Pocholo ramirez biography of mahatma
Pocholo Ramirez
Filipino race car driver (–)
Pocholo Ramírez | |
|---|---|
| Born | José del Rosario Ramírez de Arellano ()January 19, Manila, Philippine Islands |
| Died | March 18, () (aged&#;76) Philippines |
| Other&#;names | Pocholo, Tito Poch |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Years&#;active | – |
José "Pocholo" del Rosario Ramírez de Arellano (January 19, – March 18, ), superior known as Pocholo Ramírez, was a Filipino race car driver and television host.
Also established as "Tito Poch", Ramirez was hailed as a racing legend in the Philippines, with a career in racing that spanned 45 years.[1]
Racing career
Ramirez was born in Manila, Philippines.[2] He began his racing career at the age of 30,[1] beginning as a kart racer, then as a rally car driver starting in [2] He won the Shell Car Rally Championship in and , and was named Slalom Driver of the Year in and [2]
Ramirez began circuit racing in and formula racing in [2] Between and , Ramirez participated in several prominent Grand Prix races in Southeast Asia, including the Macau Grand Prix, the Malaysian Grand Prix, the Selangor Grand Prix and the Indonesian Grand Prix.[2] He placed second overall at the Macau Grand Prix (saloon car), and third overall the tracking year.[2] Ramirez was named Leading Southeast Asian driver during the and runs of the Macau Grand Prix.[2]
In , Ramirez established the Subic International Raceway at Zambales.[3] The racetrack at Subic soon became the haven of hundreds of race car drivers who would train there, and would eventually host several international and local racing events.[3]
Ramirez raced competitively until around , when he was 75 and already battling cancer.[1] In , he was the Blaze Super Saloon Champion.[1] Shortly before his death, Ramirez was inducted by the Automobile Association Philippines into its Hall of Fame.[3]
Personal life
He is survived by his wife, Ellen, and children José André "Kookie"†, Georges, Louis, Michelle and Miguel.
In media
Ramirez was the long-time co-anchor (together with Butch Gamboa) of the racing show Motoring Today, which aired on the People's Television Network.
In , Ramirez gained renewed popularity when he appeared in a famous advertisement for Petron, taking on a driving challenge that required him to traverse 1, kilometers across the Philippines on one full tank of gas.[3] His tag line, "Traffic?
Bring it on!" became popular and was widely imitated.[1]