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| Messages 1 - 15 of total 15 in this topic |
guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 14, 2018 - 05:43pm PT
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The Eagle flies free!
Thank you for all the thrills on the track and for sparkling my lifelong love of racing. You were a true innovator in Motorsports.
🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 15, 2018 - 11:38am PT
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Dan was Da Man! And a pioneer. If it had wheels all you were gonna see was his ass!
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steve shea
climber
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Jan 15, 2018 - 12:04pm PT
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He was the only driver to win an F1 race for Porsche as a constructor. He drove the short lived 804 GP car. Also the first American to win an FIA race in an American car; a 289 Cobra. Actually an AC but fully massaged and Americanized by Shelby. RIP
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Nick Danger
Ice climber
Arvada, CO
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Jan 15, 2018 - 12:06pm PT
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Several years back Dan created in his shop a motorcycle with ergonomics like those of a recumbent bicycle and the thing went around corners like it was on rails. Just a super creative and intelligent guy. Here is to a life well lived. Go in Peace, Dan, and thank you for all that you gave us.
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 15, 2018 - 04:31pm PT
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Tar..... Thank you for linking those videos.
Dan was the man, back when just climbing into a car and racing took guts and skill, he was one of the very best ever. I can still recall being 12 years old, hanging on to the chain link fence at the end of the esses at Riverside Internal raceway watching Dan storming into turn 6 in his Ford Galaxy with the rest of the field trying desperately to keep pace. I think you liked to watch from the same spot.
One of the best days of my professional life was when Dan walked into AirCraft Bearing in 1982. I was responsible for the front counter sales and the man himself walked up to the counter, introduced himself (confirming my initial thought) and asked about "those really good NMB rod ends and spherical bearings he was starting to see on other cars at the track...." To me it was as if GOD himself was asking me questions. AAR became a very good customer over the next 10 years and I always took any opportunity to go and deliver the parts down to Santa Anna and say hello to Dan.
I did learn somethings I did not know from the videos you posted: #1, He took over driving for Bruce McLaren after his death and that Bruce had raced a Eagle for Dan. #2, Dan invented Podium "SPRAY"- a tradition that continues to this day at every racing event. - at the Kart races we give the Kids and Juniors sparkling apple juice.
So this is to a life well lived, I wish to offer my condolences to Dan's Family and his many Friends.
Rest in Peace.
Guy Keesee
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FRUMY
Trad climber
Bishop,CA
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Jan 15, 2018 - 04:54pm PT
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The best RIP.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Jan 15, 2018 - 05:26pm PT
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read his book 35 or 40 years ago about the original coast to coast race and other raceing adventures.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jan 15, 2018 - 07:29pm PT
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Great story about having Gurney as a customer, Guy!
One thing I liked in particular that comes out in those YouTube videos is how he kept his lap times conservative in practice for Le Mans, so that AJ Foyt wouldn't be overly competitive with him, thereby generating a habit between them of saving the machine during the 24 Hours of Endurance. Gurney checked his ego for the sake of the car and set a good example for his co-driver. Smart man!
Phil Hill was another one who was really good at not over driving the machinery. The saying went something like slowest guy to win a race.
I didn't start getting out to Riverside until the year Gurney retired, so never saw him race. But yes, turn six was excellent: great view of the esses and lots of action. I also liked turn seven (off camber, downhill left-hander) and when the Trans Am and Can Am cars would bang the gear change heading under the Champion Bridge for turn nine, it would shake that bridge like an earth tremor: man oh man what a thrill!
My old man was a turn marshal at Riverside from '66 all the way into '89 when the track closed. (My grandfather took him there the year before I was born, and from then on Dad was hooked). For Rodger and all the others of his generation, no one garnered more respect than Dan Gurney. I never met the man, was only 10 years old in 1970 when he retired, but he is so emblematic of the soul of motor racing in the 60s and 70s, and through my father and all the time I spent by myself at the track, Dan Gurney is in my blood. I've definitely shed a few tears today. His death really bookends an era the likes of which we will never see again.
This picture is with Rodger (RIP 2016) at the Riverside International Raceway Museum in 2011.
And guess what: there we are in front of one of Gurney's Eagles!
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jan 16, 2018 - 06:57pm PT
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Riverside International Raceway was ground zero for Dan Gurney.
The 1963 Times Grand Prix featured here was something of a forerunner (more so the 1964 edition) for the lucrative and exciting Can Am series:
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Here at the 1965 Times Grand Prix we get a world beating grid of famous drivers along with good audio, which is essential to appreciating the power of the Can Am beasts.
Also, great in-car footage taking a lap around the track at speed!
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Here is an outstanding historical document, Wide World of Sports coverage of the 1967 Can Am, with commentary by Phil Hill.
Dan Gurney on pole position:
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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CondorXLT
Mountain climber
Irvine, Ca
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Jan 16, 2018 - 07:01pm PT
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I started working for Dan just over a year now. He hired me as a CNC programmer to finish his from scratch motorcycle engine. He was the best boss I ever had. Class act, Bad Ass. I sat next to Dan and Chuck Palmgren, Dirt track hall of famer for hours a day. The stories one after another will play in my head forever. We were trying to get the motor done before he passed, but other projects got in the way. The latest configuration with the simulation software show numbers over 350 HP. He was in his 80"s on his Alligator running Ortega way over 100. [photoid=521360]
His book should be released soon.
https://newatlas.com/dan-gurney-moment-cancelling-motorcycle-engine-patent/39344/
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jan 17, 2018 - 08:07am PT
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In Wikipedia, there is an entry referencing Riverside International Raceway as the "House that Dan Gurney built".
And also this story about Gurney and his first ride in a Ferrari, which matches up with some photographs I linked to Tam's Old Racecar Site just above:
The second major event at the track, in November 1957, was a sports car race featuring some of the top drivers of the day, including Carroll Shelby, Masten Gregory and Ken Miles. Another driver entered was an inexperienced local youngster named Dan Gurney, who had been offered the opportunity to drive a powerful but ill-handling 4.9-liter Ferrari after better-known drivers such as Shelby and Miles had rejected it. Shelby led early but spun and fell back. Gurney assumed the lead and led for much of the event. Shelby, driving furiously to catch up, finally overtook Gurney late in the race and won. Gurney's performance caught the eye of North American Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti, who arranged for Gurney to drive a factory-supported Ferrari at Le Mans in 1958, effectively launching the Californian's European career. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside_International_Raceway
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 17, 2018 - 08:11am PT
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^^^^. Wow! Born to speed. I can relate! Cops couldn’t catch me when I was 15 in my
390 Olds so I pulled over and waited for them. I got a slap on the wrist! 🤪
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jan 17, 2018 - 08:14am PT
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Thanks for your story, CondorXLT!
Not bad for your second post ever on the forum.
Flat Track racing is one of those things that really needs to be experienced in person:
I got a chance to see, hear, and feel them thundering around Ascot back in the early 70s, and I'll never forget it! RIP Ascot.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascot_Park_(speedway);
T Hocking: when RIR was struck from the earth, the epicenter of Southern California motor racing was stripped away.
Sounds like you, Guy Keesee and I were probably there on some of the same weekends. How would that be for a time machine investigation!
CondorXLT: Ortega Highway sure has seen a lot of speed over the years.
Condolences for the loss of your boss. That has to hurt.
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