RIP Parnell Jones

[Bruce K]

A true motorsports legend.

BK

[72gmc]

One of the great (nick)names in sports!

And a name my dad referenced whenever car racing came up, ever since I can remember.

Thanks for the heads up, Bruce. Now I can read about him when I get home.

[GregL]

One of my childhood heroes. His run to the 1970 Trans Am championship in the Boss 302 Mustang was the stuff of legends. RIP, Parnelli!

Greg

[Mr. Pink]

Wow, I was just talking about him last night, mostly for that name. Who names their kid Parnelli? Or Carroll? Or A.J.?

[glepore]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

Wow, I was just talking about him last night, mostly for that name. Who names their kid Parnelli? Or Carroll? Or A.J.?

Parnelli wasn't his real name.

Great obit here-https://racer.com/

[Bruce K]

And along comes Andy Granitelli with this crazy side by side turbine car for Indy and Jones jumps up “Yes, please”.

I can’t imagine the stones it took to strap into that thing.

Damn near won the whole show but for a $0.50 part and 3 laps.

BK

[glepore]

Originally Posted by Bruce K

And along comes Andy Granitelli with this crazy side by side turbine car for Indy and Jones jumps up “Yes, please”.

I can’t imagine the stones it took to strap into that thing.

Damn near won the whole show but for a $0.50 part and 3 laps.

BK

That's my earliest actual Parnelli memory, listening to that race in my parents car sitting in front of an uncles house...

And Art Pollard a year or two later.

[witcombusa]

He could drive and win at any discipline.
A pure natural talent.

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

Wow, I was just talking about him last night, mostly for that name. Who names their kid Parnelli? Or Carroll? Or A.J.?

Or Rufus.

One of the most versatile drivers of the era. He could have won a lot more races if he hadn't retired from the major series so early.

[PacNW2Ford]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

Wow, I was just talking about him last night, mostly for that name. Who names their kid Parnelli? Or Carroll? Or A.J.?

The same people who name their kids “Anthony” and “Joseph”.

[Ken Robb]

At the Monterey Historics I got to listen to the gay repartee between Parnelli, George Folmer, and other former Trans-Am drivers after they had a "friendly" race in Muatangs, Camaros, and other cars they raced in the glory days. This race really was a race because they were still RACERS!