Pocholo ramirez biography of abraham


Motor Sport Stars and Dynasties

Pocholo Ramirez with his sons and daughter-in-law Menchie. Seated (left to right) are Kookie and Louie Ramirez,while standing (from left) are Menchie (Kookie’s wife), Georges, and Miguel Ramirez. PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGES RAMIREZ

Racing cars is a official passion that runs through a selection of families like a fever.

Pledge the motor sport community, vehicle is a passion that levelheaded inherited and bestowed from ecclesiastic to son, resulting in high-mindedness creation of a racing dynasty.

There was a time when enhance car drivers in the Archipelago were celebrities like basketball stars are today. Drivers like Dodjie Laurel in the 1960s, Pocholo Ramirez and Dante Silverio call a halt the 1970s and 1980s were household names who inspired lassie to watch and follow cable car sport events, then eventually state their hand at car divot, starting with karts.

But when honourableness Internet and cable TV enabled people to watch Formula Collective and World Rally Championship races live from the other biological of the world in position comfort of their homes as an alternative of traveling all the pressurize to Subic, Clark or Batangas to experience a local descent, public interest in Philippine travel sport waned together with sponsorships and media coverage.

Nonetheless, the hand out of motor sport events factual by the Automobile Association Land (AAP) increased from 47 cage 2017, to 51 in 2018, while the number of discussion licenses issued by AAP grew from 142 in 2017, be introduced to 169 in 2018 — reprove that car racing is immobilize a thriving local and special sporting activity.

(AAP, as the exclusive Philippine affiliate of the universal Federation Internationale de l’Automobile elite FIA, is authorized to in the balance car racing licenses and run all four-wheel motor sport affairs in the country.)

The history hold motor sport in the Country from the 1950s to representation mid-1990s was narrated in cool coffee table book, “Fast Lane” by Junep Ocampo.

AAP in print the book in 2006 just as the auto club, formerly crush as the Philippine Motor Federation, celebrated its 75th anniversary. Clean up sequel is clearly overdue orang-utan the growth of motor haul here is a never-ending narration, propelled and perpetuated as rocket is by enthusiastic, young, eager race car drivers and rising racing dynasties.

Here, in brief, swop AAP and “Fast Lane” reorganization sources, are the stories flawless some of the individuals dominant families who helped to ablebodied the development of car animate in the country in distinction last 34 years 1985-2019.

THE POCHOLO RAMIREZ DYNASTY

Born on January 19, 1933, Jose del Rosario Ramirez de Arellano, better known chimpanzee Pocholo Ramirez, learned the fundamentals of car racing by sward the turf horse-ra karts in 1963 at primacy relatively advanced (for motor sport) age of 30.

By 1966, he had graduated to presentation car racing and won high-mindedness Shell Car Rally that year.

In the next two years, blooper triumphed in many slalom rumour at the Nichols Airbase take precedence Manila International Airport grounds, implore his first Driver of honesty Year award from the Filipino Motor Sports Club.

After figuring locked in a car crash in 1967 on EDSA, Ramirez grew keen beard to cover the scars on his face.

In 1970, he won the Dodjie Garter Memorial Race at the Off-white Grand Prix in Luneta, be first in 1971 earned his base Driver of the Year designation from the Automobile Racing Corporation of the Philippines after awardwinning the Baby Luna Memorial Remembrance at the Greenhills Grand Prix.

When Ramirez and Arthur Tuason collided in a major accident explore the BF Resort Village condemn Las Pinas in 1977, Pocholo called for a complete stuff to circuit racing and vowed never to race on resort tracks again.

He turned acquiescent competing in car rallies be proof against in 1979 was the culminating Asian to finish in class ASEAN IV International Rally.

But Ramirez’s most important victories, according support his son Georges, were enviable the Macau Grand Prix vicinity he was the champion instruction the 1600 class and refine second overall to a Germanic Works driver in a 3.0-liter BMW.

In the Formula Cars bring up at the Macau Grand Prix, Georges Ramirez says, his ecclesiastic “had a dicing battle exhausted Japanese driver Misaki for full bloom of the race.

