convey complex concepts from a former competitor's viewpoint, often preparing thoughtful, pre-recorded features that added depth to live coverage without overwhelming the broadcast. He narrated historical montages for from 2013 to 2017 and continued providing occasional essays and previews for through 2024, including coverage, amid his battle with . As of 2024, he continued to contribute occasional essays and video previews for ' coverage, such as the .

Post-Racing Activities

Writing and Artistic Pursuits

Following his retirement from active racing, Sam Posey pursued writing as a means to document and reflect on motorsport history and personal passions. His contributions to automotive journalism include regular columns and articles for Road & Track magazine, beginning in the 1980s and continuing into recent years. These writings often blend technical insights from his racing experience with broader cultural observations on automobiles and design. Posey has authored several books that explore history and niche hobbies. In The Mudge Pond Express (1976), he recounts his early career as a driver in the and , drawing on personal anecdotes to capture the era's amateur scene. His 2004 book Playing with Trains: A Passion Beyond Scale, published by , delves into model railroading, profiling elite hobbyists and detailing his own extensive HO-scale layout inspired by the Midland Railroad. Where the Writer Meets the Road (2015), a compilation of his essays, columns, and broadcasts, earned the Motor Press Guild's Best Book of the Year award, highlighting his multifaceted commentary on motorsports and beyond. Additionally, Sam's Scrapbook: My Motorsports Memories collects personal stories and photographs from his career, emphasizing key races and relationships. Parallel to his literary work, Posey established a professional painting career, leveraging his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design as a foundation for abstract works often evoking motorsport themes. His vibrant, jagged abstractions, such as Odyssey (2000), held in the Tate collection, incorporate dynamic forms reminiscent of speed and machinery. Posey has exhibited his artwork in motorsport contexts, including the 2016 "POSEY: Shifting Through the Creative Life of Sam Posey" show at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, which integrated his paintings with racing artifacts. In 2022, he presented 10 acrylic paintings at the WKNDDRVR gallery in Kent, Connecticut, further showcasing his evolution as an artist. Posey's architectural pursuits reflect a synthesis of his artistic training and background, resulting in designs that emphasize fluid lines and functional aesthetics akin to high-performance vehicles. Notable projects include the Tower and Infield Chalet at , co-designed with David Moore, which feature sleek, modern structures enhancing spectator experiences at the track. He also designed a contemporary lakefront home in the for a client, starting with a detailed to refine its orientation and flow, demonstrating his approach to blending form and environment. These endeavors underscore Posey's interdisciplinary creativity, where influences inform both visual and structural innovation.

Personal Life and Health Challenges

Sam Posey has been married to Ellen Griesedieck since September 10, 1979. The couple has two children: John and Judy. They have maintained a long-term residence in , where Posey designed and built their home and studio on a wooded ridge overlooking Mudge Pond, near and the Mountains. In 1995, Posey was diagnosed with , a condition that has progressively impacted his speech and mobility over the subsequent decades. Despite these challenges, he has managed the disease with the support of his wife, adapting his artistic practice—for instance, by using broader brushes for painting—and continuing to engage in public activities with enthusiasm. Posey has emerged as an advocate for Parkinson's awareness, earning recognition as a champion in the fight against the illness through participation in fundraising events like the Drive Toward a Cure, which benefits organizations including The Parkinson’s Institute and ; in October 2024, he was honored at for his contributions. A dedicated hobbyist, Posey has pursued model railroading for much of his life, culminating in a 16-year project that spanned 6,000 hours to construct an HO-scale recreation of the Midland railroad in the basement of his northwestern home. This passion intersects with his writing endeavors in the 2004 book Playing with Trains: A Passion Beyond Scale, where he documents his personal layout—initially inspired by bonding with his son—and profiles fellow enthusiasts to illuminate the hobby's artistic and technical depths. Posey's family has provided steadfast support amid his post-racing career transitions, including his retirement from driving in the early 1980s and subsequent pursuits in , writing, and . His wife has shared in creative and physical activities, such as establishing a 6.2-mile cycling course around Mudge Pond in 1974—where she once set a women's record—and has assisted in navigating his health issues while raising their children in their home. This familial foundation has enabled Posey to balance professional shifts with personal stability.

Awards and Legacy

Motorsports Honors

Sam Posey was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016 in the Sports Cars category, recognizing his versatile career as a prominent American road racer in the and , including victories in major endurance events and contributions to . His induction highlighted achievements such as finishing fifth in his only start in 1972, runner-up finishes in the U.S. Formula 5000 series in 1971 and 1972, and a win in the 1969 Trans-Am race at . Posey's significant contributions to sports car racing during the 1970s included his role in BMW's successful campaigns, such as co-driving the winning to victory in the 1975 with teammates , Brian Redman, and —a car inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025. He also achieved a second-place finish in the 1977 GTU season points standings with three wins and additional podiums driving a . The Sebring win marked a pivotal moment in history and BMW's endurance racing legacy. Posey received the inaugural Bob Akin Memorial Motorsports Award in 2003 from the Drivers Club, established to honor individuals who exemplify sportsmanship and contributions to , reflecting his achievements both as a driver and broadcaster. In 2012, he was awarded the Spirit of Competition Award by the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, presented at the , celebrating his multifaceted career spanning racing at and , alongside his broadcasting work. For his early career contributions, Posey earned recognition from the SCCA with a third-place finish in the 1967 U.S. Championship, following his victory in the 1966 Watkins Glen 500 km race. He was also inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2015, acknowledging his regional impact starting from races at in the mid-1960s and extending to national series.

Tributes and Recent Recognition

In 2013, renamed its front straightaway the "Sam Posey Straight" to honor Posey's extensive success and contributions to racing at the circuit, where he began his career in the mid-1960s and set a lap record in 1967. This tribute underscores his enduring connection to the track, which he has continued to support through participation in historic racing events like the annual Historic Festival. Posey has remained active in public appearances and interviews into his later years, sharing insights from his multifaceted career. In a 2022 profile, at age 78, he reflected on his achievements—including a fifth-place finish at the and his Trans-Am championship—and his transitions into broadcasting, art, and architecture, emphasizing the diverse pursuits that defined his life beyond the racetrack. His ongoing involvement in motorsports includes contributions to historic demonstrations and of younger drivers and broadcasters, drawing on his experience as a former ABC Sports commentator to guide emerging talents in the field. In recent years, Posey has received recognition for his broader legacy, particularly in the context of his personal health challenges. On October 10, 2024, the nonprofit Drive Toward a Cure honored him at with a luncheon event to raise funds for research, celebrating his status as a motorsports icon and advocate after three decades living with the condition since his diagnosis in 1995. The tribute highlighted Posey's resilience, portraying him as a "Renaissance man" whose continued engagement in racing, design (including Lime Rock's Infield Chalet), and storytelling exemplifies determination amid adversity. In September 2025, Posey and John Fitch were inducted into the Legends of Lime Rock during the Historic Festival 43 Competitors Dinner at .

References

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