Buzzetta, Joe
Name/Title
Buzzetta, JoeEntry/Object ID
2025.1.69Description
Joe Buzzetta was an American sports‑car driver best known for his factory‑backed Porsche career in the 1960s, where he became one of the marque’s most dependable endurance specialists. Born December 30, 1936, in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, he discovered racing while stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. There, he bought his first Porsche and quickly proved fast enough to earn attention from Porsche racing director Huschke von Hanstein. After returning to the U.S., Buzzetta built his reputation in SCCA events and soon earned invitations to major international endurance races. By the mid-1960's, he was a Porsche works driver, scoring class wins at Sebring, Daytona, Mosport, St. Jovite, Mid‑Ohio, Elkhart Lake, and Bridgehampton. His greatest triumph came in 1967, when he and Udo Schütz won the Nürburgring 1000 km in a Porsche 910 by just 0.2 seconds — one of Porsche’s most dramatic victories of the era. He also earned podiums at Sebring, including 3rd overall in 1969 in a Porsche 908. After retiring from professional racing in 1969, Buzzetta became a successful Porsche dealer and collector. He died on January 15, 2023, at age 86.Collection
Dr. Frederick A. Simeone Founder CollectionCategory
Race Car Drivers