E. J. Lenzi

Eugene J. Lenzi is a former American racing driver and currently owns a restaurant Chicago. Lenzi raced in the Atlantic Championship, Formula Super Vee among other series.

Racing career

Lenzi grew up with Bignotti-Cotter Racing team owner Dan Cotter as their neighbor.[1] Lenzi first appeared on the national racing scene in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs in 1984 and a year later, 1985. In 1985 and 1986 Lenzi joined Prather Racing.[2] Prather Racing was headed by Edward Sexton and was the Swift dealer for the SCCA Central division.[3]

With Intercar Racing Lenzi graduated into the SCCA Formula Super Vee. The driver started the season in a Martini Mk.47. Lenzi scored his best finish in a Ralt in sixth place at Detroit.[4] Later in the season Lenzi raced the unsuccessful Anson SA6 (designed by Gary Anderson.

Befriended engineer Peter Jacobs and Lenzi founded Baci Racing in 1987 to race in the SCCA Formula Super Vee. At the Night before the 500 Lenzi won his only race in the series, at Indianapolis Raceway Park.[5] In 1988 Lenzi was successful in the series finishing second in the championship. For 1989 Lenzi graduated into the Atlantic Championship scoring his best finish at Watkins Glen International. Lenzi finished in third place, behind Jocko Cunningham and Colin Trueman.[6]

Restaurant business

Up until 1994 Lenzi worked at Gene & Georgetti's, a steakhouse founded in Chicago in the 1940s. The restaurant was founded by Lenzi's grandfather, Gene Michelotti. The company sponsored Lenzi's racing career through most of the years. In 1992 Gene & Georgetti's was sold by Michelotti to Marion and Tony Durpetti.[7] In 1994 Lenzi founded his own steakhouse, Erie Cafe, with his wife Toni Lenzi.[8]

Great steakhouse lawsuit

Lenzi and Gene & Georgetti's came into a legal struggle in 1995. Opening Erie Cafe E.J. and Toni referred to their family ties to E.J.'s grandfather Michelotti. As they actively referred to Gene & Georgetti's, without the latter's consent, Gene & Georgetti's filed a lawsuit. G&G claimed that the opening invitation and other advertisement violated the Lanham Trademark Act.

The case came before United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois judge Elaine E. Bucklo. Judge Bucklo ruled that the Lanham Trademark Act was in place to protect customers against, for example, confusing advertisements. As the plaintiff did not bring forward any evidence proving any confusion caused, the judge ruled in favor of Erie Cafe.[9]

Motorsports results

SCCA National Championship Runoffs
YearTrackCarEngineClassFinishStartStatus
1984Road AtlantaSwift DB1FordFormula Ford1521Running
1985Road AtlantaSwift DB1FordFormula Ford1415Running

American Open-Wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest race lap)

Formula Super Vee
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rank Points
1988 Turtle Wax / Baci Racing PHX
4		 LBH
Ret		 DAL
3		 IRP
2		 MIL
2		 DET
2		 NIA
6		 CLE
7		 MEA
2		 MDO
2		 ROA
4		 NAZ
3		 STP
4		 2nd 163[10]

Atlantic Championship - East Coast
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
1989 Baci Racing LBH
12		 LRP
11		 MDO
15		 MTL
16		 MOS WGI
3		 MDO
12		 TOP TRO ROA TOP STP 17th 31

American Racing Series
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
1990 Baci Racing PHX LBH
22		 MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR DEN VAN MDO ROA
11		 NAZ
11		 LS 28th 4

Atlantic Championship
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
1992 Baci Racing MIA PIR
DNS		 LBH LRP MTL WGI TOR TRR VAN MDO MOS NAZ LS1 LS2 - -

References
  1. "Gene's Genes Can't Hurt". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  2. "Baci Racing is EJ, Luca, and Michael". Baci Racing. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  3. "Edward Sexton". LinkedIn. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  4. "Robert Bosch/VW Super Vee Championship Round Detroit, 22 Jun 1986". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  5. "American Formula Super Vee Championship (1971-1990)". Motorsport Winners. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  6. "SCCA Toyota Atlantic North American Championship Atlantic Division Round 6/Epreuve 6". Autocourse.ca. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  7. "The Great Steakhouse Lawsuet". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  8. "Lenzi grandson launches Erie Cafe. (E.J. Lenzi)". Highbeam Business. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  9. "G&G v. La Luna Enterprises, Inc., 889 F. Supp. 324 (N.D. Ill. 1995)". Justia. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  10. Phillips, Dave (December 12, 1988). "All the Answers". On Track Magazine (December): 34–39. With five second places to his credit, E.J. Lenzi was a fitting runner-up in the points race. The fact is that 1987 proved that Lenzi can drive fast and win races. While he drove with much the same flair that characterized the previous campaign, Lenzi rarely overdid it and was named the series Most Improved Driver as a result. E.J. remained unchanged, his fierce determination and outrageous sense of humor always carrying the day.
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