Johnny Carson became the host
of NBC's The Tonight Show in October 1962 when the 1963 Studebaker
Avanti was in the process of winning records at the Bonneville
Flats. Carson retired from show business on May 22, 1992 after
30 years when he stepped down as host of The Tonight Show. His
announcer and sidekick had been Ed McMahon throughout his entire
tenure with the program. Johnny Carson was not only an Avanti owner,
he was a racing enthusiast who knew Roger Ward, Studebaker's
official "first Avanti owner" and Andy Granatelli
and his brothers who configured the race vehicles for Studebaker
and who introduced Carson to the STP Turbine at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway. Carson was a major investor
in the ultimately failed De Lorean Motor Company, and was
cited in a 1982 drunk driving incident while driving a De
Lorean DMC-12 sportscar in Beverly Hills. Represented by Robert
Shapiro, he pleaded no contest to the charges, and played
off the incident by having a uniformed police officer escort
him on to the Tonight Show stage.
Mario Andretti, left, Johnny Carson, left
center, Rodger Ward, right center, and Parnelli Jones in 1967
at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Andy Granatelli, front, shows Johnny Carson
the cockpit of the STP Turbine as Vince Grantelli, left rear,
Parnelli Jones, center rear, and Joe Granatelli look on.
