RIP - Dan Gurney |
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RIP - Dan Gurney |
Cracker |
Jan 16 2018, 07:31 AM
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#1
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,148 Joined: 2-February 10 From: Atlanta (area) Member No.: 11,316 Region Association: South East States |
I don't know if this has been posted yet but another racing legend has departed. Dan Gurney was an odd-ball race car driver being 6'4" tall...he must have been a bit crazy too (check out the picture of him "launching a speedster sans helmet in 1956!
Mr. Gurney...Rest in peace. Cracker An except below from an article by Ryan McGee: "How cool was Dan Gurney? You might already know the statistical part of his racing life. The first man to stand atop the podium in the world's four major racing classifications: Formula One, IndyCar, Sports Cars and NASCAR. The winner of 51 races in all, earning 98 trips to the podium during a behind-the-wheel career that spanned 312 events in 20 counties. In 1967 he had what might have very well been the greatest three-week span for any man to ever hold a steering wheel, when he started second in the Indianapolis 500; won the 24 Hours of Le Mans while co-driving with A.J. Foyt, the man who'd just beaten him at Indy; and then traveled north to win the F1 Belgian Grand Prix in a car of his own construction, still the only American to do so." Porsche 908 (GRP F1) - What roll bar??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) |
poorsche914 |
Jan 16 2018, 08:24 AM
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#2
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T4 Supercharged Group: Members Posts: 3,087 Joined: 28-May 09 From: Smoky Mountains Member No.: 10,419 Region Association: South East States |
From Porsche:
Porsche mourns the death of Dan Gurney (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) |
krazykonrad |
Jan 16 2018, 08:39 AM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,124 Joined: 21-February 06 From: Canton, GA Member No.: 5,610 |
They don't make 'em like that anymore. Thoughts and prayers.
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sbsix |
Jan 16 2018, 10:36 AM
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#4
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only the lead dog enjoys a change in scenery... Group: Members Posts: 449 Joined: 10-January 12 From: Santa Barbara, CA Member No.: 13,990 Region Association: Southern California |
My all-time driving hero and wonderful person. RIP Dan.
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rgalla9146 |
Jan 16 2018, 12:14 PM
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#5
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,545 Joined: 23-November 05 From: Paramus NJ Member No.: 5,176 Region Association: None |
A graduate of the post-war southern California hot rod/sports car phenomenon
Drove a flathead Ford to Bonneville before 1950. Drove for Porsche to it's only F1 victory. Only American builder/driver to win a F1 race. He did it all. RIP |
KELTY360 |
Jan 16 2018, 12:41 PM
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#6
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914 Neferati Group: Members Posts: 5,031 Joined: 31-December 05 From: Pt. Townsend, WA Member No.: 5,344 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
He stands tall in racing history. So tall the the Ford GT40 had a distinctive bump on the driver's side to allow him to sit in the car 'comfortably. He was also prominent in the early promotion of the Mercury Cougar with a special model in 1967 designated the "Dan Gurney Special" and a very rare, heavily optioned model in '68 called the XR7-G (for Gurney).
RIP |
Dion |
Jan 16 2018, 12:53 PM
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#7
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RN Group: Members Posts: 2,764 Joined: 16-September 04 From: Audubon,PA Member No.: 2,766 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
R.I.P. Mr. Gurney, Godspeed.
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Elliot Cannon |
Jan 16 2018, 12:58 PM
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#8
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914 Guru Group: Retired Members Posts: 8,487 Joined: 29-December 06 From: Paso Robles Ca. (Central coast) Member No.: 7,407 Region Association: None |
Gurney had great success at the Riverside International Raceway. I was at this race in 1965. I saw Foyt spin at turn 8 and his terrible crash at turn nine. At the podium, I boosted my friend on my shoulders, we elbowed our way through the auto journalists in the crowd, yelled "hey Dan", he looked down and waved. We snapped a pick with my Kodak Instamatic and made a great 8X10. I don't know what happened to that pic. I wish I had it back. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMt0LhpJGlE
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flyer86d |
Jan 16 2018, 01:23 PM
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#9
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Member Group: Members Posts: 422 Joined: 12-January 11 From: Corea, Maine Member No.: 12,585 Region Association: North East States |
Always my hero. When Sue and I went to The Indy 500 in 1987, Dick Simon gave us his Paddock Press Box seats. We went and sat down, a short time later, a tall blond haired man and another fellow sat down next to us. It was Dan Gurney! We introduced ourselves to him and chatted the entire race. A true gentleman.
