Yes, Run What You Brung (RWYB) is finally coming back after a 5-year hiatus. But this time around, it’s being put together by friends and family of the late great Kookie Ramirez to keep his passion for grassroots racing alive.
Kookie developed RWYB into a series way back in 1998. That was after it was introduced in the country by American expat Michael Renfro. At first, it ran as a support race alongside the local touring car championship at the Subic International Raceway (SIR) before becoming an event of its own. Through the years, it helped amateurs develop their skill on track. But more importantly, it acted as a stepping stone for several drivers to get into professional motorsports.
Sadly, the loss of RWYB’s figure head and SIR in 2010 also spelled the demise of the series. But its participants, headed by ’13 and ’14 Philippine GT100 Champion Edwin Rodriguez, have banded together with the Ramirez family to bring it back.
This is the RWYB Reunion, scheduled on April 11, 2015 at the Clark International Speedway (CIS).
According to Stefan Ramirez, RWYB Organizer: “The reason why we’re bringing it back is because we want to continue the legacy my dad created. He gave people a chance to try something they may have never thought about and to let that disappear would be a tragedy. We also want to give the opportunity for people to experience racing and we just want to do our part in helping the sport grow.”
Sponsored by Liqui Moly, the Run What You Brung reunion is open to all types of cars, to all types of drivers who want to experience the thrill of driving on a closed circuit. It will run the traditional format as set up by Kookie, with 5 brackets divided according to lap time. And no, there will be no wheel-to-wheel racing here.
Aside from track time, RWYB will also have raffles and special awards in store for participants.
Registration is P2,000 per entry, while helmets are required and slick tires are prohibited. To register and for more info, contact RWYB at rwybph@gmail.com or Like the Run What You Brung Facebook page.
The Run What You Brung Reunion is sponsored by Liqui Moly, ECW Performance, AutoPerformance PH, Brembo, Sabelt, GT Radial, HP Racing, Hyundai West Paranaque, ROTA, and Mitsubishi Motors Phililippines Corp. (MMPC).