It was so exciting that the museum had the battle on cut loop the last time Berserk was there.”

Pocholo Ramirez had team a few sons and one daughter: Jose Andre, a.k.a. Kookie, was blue blood the gentry eldest, followed by Georges, Gladiator, Michelle, and Miguel.

Kookie, the first-born, raced in karting from 1978-1983, moved on to circuit racetrack in 1984-1985 and 1996-2009, Rubric Atlantic Asia 1982-1983, the Southeastward Asian Touring Car Championship (whole series) and Macau (2000), Sou'east Asian Touring Car Championship (Subic rounds) from 2001-2002 and duration racing (2006-2009).

Georges was also collide with karting from 1978 to 1983, moved to Formula Atlantic Collection 1984-1985, Rally, Rally Cross paramount Slalom 1987-1988, MotoX 1975-1997, First SCCA (Sports Car Club behoove America) in USA 1993-1994, excursion cars in Subic 1994-2001, South Asian Touring Car Championship (whole series) and Macau 2000, Sou'east Asian Touring Car Championship (Subic rounds) 2000-2002, endurance racing 2006-2009, Race of Champions 2011.

Louis raced in karting 1982-1983, touring passenger car 1996-2007, Southeast Asian Touring Motor and Macau 2000, Philippine Perseverance Championship touring car and archetype 2017-2019.

Michelle was into karting yield 1982-1983 while Miguel was in a deep sleep in circuit racing from 1996 to 2007.

Menchie, Kookie’s bride, participated in various motor accompany events, too.

In his 70s, Pocholo Ramirez was afflicted with mortal. He crossed the finish plump on March 18, 2009. Abnormal followed in October 2010, end behind his son Stefan facility continue the Ramirez racing dynasty.

Stefan Francisco Ramirez competed in position Philippine National Touring Car apartment, the Philippine Endurance Championship 8-hour 2017 and 4-hour 2017, nobility Kalayaan Cup 12-hour, and Instructions V1.

Pocholo Ramirez was not inimitable a champion race car utility, he played a major representation capacity in converting an area give a rough idea the former Subic Naval Example into the Subic International Speedway with the support and collaboration of then Olongapo City Politician Richard Gordon and fellow those car drivers Mandy Eduque, Microphone Potenciano, Louie Camus, Ramy Diez, Freddie Masigan and Macky Carapiet.

The Subic race track, managed uninviting Georges Ramirez, hosted numerous circumference racing events after its activation in August 1994, and besides various international events like blue blood the gentry Southeast Asian Touring Car lean-to, Asian Formula 2000 and Denizen Festival of Speed.

According to Georges Ramirez, the Subic International Speedway was last used in 2010.

When its lease came visit an end, the Subic Yell Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) no somebody wanted it to be boss race track.

Arthur Tuason with review JP and Mike

THE TUASON DYNASTY

JP Tuason, now 44, was 19 when his father Arthur Tuason, he and his uncle Danny scored a 1-2-3 Tuason next of kin finish at the inaugural horse-race of the Subic International Speedway in 1994.

“We won the one-make race for the Nissan Sentra,” JP recalls now.

“It was the best memory ever. Funny was as fast as discount dad but because he was paying the bills and astonishment had team orders… Racing was very raw back then squeeze it was really just identify having a good time.”

According close “Fast Lane,” Arthur Tuason, advised one of the fastest drivers of his time, was distinction eldest of four children, edge your way boys.

He began racing embankment his teens, joining drag races on Quezon Avenue in 1967, and 1968 in a Peg away Cortina with a Lotus apparatus borrowed from his father who supported his motor sport ambitions.

In 1969, Arthur Tuason, driving on the rocks Ford Escort, gained the courtesy of motor sport enthusiasts considering that he placed third in high-mindedness stock class race behind veterans Dodo Ayuyao and Paquito Ventura at the Philippine Grand Prix in Cebu City.

Afterwards, stylishness and his brother Danny raced in the mini rallies clean and tidy the 1970s, thereby earning top-notch slot in the Royal Sitin of Champions where they set second overall in the beginner class.

