John Ackerman

482599_10151537177671731_1169029463_n

John “Hans” Ackerman started his love affair with cars at an extremely early age. An “Army brat,” Hans moved often in his youth and spent much time in the back of the family van, passing the time becoming a self-proclaimed expert identifying the make, model, year and mechanical details of every vehicle he saw on the road. His father’s interest in cars was limited to driving, but Hans wanted to develop the mechanical skills necessary to build and race.

In his first attempt at modifying German cars, he removed all of the valve stems from his father’s Porsche 914 at the age of 3. At the age of 9, he kissed first BMW (an E30 318i, no doubt). And, at the age of 17 he welded (very poorly) a front cage for his 1984 Jeep Scrambler. Thankfully, he never rolled it. Shortly after graduating college, he started instructing high performance driving schools and began his racing career in a D-modified-class BMW with the BMW Car Club of America.

After a year and several podiums he became interested in the Spec E30 class with NASA. Although it took awhile to have a car ready (several years, actually, as he found partying along the way), Hans has been racing in the series since. A lover of racing, fine bourbon and good beer, John “Hans” Ackerman is always looking forward to the next event: ready to Build. Race. Party.

 

ackerman start with brp logo