Lee Raskin

Lee Raskin is an internationally recognized expert on James Dean and his motorsports exploits. Lee is the author of the acclaimed photographic biography, PORSCHE SPEEDSTER TYP 540: QUINTESSENTIAL SPORTS CAR (2004), JAMES DEAN AT SPEED (2005). JAMES DEAN: ON THE ROAD TO SALINAS ( 2015 / 2020 highlighting the 60th Anniversary of James Dean's death and tribute to the legendary photographer, Sanford Roth); and his new (June 15, 2022) PINK PIG PORSCHE The Truffle Hunter of Zuffenhausen...featuring the complete photo-narrative / racing history of the 1971 Le Mans 917 Pink Pig, the 2018 Le Mans 992 Pink Pig, the current Pink Pig memorabilia craze, Pink Pig-related Porsches, and the PORKY'S Pink Pig that is appearing at world-wide Porsche events. 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 has also appeared as an unscripted actor in every major video documentary that he has consulted for since 1990. Lee wrote his first James Dean article in 1977 for the 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, 000 Magazine, Excellence Magazine, Southern California 356 Club, 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 Porsche-related publications. Lee has consulted for and/or appeared in/on major TV documentaries, webcasts, podcasts and online interviews about James Dean and 356/550 Porsche racing cars: PODCAST: CHRISTOPHER GARETANO'S OFF TO THE WITCH (SPODIFY) James Dean's Curse of the "Little Bastard" with Special Guest, LEE RASKIN....Part One and Part Two, August 17, and 24, 2022 Part One: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VQZ8J3QoIOYc9twzuGsN2 1;22 ins Part Two :https://open.spotify.com/episode/3BNzaRDz1NYmxqp33JEcMm 1:13 mins HISTORY CHANNEL'S WILLIAM SHATNER'S UNXPLAINED SERIES...Uncanny Curses -- James Dean's Porsche (May 19, 2022, Season 4, Episode 9) https://play.history.com/.../the.../season-4/episode-9 PODCAST: THE STORY THAT WILL NEVER DIE....James Dean by Lee Raskin (May 15, 2022) https://overcrestproductions.com/pages/podcast PODCAST: THE BRUTAL CURSE OF AN ICON, (May 12, 2022)...is an Overcrest podcast about James Dean that aired last week by Jake Solberg and Kris Clewell. https://overcrestproductions.com/pages/podcast?fbclid=IwAR0q-G1vw6u5-8m-x19r6J6QrRQfWsoYHG-Umk5gmydspOhHKG5H_siWyIQ PODCAST: Matt Amar's Once Upod A Time in Hollywood. James Dean: The Light That Never Goes Out (Febuary 18, 2022) https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/once-upod-a-time-in-hollywood/id1571266513 PODCAST: SPEEDSTER DREAMS with Patric Fransco. James Dean's 356 Porsche Speedster....A Discussion with Porsche 356 / 550 Historian Lee Raskin (October 4, 2020) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/james-dean-356-speedster-discussion-with-porsche/id1529211382?i=1000493580120 TRAVEL CHANNEL 'STRANGE WORLD" - Little Bastartd (2019) USA (Sept 3, 2019) Premier of 4th Episode 45 min video...with primary interviews about James Dean and his Porsche 550 Spyder. https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/strange-world/episodes/little-bastard TRAVEL CHANNEL 'STRANGE WORLD" - Little Bastard also debuted in the UK during 2020. Beyond Strange World podcast...Little Bastard (2019) 1:30 interview of Lee Raskin and Christopher Garetano about James Dean and his Porsche 550 Spyder. https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcasts-from-the-past/crawlspace/e/63638951 REELZ Cable Channel Autopsy of James Dean: Last Hours. (2018) USA (April 29, 2018) Premier www.REELZ.com Watch 45 min video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6irl95 REELZ Cable Channel Autopsy of James Dean: Last Hours also debuted in the UK during 2019. PODCAST: Chicago On Wheels (2016) http://www.jamesdean.com/community/recentNews/26-mar-2016.html March 26, 2016 webcast. CNBC Online: The Ten Most Desirable Porsches (2012) The History Channel Brad Meltzer's Decoded/Porsche mini series (2011) CNBC Online The Ten Most Desirable Porsches (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) JAMES DEAN: AT HIGH SPEED 19th Star Productions (1997) ABC-TV Special America's Best Kept Secrets (1991) SPEEDTV Lee co-produced and appeared in the acclaimed documentary James Dean at High Speed (1997). It was later syndicated in Britain, France. Australia, and Japan. Available at Amazon.com In addition, he co-authored the acclaimed publication, Porsche Speedster TYP 540: Quintessential Sports Car (2004), in which he wrote about various celebrities who owned or were fans of the Porsche Speedster, including James Dean, Steve McQueen, Richard Boone (Paladin...Have Gun Will Travel); renowned maestro Herbert von Karajan; and Paul Newman in his role as a private detective in the movie Harper. 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 be involved as a vintage 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, Pocono, VIR, Road Atlanta, Roebling Road, Sebring, Daytona, and Laguna Seca; as well as on the vintage street circuits at Pittsburgh's Schenley Park, and Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. Lee is a long-time participant and competitor in regional and National Concours d'Elegance events, having shown his 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster, and 356A Sebring replica race coupe; his 1954 Arnolt-Bristol DeLuxe Roadster, 1939 Morgan 4/4 Flat Rad Roadster; and 1999 Porsche TYP 986 Boxster. He has many Best in Show Awards and top three podium finishes. Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Dean's death, Lee paid tribute to this great actor and promising sports car racer with his new and exciting photographic biography, James Dean: At Speed. See video of Jay Leno interviewing Lee Raskin about James Dean At Speed: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/james-dean-at-speed-by-lee-raskin/1214672/ In 2015, Lee published a new biography on James Dean through Stance & Speed Publishers, which commemorates the 60th Anniversary of his death on September 30, 2015. He worked closely with the James Dean family, Dean's friends and fellow racers on this exciting photo-narrative biography. James Dean: On The Road to Salinas debuted in Fairmount, IN for the 40th Annual James Dean Festival to a huge crowd of 'Deaners.' On The Road To Salinas...is the most definitive James Dean biography published -- covering the sixteen months that James Dean resided in Southern California while making three films for Warner Bros. His last day, 9-30-55 is detailed hour by hour, and minute by minute through the fatal accident; with a complete Epilogue covering 60 years since. This book also pays tribute to legendary photographer, Sanford Roth, with 35 rare photos taken during the filming of Giant, during Dean's leisure-time, and on the last day of his life, 9-30-55...while on the road to Salinas. James Dean: On The Road To Salinas went into its 2nd Edition printing during 2020. Lee is writing one more James Dean/Porsche-related photo-narrative that will be published in June 2023 -- James Dean and the Porsche 356 Speedster...Love at First Sight. In 2023, Lee was elected to a three-year term as Trustee for the Porsche 356 Registry, Inc. He also is a feature columnist and contributor to the Porsche 356 Registry writing historic Porsche-related articles entitled, Through The Rear View Mirror Lee Raskin resides near Brooklandville, Maryland, just a stone's throw north of historic Baltimore. Lee can be contacted by email at: leeraskin356@gmail.com Lee is also on social media forums...Facebook and Twitter. (Lee Raskin, Baltimore, MD) More information about Lee and his Porsche and James Dean biographies can be found on www.leeraskin.net Lee can also be contacted by snail mail at: Lee Raskin, P.O. Box 60, Brooklandville, MD 21022