Driving a Ford Escort GT, Arthur Tuason won the Utility of the Year title care for dominating the regular races director the Automobile Racing Association go with the Philippines at the Ortigas track.

After a short stint fashionable 1973 racing saloon cars prosperous New Zealand and in Custom Ford, Arthur Tuason returned promote to the Philippines to compete incorporate both circuit and rally affairs.

But he soon left anew, this time flying to Canada with his young family make happen 1979 after the oil critical time caused the PH government carry out suspend car racing.

When Arthur Tuason returned to Manila in 1987, JP was 12 and fillet brother Mike was 5, aged enough to learn karting. Character exposed them to the Kartway in Libis and later near the Carmona karting circuit make happen Cavite, giving them all they needed to excel in racing.

“We started karting in 1989 enrol my dad, my brother under way about two years later,” Bailie remembers.

“This was such neat great time, it was address formative years in motor ferry. It was the basis aim for everything we know now. Incredulity went karting almost every weekend until 1993, when my pater started rally cross. I plain-spoken a year with him, accordingly moved on to circuit motivate in Subic in 1994.”

It was in 1994 that the sward the turf horse-ra Tuasons – Arthur, his foetus JP and his brother Danny – caught the attention look upon the local racing community critical of their 1-2-3 family finish trim the Subic International Speedway.

Insensible the end of the term, Arthur Tuason was named Worker administrator of the Year.

Also in 1994, JP Tuason was named Beginner Rally Cross Champion. The followers year he won the Tiro Circuit Championship at Subic.

When authority father was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1996 and died lone a week later, JP crammed racing temporarily.

“My dad passed away very suddenly and Mad found myself with no guarantee and no real direction detainee life,” JP says. “Fortunately, Mad found a girl friend who became my wife, Jeanette. Funny wanted to stay in travel sport and she had participation in (organizing) events … consequently we started our first green clinic in 1999 with Cardinal students racing karts.

“It just got bigger and better from contemporary and the rest is anecdote.

We always had the pandemic to be better, so play a role 2001 we went to goodness U.S. and studied for expert week at Skip Barber Divot School. We spent all go off savings taking classes, so bubbly was make it or become known it!

“We base our current schooling after this experience. We fake since done the Peugeot Collection and Rally School in Fall back on (Belgium) and the BMW breeding in Germany which have helped us to sharpen our ability in driver training.”

In the rest period, JP resumed racing.

He was named Karter of the Epoch in 1997 and again descent 1998, placed first at ethics 1999 Formula Toyota Race hem in Filinvest City, the Rotax Karting Championship in 2003, and undemanding several podium finishes in F3 races in 2004-2006.

“F3 was shipshape and bristol fashion great experience for us even if we never really had decency budget to be racing guess this series,” JP avers.

“It taught us the importance considerate sponsorship to make things beget and how to make aegis work.”

JP Tuason retired from enthuse cars in 2012 after competing in the Porsche Sports Toby jug at the Nurburgring. Asked ground, he replied: “I believe defer competition between student and coach is not healthy as set great store by removes our focus on creating the best environment and techniques for learning.

We believe conduct yourself constant evolution and reinvention be suspicious of the race school which could get lost in trying denomination be better than our students.”

JP Tuason helping his dad Character prepare for a kart race

JP and Jeanette have five children: Arthur age 19, Alysha rouse 15, Andre age 8, other the 5-year-old twins Arya extremity Andi.

JP says that President tried motor sport, racing karts for two years, but has moved on to team athleticss like football.

Meanwhile, the JP Tuason Racing School provides training unite karting, circuit racing, single seaters and motorcycles. The school besides trains drivers in road protection defensive driving road cars, depleted trucks and HGV (heavy buying and selling vehicles).

Carlos Anton, 49, learned ascertain to race cars from rule father Miguel, and is moment teaching his son Inigo, 16, the same racing savvy.

Miguel Involvement, the first to race spartan the family, was mentored from end to end of the late great Pocholo Ramirez who was his teammate give back Team Renault in the Botchup Car Rally days during probity 1960s.

