 A lifelong auto racing fan, Winpisinger was instrumental in the creation of Machinists Union Racing, which operated from 1981 to 1990 under the leadership of IAM national automotive coordinater Andy Kenopensky.Philosophically he was considered to be to the left of many of his colleagues in organized labor.He was especially concerned about labor's poor public image and saw a need for more imaginative leadership in communicating the labor movement's mission and accomplishments.