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Francisco "Paco" C. Ventura, also known to his friends as Paquito or Paco, was one of the pioneers in establishing motor racing in the Philippines in the 1960s. This contribution was remembered and made Ventura the unanimous choice as the Hall-of-Fame awardee in the 2011 Ninth Golden Wheel Awards. This award was presented to Ventura by Dante Silverio on March 3, 2012 held at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino in the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
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How it all began
Ventura's interest in racing began in 1956. He was waiting for a traffic light to change and a car drove up alongside his. A definite speed challenge. The car belonged to Conrado 'Dodo' Ayuyao, who later became one of his closest friends. Ayuyao knew a group of car enthusiasts that got together on Sundays. They tested their engine's performance drag racing by the Nielson Towers at the old airport in Makati, currently where the financial center of the Philippines is located.
Ventura regularly met other speed aficionados Dodjie Laurel, Bob Smith, Ruben Saulog, Joe Cacho, Jun Campillo, Eugene and Sam Sycip, and together with Ayuyao, this group formed the first official motor racing club in the Philippines, the Cam Wreckers Association.
Cam Wreckers Association
The Sunday racing group felt it was time to make their passion official. When trying to come up with a name, their mechanic kept interrupting and complaining that he needed more cam shafts because they were always breaking...hence, the start of the Cam Wreckers Club. The club's objective was to invite others to race cars, go karts and boats and to compete internationally.
Racing achievements
1961, Pasig, Philippines. Drag Jamboree Class B. Ventura won third place (Manolo Maceda first and Billy Martinez second).
1962, Tokyo, Japan. International Invitational Go-Kart Race at the Johnson Tachikawa Air Base. Ventura placed third (Dodjie Laurel first and Joe Cacho second).
1962, Macau. Ventura won first in a 30-lap ACP class.
1963, Manila, Philippines. Ventura won the Grand Prix Kart Race in Luneta.
1964, Manila, Philippines. Won first at the Shell Car Rally.
1964, Mandaluyong, Philippines. Won first at the Enduro Go Kart Race.
1964, Outstanding Motor Sportsman of the Year. Cover page of the Philippine Herald Magazine.
1966, Manila, Philippines. Won first at the Philippine Karting Prix in Luneta.
1969, Cebu, Philippines. Won second, First Philippine Grand Prix (Chito Montserrat won first).
Watch more on Philippine racing history in the movie Racing with Legends.
Biography
Francisco C. Ventura was born 1931 in Manila, Philippines. Born in a family of 12 siblings, Francisco is the youngest of 4 brothers. It was not all racing for Francisco, in 1958, he established his own business, Win-Dor Steel Mfg.