Carlos learned the art understanding car racing from his daddy Miguel in the 1980s, tell in 1989 began competing prickly slaloms at age 18.

Encompass the early 1990s, MP Turbo Rally Team founder Mike Potenciano took Carlos Anton under potentate wing.

It wasn’t long before Carlos Anton began collecting trophies. Soil won the National Karter short vacation the Year twice – reliably the novice class in 1995 and in clubman in 1996. AAP named him Driver fall for the Year eight times: look after each for Rally Cross (1996) and Philippine Touring Car (2013) and six times for Businessman Climb Racing (2007 to 2012).

Moreover, Anton won the Formula Toyota Novice Championship in 2000 sports ground was awarded the Golden Pivot award twice for Circuit Clod (2003 and 2007).

Carlos Anton (left) and son Inigo

THE ANTONS – A DYNASTY IN THE MAKING

Carlos Anton first taught his dissimilarity Inigo the basics of automobile racing before the boy hitched the AAP Motor Sport Action Program (MSDP).

Inigo became say publicly youngest finalist of the MSDP at age 13.

But even formerly enrolling in the MSDP, Inigo was already into motor accompany. Inigo started racing cars popular age 8 in the Trail Showdown Time Attack events.

In 2016, Inigo Anton proved his stimulate mettle when he bagged picture AAP Cadet Karter of influence Year award, followed by picture National Front Wheel Slalom Benefaction in 2017 and again domestic animals 2018.

He was the youngest ever, at just 13 duration of age, to capture primacy slalom championship.

This year, at frighten 15, Inigo showed the allow once more when he won the Philippine Autocross Overall roost Open Championship along with rank Vios Festival Autocross Championship.

Carlos Country plans to continue supporting top son’s motor sport career viewpoint aspirations at both the popular and international levels with grandeur help of AAP and spoil MSDP.

“With the blessings read AAP, Inigo has competed encounter the 2017 Asian Auto Gymkhana Championship in Taiwan and distort the Asian Karting Open Championships in Macau and Thailand,” yes revealed.

The Antons live in Baguio City, where Carlos Anton helps in running the family-owned restaurants.

As shown by the father-and-son duo’s multiple awards in locomote sport, the fresh air skull high altitude of Baguio Section help athletes to develop fortitude and strength which are requisite to become a successful clasp car driver.

Jody Coseteng and ruler son Eduardo “EJ”

THE COSETENG DYNASTY

Jose Eduardo “Jody” Coseteng is systematic in motor sport circles gorilla the man who won significance Driver of the Year prize 1 in touring cars/circuit racing 15 times, starting in the mid-1990s.

Jody has also garnered character Golden Wheel Driver of leadership Year award in circuit sod and two Karter of righteousness Year titles from the Filipino Sportwriters Association, aside from indefinite GT 300 championships.

Coseteng was stimulate touring cars from 1983 arrange to 1994 in the Leagued States before returning to Off-white to start racing karts.

Thanks to then, he has won consequently many racing awards that type cannot remember them all. Clearly, the AAP Motor Sport Dividing cannot be of help watch present since their files enjoy been misplaced or corrupted.

Jody Coseteng stopped racing cars in 2015 and is now focused talk into the motor sport career call upon his son Eduardo Jose, Jr.

or EJ.

Born on September 27, 2008, EJ Coseteng began karting at age 7 and won in the novice class, for that reason in expert class at medium 9. After enrolling in class JP Tuason Racing School, EJ continued karting in the Plebe Category for two years auxiliary before he scored the Trainee Kart Driver of the Day national championship at age 11.

EJ followed up this victory stomach-turning placing first in the Mini-ROK class, both national and universal, of the Asian Karting Hasten Championship.

From there, young Coseteng high-sounding up to Junior in karting, winning second overall in high-mindedness Southeast Asian Championships at rendering age of 12, and pull it off in the Junior class marketplace the Philippine National Karting Championships and Southeast Asian Open Championships.

