Gerald Roush
Encyclopedia
Gerald Lee Roush was an American
sports car
expert who specialized in Ferrari
s, with much of his knowledge on the details and histories of the Italian sports cars covered in Ferrari Market Letter, a magazine that he published and distributed.
Roush was born on October 5, 1941 in Durango, Colorado
, but moved several times during his childhood to locations where his father was assigned by International Harvester
. While in high school in Birmingham, Alabama
, Roush picked up a 1958 issue of Sports Car Illustrated
that featured driver Phil Hill
, winner of the 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans
and a Ferrari 4.9 Superfast, giving birth to an interest that would last a lifetime. While earning degrees in history at Auburn University
, Roush started attending car races and shows, where he began tracking details of each Ferrari on 5x7 index cards identified by its serial number, supplemented by details gleaned from classified ads of Ferraris listed for sale in newspapers around the U.S.
He was a history professor at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
for two years in the mid-1970s, but quit that post to take a job in the parts department of FAF Motorcars, a Tucker, Georgia
Ferrari dealership where he was able to add additional information to his growing database of index cards. He started publishing the biweekly Ferrari Market Letter in January 1976 together with his wife in their home and started working full time on the magazine two years later. Over time, Ferrari Market Letter became the paper of record for Ferraris, including a classified ads section that required a Vehicle Identification Number
for each vehicle. He became a specialist in the histories of specific vehicles and would be called on as an expert to provide information about the vehicles in his burgeoning files. By the time of his death Ferrari had manufactured 130,000 vehicles, and Roush had details of the original specifications, later modifications and ownership history of almost all of them.
Roush had owned three Ferraris over the years, but sold them to ensure that there was no conflict of interest when he published Ferrari Market Letter.
A resident of Lilburn, Georgia
, Roush died of a heart attack
at age 68 on May 21, 2010, after having a stroke in March on his way to a car show. He was survived by his wife, the former Carol Jane Whitley, as well as by a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
expert who specialized in Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
s, with much of his knowledge on the details and histories of the Italian sports cars covered in Ferrari Market Letter, a magazine that he published and distributed.
Roush was born on October 5, 1941 in Durango, Colorado
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
, but moved several times during his childhood to locations where his father was assigned by International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
. While in high school in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Roush picked up a 1958 issue of Sports Car Illustrated
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
that featured driver Phil Hill
Phil Hill
Philip Toll Hill, Jr., was a United States automobile racer and the only American-born driver to win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship. Hill was described as a "thoughtful, gentle man" and once said, "I'm in the wrong business. I don't want to beat anybody, I don't want to be the big hero...
, winner of the 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans
1958 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 26th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 21 and 22 1958. It was also the fifth round of the 1958 World Sports Car Championship....
and a Ferrari 4.9 Superfast, giving birth to an interest that would last a lifetime. While earning degrees in history at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, Roush started attending car races and shows, where he began tracking details of each Ferrari on 5x7 index cards identified by its serial number, supplemented by details gleaned from classified ads of Ferraris listed for sale in newspapers around the U.S.
He was a history professor at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a State College of the University System of Georgia. Located in Tifton, Georgia, ABAC offers baccalaureate and associate degrees...
for two years in the mid-1970s, but quit that post to take a job in the parts department of FAF Motorcars, a Tucker, Georgia
Tucker, Georgia
Tucker is a census-designated place in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 27,581 at the 2010 Census. Although central Tucker, also known as "Main Street Tucker", is laid out as a planned "railroad town," it has never been formally incorporated. Municipal services such as...
Ferrari dealership where he was able to add additional information to his growing database of index cards. He started publishing the biweekly Ferrari Market Letter in January 1976 together with his wife in their home and started working full time on the magazine two years later. Over time, Ferrari Market Letter became the paper of record for Ferraris, including a classified ads section that required a Vehicle Identification Number
Vehicle identification number
A Vehicle Identification Number, commonly abbreviated to VIN, is a unique serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles. VINs were first used in 1954...
for each vehicle. He became a specialist in the histories of specific vehicles and would be called on as an expert to provide information about the vehicles in his burgeoning files. By the time of his death Ferrari had manufactured 130,000 vehicles, and Roush had details of the original specifications, later modifications and ownership history of almost all of them.
Roush had owned three Ferraris over the years, but sold them to ensure that there was no conflict of interest when he published Ferrari Market Letter.
A resident of Lilburn, Georgia
Lilburn, Georgia
As of 2010 Lilburn had a population of 11,596. The median age was 36.3. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 52.7% white , 16.4% black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 4.8% Asian Indian, 10.4% other Asian, 12.3% from some other race and 2.8% from two or more races...
, Roush died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 68 on May 21, 2010, after having a stroke in March on his way to a car show. He was survived by his wife, the former Carol Jane Whitley, as well as by a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.