Lee Raskin
Lee Raskin is an internationally recognized expert on James Dean and his motorsports exploits. Lee is also the author of the acclaimed photographic biography, James Dean: At Speed and co-author of Porsche Speedster Typ 540: Quintessential Sports Car.
Lee is best known as an early Porsche historian and authority on James Dean's brief but spectacular Porsche racing career. He often is asked to consult with authors and video producers regarding James Dean's motorsports activities and the mysterious disappearance of his "Little Bastard" 550 Spyder following Dean's death in 1955.
Lee wrote his first James Dean article in 1977 for 356 Registry magazine, and has since been credited with having documented many intrinsic James Dean and Porsche-related facts that have appeared in feature articles for the 356 Registry, Porsche Panorama, Excellence, Porsche Patter, der Vorganger, The Baltimore Concours d'Elegance, We Remember Dean International Fan Club, the Watkins Glen "Double Fifty" Porsche 50th Anniversary Race Program, and numerous monthly Porsche publications.
Lee has consulted for and/or appeared in major TV documentaries and online about James Dean and early Porsche racing cars:
CNBC Online The Ten Most Desirable Porsches (2011, 2012)
The History Channel Brad Meltzer's Decoded/Porsche mini series (2011)
National Geographic Channel Crash Science: James Dean's Death (2005)
German Public Television James Dean: mit Vollgas durchs Leban (2005)
SPEEDTV Behind the Headlights: James Dean (2004)
ABC-TV Special America's Best Kept Secrets (1991)
Lee also co-produced the acclaimed documentary James Dean at High Speed in 1997 for SPEEDTV. This documentary was later syndicated in Britain, Australia, and Japan.
Over the past four decades, Lee has been actively involved as a spectator, a motorsports journalist and photographer, and crew member for National SCCA and IMSA Driving Champion Bruce "King Carrera" Jennings. Lee continues to compete as a vintage 356 Porsche race driver.
Since 1985, he has raced his 356 Porsche Speedster, 356 Porsche Sebring replica coupe, Arnolt- Bristol Roadster, and a pre-war flat-rad 4/4 Morgan on many of the most famous U.S. road courses, including Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Bridgehampton, VIR, Road Atlanta, Roebling Road, Sebring, Daytona, Laguna Seca; as well as on the vintage street circuits at Philadelphia's Fairmount Park and at Pittsburgh's Schenley Park.