Warrendale, PA (May 27, 2015) – SAE International regretfully announces the passing of Doug Gore.

Doug has been a Design Judge at Formula SAE since 1995, when he was recruited by Carroll Smith. Doug also freely volunteered his time as a Design Judge at Formula SAE – West (now Lincoln), Formula SAE – Virginia, Formula Hybrid, Formula Student Germany, and Formula Student Austria. Doug was a SAE member for the past 22 years.

Doug graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology with a BS in Electrical Engineering, and Northeastern University with an MS in Physics. Doug was a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Massachusetts. The fact that Doug’s first car was a 1965 Shelby GT350 speaks volumes about his motorsports / racing career yet to unfold.

Doug worked for RCA Laboratories from 1969 to 1989. Most of what he worked on at RCA was classified contract work for various government agencies. As Doug liked to describe it, he “Designed and built ‘widgets’ to ‘solve problems’ for various government agencies who ‘wished to remain nameless’. During this period of his life, Doug became an expert at ballistics and chemical propelled projectiles. Due to his close working relationship with various branches of the Armed Forces, Doug developed a keen sense of appreciation and respect for all US Armed Forces Service Members.

Probably the most enjoyable job Doug had was Senior Technical Editor for magazine, Open Wheel Magazine, and Speedway Illustrated. This was from 1978 to 2009. Doug wrote a monthly series of technical articles covering a wide spectrum of motorsports and motorsports safety topics.

Doug’s technical contribution to motorsports and its participants is unmatched. He applied his degrees in engineering and physics to his love for every level of stock car and open wheel racing. By doing so, Doug improved safety and while reducing expenses for tens of thousands of racers through his decades of editorial contribution in the pages of Speedway Illustrated Magazine.

Doug dedicated his life to driver safety. He thoroughly researched crash analysis and inspected safety gear and its implementation. His efforts resulted in technical material that led to specific changes in chassis design and product improvement. Doug’s work directly improved driver safety and crash survivability for all those who race today.

The sprint car photo is after a Beech Ridge win. That’s Doug looking disapprovingly at me for climbing on the car. –Dick Berggren

Doug and Dick Berggren wanted to do a cover photo demonstrating the integrity of then state-of-the- art, fire resistant, driving suits. Doug built what Dick described as a ‘gasoline shower’, which framed the shot with Dick, in full protective gear. The photo shoot would have gone well, except that the photographer got the exposure wrong (back in the film days) the first time. So… they set up the shoot all over again and Dick took the flaming gasoline shower a second time. The outer layer of the back of the suit was burned through. It was Doug’s meticulous pre-planning that saved Dick from serious burns. They both look back on the episode and laugh about it now, but these were the realities of getting the driver safety message across to racers.

Doug also enjoyed success in motorsports. Doug won 20 Sprint Car Feature races with Dick Berggren (Owner/Publisher of Speedway Illustrated Magazine), driving their sprint car. Doug competed at the 1982 Indianapolis 500 as a crewman in Chet Fillip’s effort. Doug built a rear engine Supermodified racecar, which at the time was revolutionary. Lots of new ideas were incorporated into the car. While not an instant success right out of the box, Doug tuned the car until it was extremely fast. Dick’s comment was that the rear engine car was the fastest racecar he has ever driven. It was involved in an on-track accident, rebuilt and raced one more time. They realized the car was ‘not right’, and it was retired to be stored in Doug’s garage for the next 30 years. When not racing his own racecars, Doug could be found in the engine compartment or under the chassis in divisions ranging from Mini Stocks to Modifieds, Supermodifieds, NASCAR and Late Model Stock Cars.

Doug was often called on by many in the motorsports industry as a consultant for a new part design or improvement. Doug formed Gore Engineering in 1989, and did contract engineering work for a wide range of clients including testifying as an Expert Witness in the course of various legal actions.

Doug Gore’s rear engine Supermodified. Doug is working on the left front. Driver Dick Berggren is working on the safety harness. Notice the extreme left side weight bias.

Doug selflessly volunteered his personal time as a Design Judge at various Formula SAE and Formula Student competitions for over 20 years. Doug was known for spending time discussing vehicle design and mentoring the engineering students who produced them. Doug interfaced well with the student competitors. He was always patient, and was a good listener, but he was also really good at telling stories and freely imparting his wisdom to anyone willing to drink from the firehose. The knowledge exchange went both directions. Doug was heard frequently saying: “These are amazingly talented students. I learn something every time I go to a Formula SAE competition”.

Doug is survived by a sister Corrine, and a brother, Robert.

SAE International extends its condolences to the many friends, colleagues, and family of Doug Gore.