OT: R.I.P. Dan Gurney

Bruce K · #1 01-14-2018, 06:47 PM

Auto racing pioneer

Many fond memories of him and/or his various All-American Racing efforts and the Eagle Indy cars.

BK

oliver1850 · #2 01-14-2018, 07:14 PM

One of the giants of motorsports. He did so many things at the highest level. It's a bit of a shame that he didn't concentrate more on F1. His Eagle remains the only winning F1 car built in the USA, and one of the prettiest race cars ever.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Mk1

Mike V · #3 01-14-2018, 07:16 PM

Big lose in the racing world.

He was very cool person. I got to meet and talk to him many times in the early days of Cars And Coffee in SoCal. It was in the middle of our ride. He would stop by in the middle of his ride while testing his Alligator motorcycle. Just standing there shotin the s--t with Dan Gurney!

RIP Dan Gurney

bthornt · #4 01-14-2018, 07:30 PM

Won Le Mans in a Ford GT 40 with A.J. Foyt (first time champagne sprayed into crowd, it is alleged), and also won F1 race at Spa with the US built Eagle.

David Kirk · #5 01-14-2018, 08:44 PM

That guy is effing awesome.

dave

Birddog · #6 01-14-2018, 08:51 PM

Along with Carroll Shelby he was a racing legend. When I toyed with being a motorhead he was a hero. I've done a quick search, but wasn't he involved with development of a multi engine car in the early 60's?

Elefantino · #7 01-15-2018, 12:16 AM

The greatest American race car driver.

soulspinner · #8 01-15-2018, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elefantino

The greatest American race car driver.

Better than Mario?

Mr. Pink · #9 01-15-2018, 08:11 AM

First winner of the Cannonball 500 with Brock Yates at his side in a Ferrari Daytona. Brock's writings about that in Sunday Driver are a very entertaining read.

GregL · #10 01-15-2018, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulspinner

Better than Mario?

Mario had more wins, but Gurney was more successful as a designer, manufacturer, and team owner. Mario was notoriously hard on equipment, while Gurney was just the opposite. Gurney's versatility was his hallmark. His success in 1967 was incredible (see bthornt's post above). Gurney and Mark Donohue were the two drivers/designers that I admired most when I was an aspiring racer.

Greg

Mr. Pink · #11 01-15-2018, 09:25 AM

One could argue that Mario, although an awfully good driver, was just luckier. Better cars offered to him, especially the Lotus 79. Although Mario would say Danny Sullivan was much more lucky to anyone he meets.

Both were very lucky to drive in the most lethal period of motor racing and survive with bodies pretty much intact.

bthornt · #12 01-15-2018, 10:37 AM

Off topic, but certainly a great discussion - who was (or is) the greatest driver of all time? Mario Andretti (my choice, by the way) won at Indy, Daytona, and the F1 championship. The biggest race he didn't win is F1 Monte Carlo. He drove every type of vehicle, in every type of race, with great success. But that was a long time ago, and very similar to cycling at that time. You were expected to race all season long, in all types of races - grand tours, one day races, and the track.

bicycletricycle · #13 01-15-2018, 10:58 AM

Was he the guy they had to put a bump on the roof of the gt40 for?

tv_vt · #14 01-15-2018, 11:00 AM

One of the big names from my youth. A legend for sure.

This thread really needs some youtube links!

bthornt · #15 01-15-2018, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

Was he the guy they had to put a bump on the roof of the gt40 for?

Yep, I guess he was like 6'7", and the GT 40 was pretty darn low and sleek.

A great book on racing during that time: Go Like Hell

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003K16PBY...ng=UTF8&btkr=1