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Group 44: Bob Tullius and the Rise of Professional Sports Car Racing in America
by Bob Tullius, with John Nikas and Neil Smith
COMING EARLY 2025
One of the most respected and successful organizations in motorsport, Group 44 Ltd. established an unprecedented standard of professionalism and helped propel sports car racing into a bold new era. Over the course of more than two decades, the team recorded multiple championships and hundreds of wins in various series, competing with vehicles from American Motors, Audi, Dodge, Jaguar, Lotus, MG, Triumph and Pontiac.
Written with unprecedented access to
Group 44’s extensive archives, the book reveals in exacting detail the fascinating account behind this hallowed operation, focusing on the men and machines that left an indelible impression on fans around the world. Lavishly illustrated with more than 1,400 images, most never before published, this is an essential volume for racing enthusiasts and aficionados of the pristine green-and-white racers that won with clockwork precision from coast to coast.
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Author Biography
John Nikas
John Nikas is an automotive writer who specializes in weaving social, cultural and economic themes into compelling narratives about motoring history. A recipient of the Denise McCluggage Award, he was runner-up for the Mercedes-Benz Award and Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy for Rule Britannia: When British Sports Cars Saved a Nation. Among his books are several marque histories including the best-selling and critically acclaimed Healey: The Men and Machines.
John is frequently asked to speak or make special appearances at automotive events such as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca Raceway and the Goodwood Revival, discussing a wide range of motoring topics. He has also been featured in television spots on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, L’Equipe and the BBC.
A celebrated vintage racer, John has campaigned an array of vehicles in a number of different series. He has collected multiple championships and received special recognition for his accomplishments on and off the track. Among his successes are an overall victory in the Mille Miglia North America Tribute, recognition as the Vintage Auto Racing Association’s British Driver of the Year and an Order of Conspicuous Bravery for a memorable drive in a Jaguar E-type at California Speedway.
Neil Smith
Irish-born, British-raised and California-domiciled, Neil’s love of motorsport came from his father, himself a former grasstrack motorcycle racer. He attended his first Group C race, the 1985 Brands Hatch 1000 km, at the age of nine and from that point on became a scholar of sports car racing and its history. In 1994 he moved to the United States, but not before making the first of many trips to the Le Mans 24 Hours, traveling alone on a charter flight with a small backpack containing nothing more than a few clothes and a hat. After kicking off a career in the technology industry, he began writing a motorsport-focused blog called The Fastest Lap, which led to work covering IMSA and Grand-Am for the predecessor of Sportscar365, one of the top sports car racing news websites. A continued fascination with Group C and IMSA GTP was the catalyst for the research that led to On the Prowl: The Definitive History of the Walkinshaw Jaguar Sports Car Team, Neil’s debut book.
He has participated in numerous racing and track activities, including as a co-driver in the US National Rally Championship, a team owner and driver in the ‘24 Hours of Lemons’ and at numerous track days behind the wheel of cars such as a Porsche 944, Subaru STI and various Alfa Romeos.
Neil lives in Northern California’s Sonoma region with his wife Kristin, teenage daughter Poppy, an introverted terrier and some aloof chickens. When not following motorsport, he can often be found playing guitar in a 90s tribute band.
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