Malibu race car driver and Porsche fanatic Doug Baron killed in Camarillo car accident
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Doug Baron, a Malibu resident, Porsche racer and fixture of the Los Angeles classic car community, was killed March 25 in a car accident in Camarillo.He was 66.Baron was driving a Porsche Coupe along Las Posas Road around 1 p.m.
when a driver in a Ford Expedition crossed into his lane and collided with Baron’s vehicle head-on, according to the California Highway Patrol.Baron died on site from blunt-force injuries, and the second driver died at a hospital from head trauma, according to the Ventura County medical examiner.
It is unclear whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, according to the CHP.Baron was known for his skillful driving on the racetrack and his love of cruising steep canyon roads.His sudden death has devastated his family and fellow car enthusiasts.“He was a very respectful driver on the streets and took all of his aggressive driving to the racetrack,” said longtime friend Gregg Garfield.
The fact that his death occurred on a flat road in a rural area “is just heartbreaking.”Baron was an experienced Porsche racer.He competed in the American Le Mans Series GTC class, drove in 24-hour races at Daytona and won multiple Porsche Owners Club endurance races.But as much as he enjoyed pushing the envelope on the track, one of his greatest passions was taking his retrofitted classic cars on leisurely drives in the Santa Monica Mountains.“It is so gratifying, so tactile, it clears my head and reinvigorates my soul,” he told The Times in December, when describing the feeling of driving along the recently reopened section of Mulholland Highway known as the Snake.When the reopening sparked backlash from nearby residents over loud and dangerous driving, Baron used his platform in the car community to urge enthusiasts to drive safely and listen to residents’ concerns.“Let’s be respectful of the people who reside in those communities — don’t...