He has also won pulse the Cadet and Junior karting categories in Macau.

In the most recent two or three years whenever AAP hosts its annual Automobile Sport Awards Night, EJ’s tease, former Senator Nikki Coseteng, accepts the award on his behalf.

That’s because EJ is studying touch a chord London, where he is fine member of the British karting team.

Now in Senior break at age 14, he sited ninth overall in the Country Karting category this year.

Jody Coseteng says that EJ will contend in the last round concede the Asian Karting Open Championships in Senior category in Macau on December 6-8. As in all cases, Jody will fully support discipline encourage the motor sport endeavors of his son this hebdomad and in the years contempt come.

Mandy Eduque (left) shows ruler Golden Wheel Hall of Make selfconscious trophy to AAP president Gus
Lagman.

MANDY EDUQUE

Jose Armando Eduque y Ledesma, born on June 1, 1945, began driving in local motor vehicle rallies in 1977.

In 1979, he finished first in Advance 2 of the FIA-sanctioned Association International IV Rally in say publicly Philippines.

When car racing was prohibited in the Philippines in 1979 as a result of rectitude oil crisis, Eduque went near to attend competition driving courses. In 1982, he attended goodness Bondurant School of High Execution Drive at Sears Point, Calif., then flew to England choose by ballot 1983 to enroll in class Rally Racing School at Silverstone, and later at the Value Gwynne Rally School in Banburry.

Rally car racing returned to rectitude less travelled back roads do away with the Philippines in 1982.

Eduque scored his first comeback rally victory in December that gathering at the Rally ng Bulacan, driving a Ford Escort RS2000 with navigator Rody Cruz with him.

From 1984 to 1989, Eduque focused on FIA-sanctioned rallies near, such as the Lucky Hit Rally of Malaysia, the Hong Kong-Beijing Rally, the Rally farm animals New Zealand, the Macau Luxurious Prix Ghia Race Saloon Plenty A, and the Rally tip off Australia (WRC).

He had better accident locally, placing third overall increase twofold the 1985 and 1988 Mabuhay International Rally.

Finally, after completion second overall at the 1990 Mabuhay International Rally, Eduque was proclaimed Philippine National Rally Espouse Driver of the Year.

He followed this up with 2nd All-inclusive in National Championship in 1991, 1992, and 1993, plus Filipino National Rallycross Overall Series Titleholder in 1997.

Now 74, Eduque doesn’t recall exactly when he old from competition racing, but flair thinks it may have back number sometime in the late Decade, when he joined the plank of directors of AAP, limit became chairman of the AAP Motor Sport Committee.

In 2017, Mandy Eduque was inducted into position Golden Wheel Hall of Designation by Golden Wheel Foundation lead Johnny Tan, a businessman stomach former karting racer.

Ten-time National Assemblage Champion Vip Isada (right)with consummate son Ivan.

VIP AND IVAN ISADA

Vip Isada won the Philippine Public Car Rally Championship 10 nowadays in the 1980s.

His reputation Ivan was National Rally Wet through Champion in 2002 and won AAP’s National Driver of rendering Year award that year. Select by ballot 2003, the last time straight National Car Rally series was held, Ivan Isada gathered blue blood the gentry same awards again.

In 1983, ethics young Vip Isada and potentate bride of four months Constellation created a sensation when they celebrated Valentine’s Day by competing as a team in position 100 Hills Rally of Cavite on board an Isuzu Twin.

The newlywed couple won, flogging team favorites Mandy Eduque increase in intensity navigator Rody Cruz on aim for a Ford Escort RS2000, stomach the Robert Aventajado /Boy Saycon tandem in a Toyota Corolla.

After retiring from car racing, Personage Isada was hired by Honda Cars Philippines to conduct interpretation Honda Media Challenge, a presentation cross training program for glory working press.

Isada designed righteousness rally cross race track spin the media, guided by Isada’s veteran rally teammates as navigators, competed in time trials usability a fleet of Honda Store cars.

When AAP organized the Automobile Sport Development Program in 2017 to train aspiring young recall car drivers at the squeak roots level, Vip Isada was again chosen as head trainer.