Charlie |
Drums66 |
Jan 16 2018, 02:27 PM
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#10
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914 Rudiments Group: Members Posts: 5,321 Joined: 15-January 03 From: Coronado,Cali Member No.: 151 Region Association: Southwest Region |
.....All my respects,to Dan Gurney& peace to his family!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif) (true racing icon) |
pete000 |
Jan 16 2018, 05:55 PM
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#11
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,885 Joined: 23-August 10 From: Bradenton Florida Member No.: 12,094 Region Association: South East States |
One of the best drivers ever !
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carr914 |
Jan 17 2018, 06:11 AM
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#12
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Racer from Birth Group: Members Posts: 118,376 Joined: 2-February 04 From: Tampa,FL Member No.: 1,623 Region Association: South East States |
My Hero!
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mgp4591 |
Jan 17 2018, 05:58 PM
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#13
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,368 Joined: 1-August 12 From: Salt Lake City Ut Member No.: 14,748 Region Association: Intermountain Region |
I'll be installing a Flap in his honor.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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davesprinkle |
Jan 21 2018, 04:43 PM
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#14
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 720 Joined: 13-October 04 From: Berkeley, CA Member No.: 2,943 Region Association: None |
In the mid-90s, I was riding my cafe'd Honda 400 (see motorcycle pics thread) on Ortega Hwy in southern california. I pull up at a roadside cafe and park in the lot next to half a dozen weird low-rider bikes. Clearly custom-built, but strange. Seats six inches above the ground. Unconventional. You might even call them ugly.
I go in and get a coke and a sandwich. I come out and some tall guy is looking at my 400. I recognize Dan Gurney. He and I talk about the bike. He points at the front brake and seems impressed. I'm fucking thrilled about his comments. Then he offers me a ride on one of those strange bikes. He says it's an Alligator. This one is powered by a Yamaha single. No way I'm gonna turn this down. I get on the bike and rail through the Ortega canyon section. Tight, tight, tight. The bike handles surprisingly well, once I got used to the feet-forward riding position. I go about five miles and turn around. Back at the cafe, Dan keeps pressing me about how it worked. "Did you really get on it?" he wants to know. I defer answering his question. "Yeah, yeah, I got on it" I say, but he insists, "Did you really work it?" Finally, I say, "Dan, I had it into the limiter in three gears." Dan smiled. That's what he wanted to hear. I'm certain I didn't ride that bike to its potential. I'm certain there are other riders who could have ridden that thing better than me. But Dan didn't care. He was a hot-rodder, a gear-head, a racer, a gregarious cool guy with a big heart. He handed the keys to his custom bike to a stranger and his only request was that it be flogged to its limit. Dan, thanks. I'll miss you. |
sixnotfour |
Jan 21 2018, 05:14 PM
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#15
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 10,419 Joined: 12-September 04 From: Life Elevated..planet UT. Member No.: 2,744 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
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sixnotfour |
Jan 21 2018, 05:14 PM
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#16
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 10,419 Joined: 12-September 04 From: Life Elevated..planet UT. Member No.: 2,744 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
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sixnotfour |
Jan 21 2018, 05:14 PM
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#17
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 10,419 Joined: 12-September 04 From: Life Elevated..planet UT. Member No.: 2,744 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
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914werke |
Jan 21 2018, 06:12 PM
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#18
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"I got blisters on me fingers" Group: Members Posts: 10,037 Joined: 22-March 03 From: USofA Member No.: 453 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Funny Dave I had a related experiance.
I met & got to drive with Dan a few yrs back at Pacific Raceways (SIR) in conjunction with the Annual 4th of July Historic races hosted by SOVREN. He and Parker Johnstone were guest Instructors. We were kicking around MB 240 Kompressor's provided by the local dealer, but when it came time for a ride along we piled into a pair of S600 AMG sedans! Man those massive sleds could MOVE! Dan didn't get along with that car as well as Parker did. Ill never forget flying into turn 2 (w/Parker driving) while I was sitting shotgun, his R. arm draped over the seat, glancing back over his shoulder to narrate to those in the back seat all the while drifting the car through 2a/b & blasting it down the hill~!! It was an experience. Dan was getting on in yrs, and IMHO didn't seem as enthused about his participation, having probably done hundreds of these events. During the lunch break I saw he sat alone & ventured over to engage him. I recalled that he was also a Motorcyclist and knew he had designed & produced his own unique MC., so I introduced myself explained that I was a past MC roadracer & that this was my home track, then asked him about his "Gator". MAN.. his eyes lit up, a broad smile erupted & he started jabbering like child on Christmas day! We talked the entire lunch about motorcycles & his own MC experience's. I think it was a year later while in Seaside CA over the MOTOGP weekend at Laguna Seca I happened to spot a PU truck with this odd bikes in the back & out walk's Dan & his son who were also attending the race. I didn't think he would remember our past meeting but sure as hell he remembered, and started jabbering again.. efusing about the Gator they had with them! You'll be missed Dan! Attached image(s) |
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