Robert “Bobby” Woodward Rahal was born in Medina, Ohio, in 1953, and worked his way up through the racing ranks, starting with the SCCA’s feeder series to Formula Atlantic and then on to European Formula Two. In an 18-year career spanning F1, Can-Am, Le Mans and IMSA, and CART, he notched three CART championships, including a win at the 1986 Indy 500, along with wins at the 1981 “24 Hours of Daytona” and the 1987 “12 Hours of Sebring.”
One of open-wheel racing’s most consistent drivers, Rahal started 264 races for five teams and took 18 poles and 24 wins. He collected back-to-back CART championships in 1986 and 1987, then picked up his third in 1992. When Buddy Rice won the 2004 Indy 500 for his team, Rahal became one of only a handful of individuals to win the Indy 500 as both a driver and a team owner.
Following his retirement from competitive racing after the 1998 season, Rahal spent time with Jaguar’s Formula 1 effort, and in mid-2000 he returned to the United States to become the interim boss of CART. Along with former late-night talk-show icon David Letterman and businessman Michael Lanigan, he is a principal in Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, where he has overseen the growth of the team from a one-car program into a multi-car, multi-discipline organization. He has been responsible for finding and developing some of the top young talent in open-wheel racing, among them his son Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Christian Lundgaard, 2004 Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice, and Danica Patrick. It was also Bobby Rahal who brought Honda into North American open-wheel racing in the early 1990s, an involvement as a manufacturer that has produced 21 drivers’ championships, 11 manufacturers’ championships, and 298 victories, including 16 Indy 500 triumphs from 2004 to 2025.
His team also won the 2010 GT team and manufacturers championships in the American Le Mans Series with BMW, swept the top two spots in the 2011 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, and secured the 2011 ALMS GT drivers championships for Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller. From 2014 to 2021, BMW Team RLL competed in the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a two-car program, bringing their total to 22 wins, including the 2019 and 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races, and taking the 2020 Michelin Endurance Championship.
For 2022, BMW M Team RLL competed in the GTD Pro class while ramping up for the much-anticipated LMDh class of IMSA in 2023. For 2026, the team formed RLL Team McLaren, a multi-year collaboration with McLaren Automotive that returns the team to IMSA’s GTD PRO class with the McLaren GT3 EVO. Across more than four decades, Bobby Rahal has done it all: won on the biggest stages as a driver, built championship-winning teams as an owner, and helped shape the manufacturers and drivers who define American racing today.
The Lake Mirror Classic raises money for Lakeland and Polk County charities. Every penny from entrant registrations goes directly to that mission. From 2022 to 2025, the Classic provided over $125,000 to local causes.
We thank our sponsor/partners and all our entrants for supporting local charities. Every penny from entrant registrations goes to charities. Our team of volunteers are working to make the 2026 Lake Mirror Classic better than ever.
Hot Rods, Race Cars & Rock & Roll plus great displays and a fun time for all ages. The evening setting of this event lets you experience majestic Lake Mirror with all the lights and glory of this very special setting. You will see some of the best Hot Rods, Street Rods, Customs and some very cool Race Cars around the beautiful Lake Mirror Promenade.
The Lake Mirror Classic brings all the grandeur of a top-level Concours to Lakeland.
You will see rolling works of art from some of the nation’s top auto collectors and museums along with rare and themed automobile displays. The unique setting also features vintage wooden boats and the ever popular
Amphicars will be in and around Lake Mirror at this centerpiece of the 3-day Lake Mirror Classic.
You will be amazed as the streets of historic downtown Lakeland transform with fantastic show vehicles, great displays and fun! Over 450 Classics, Exotics, Muscle Cars, Hot Rods, Specialty Vehicles and Trucks make this fun for all ages. You will be amazed when you see fantastic show vehicles from all over Florida and beyond!
The Lake Mirror Classic Road Tour The emphasis of the Tour is on “fun.” Create memories, spend time with friends and make new ones. The event encourages fun and challenges your senses to follow the clues provided. You will also see some of the most beautiful and scenic roads in Central Florida. This is not a race, and all types of vehicles are welcome to be a part of this great event.
Address questions via email to Ray Kreigbaum.