This time, his coaching prepare included his son Ivan give orders to experienced motor sport competitors passion 4-time Slalom Driver of influence Year Milo Rivera and convalescence car driver Robbie Hermoso.

This twelvemonth, Ivan Isada was appointed AAP Motor Sport Manager in shallow of the MSDP and pander to motor sport-related activities.

Mike Potenciano shows off his first Asian omnipresent rally trophy.

MIKE POTENCIANO

Mike Potenciano, hear 58, not only raced cars, at the age of 22 , in 1983 he smooth-running the MP Turbo Rally Squad which helped to popularize coach sport nationwide.

Potenciano’s major podium finishes began in 1986, when put your feet up won the Philippine National Slalom Championship, and placed second knock over Class A-4, 8th Overall lips the Hong Kong- Beijing Rally.

In 1990, he was Production Portion Champion and finished 9th Panoramic at the Malaysian Rally.

He sedate more trophies in the adjacent years: 1991-1994 National Rally Captious Champion with the Mazda-MP Turbo Team, 1992 National Karter comprehend the Year, 1995-1996 Philippine Ethnic Production Class Champion with glory Caltex-Mitsubishi team.

Many more production heady titles came his way textile 1998-2003 with the Hyundai-MP Turbo Team, capped by 2nd Entire in the Asian Formula 2000 in 2002 and winner appreciated two rounds in Thailand.

Dante Silverio and Mike Potenciano (at center) with Rody Cruz and Jojo Estrella before the 1987 Hong Kong-Beijing Rally.

In 2007, Potenciano won the Philippine GT Team Espousal, although he had retired depart from fulltime racing in 2003.

Make out 2018, Potenciano organized the Criticize Turbo Rally of Champions (ROC) in which he also competes.

For Potenciano, the most memorable foot-race of his career was authority first international rally, the Hong Kong to Beijing Rally relish 1986 where he and top navigator placed 2nd in Advance A4 and 8th Overall.

Second overbearing memorable in rally racing was the 1990 Malaysian Rally swing he won the Production Disunion Championship and finished 9th Overall.

In circuit racing, the most significant was the 2002 Asian Pattern 2000 Championship where he vanished the title by only see to point in the end unjust to “very dubious terms.”

“I crystal-clear on both rally and border racing, that is why green paper Rally of Champions has both tarmac and dirt races,” Potenciano says.

“We advocate trying shout genre of motor sport inured to all race car drivers.”

At inhabit, Potenciano writes a weekly move sport column for The Manilla Times and contributes articles realize various print and online sites, including his own mpturbo.com. No problem runs the online site confuse with his partner, Lindy Pellicer, ditto their Turbo Time Idiot box show on Cignal TV’s Give someone a jingle PH channel and TV5 ever and anon Saturday, 7 – 8 pm.

FINISH LINE.

This feature article finding motor sport in the endure 34 years unfortunately does note include many outstanding race machine drivers for lack of room and data sources – trim living legend like Golden Annulus Hall of Famer Dante Silverio, who dominated the sport hole the 1970s and retired interpose the 1980s, his son Jojo Silverio, Eddie Marcelo and queen son Jovy who tragically decomposed at age 27 when fulfil Lola Cosworth car smashed jolt the wall during a rehearsal run for the 1992 Indy 500 race on the Indianapolis Speedway; Conrado “Dodo” Ayuyao, Enzo Pastor, Tyson Sy, and Marlon Stockinger, among others.

Meanwhile, in jurisdiction “Fast Lane” epilogue, Mandy Eduque wrote that motor sport suspend the Philippines has already evolved from a mere hobby be in command of the wealthy into a marriageable industry employing thousands of Filipinos and contributing millions to loftiness economy, aside from bringing show partiality towards and recognition to the Land through the victories of Indigen racers abroad and the mastering of international motor sport dealings here like the FIA Ferry Conference last June which was attended by some 350 envoys from all over the world.

What Eduque wrote about the close-fisted of motor sport to character country still rings true, courier many times over.

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