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Post by Carl on Jan 21, 2022 23:50:06 GMT
Dan Gurney talks about the very first Eagle |
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Post by Carl on Dec 26, 2022 20:21:32 GMT
Driving a stock Ford sedan, the great Dan Gurney once embarrassed a sports car club at Paramount Ranch, west of Los Angeles. He was so fast on his first run, they decided not to allow a second one. His exceptional skills were already evident in 1950. His close friend Skip Hudson had a completely stock 1940 Ford sedan which they entered against race-prepared sports cars on a road course. As Gurney later recalled, "Skip had a Ford sedan and we went to a sports car hill climb out near Agoura, California, and asked if we could run it. Skip and I flipped a coin to see who was going to drive and I won the toss. I made one run. Turned out it was the second-fastest time against all those sports cars. But they wouldn't let us make a second run." "I didn't do a perfect job on the start," Gurney continued. "I tell you, if I'd had one more run, we could have maybe taken the [top time]." He knew he was good, even then. It's unclear whether the sports car guys ever figured out who they threw out of their event. Dan returned in subsequent years and won twice in Frank Arciero's 4.9 Ferrari.
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Post by René on Dec 26, 2022 23:20:38 GMT
Great story. Gurney had the talent to be an F1 champion.
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Post by Carl on Dec 28, 2022 23:37:56 GMT
On August 24, 1950, Daniel Sexton Gurney was timed at over 130 mph in a modified Ford Coupe
Here, waving and grinning foolishly, is twenty year old Gurney with his co-conspirators in Riverside, California
Hot rods were Gurney's first love and this salt flat racer is seen in the top photo 
Proof is in the pudding and on the brass plaque  |
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Post by René on Dec 29, 2022 11:39:29 GMT
Wonderful stuff, Carl. He was a special talent indeed as is shown in this very nice short tribute film.
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Post by Carl on Feb 20, 2023 17:12:14 GMT
An excellent article about Dan Gurney's remarkable natural talent, fast learning curve and rise to fame:
Dan Gurney and Stirling Moss in Lotus 19s in the esses at Riverside, followed by race winner Bill Krause in his Birdcage Maserati (1960)
Same trio in Turn 7 (The remarkably fast Bill Krause came only briefly into the limelight)
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Post by René on Feb 21, 2023 11:16:44 GMT
Thanks for sharing, Carl. I enjoyed reading it last night. Great article!  |
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