:(
Also, delete my post in the OT, this is a far more appropriate location to recognize him.
"Legend" is probably not a strong enough word, but it's all I have. RIP, and thank you for everything you did for motorsports.
RIP Mr. Gurney.
The American Racer.
Nooooo!!!!! I wanted him to sit in my Toyota! My thoughts and prayers for the family.
I was very sad to read this. One of the greatest men motorsports will ever see period. RIP dan.
All American Racer
This hurts. Damn. Just damn. Hammer down, Dan.
I have changed my avatar in his honor.
A good life well lived.
I am so grieved to hear this. Dan was one of my all-time favorite Americans. I have a "Dan Gurney for President" sticker in a prominent location on my tool box. He'd be pleased, I'm sure. Dan has been my main hero for more than fifty years. I met him once at a Concours d'Elegance in Newport, RI, about ten years ago under the tent, and shook his hand. It was early in the day, all his famous race cars were there, and I had him all to myself. He was gracious, very friendly, and made me feel like I had his complete attention. Which I did. He signed a Klemantaski photo I brought of him and Stirling Moss winning the Nurburgring 1000 Km race in 1960. (Actually, Sterling Moss was at the same event, and he signed the same picture the previous day). And the very same Birdcage Maserati they won that event in was at the show. That was an unbelievable experience for me. One of the best days of my life, in fact. Anyway, I have fond memories of Dan Gurney, and this is a very sad day for me. I'm drinking a toast to the man right now.
Same event, but not the Klemantaski photo that I had both those guys sign:
I haz sad.
A great man. A bit of a suprise as he seemed quite healthy recently. A wonderful ambassaor who will be greatly missed.
I visited his Costa Mesa shop once years ago with a buddy. As we we're about to leave, a Toyota minivan drove by and I got a brief glimpse of the man himself. As we drove away, I felt like the world had gotten a lot smaller; just seeing him in person really made an impression. I have a 1960s picture of him at a driver's meeting and will post it tomorrow.
With respect to my previous post, with the hundreds, maybe thousands, of Dan Gurney images out there, this is my favorite:
(Grease stained T-shirt, hand in the air, Riverside, CA, around 1950. And the late, great Skip Hudson in the the white hat to Dan's left. They were lifetime friends until Skip passed).
An icon for sure. Bummer.
I think that this is the picture that Gary was trying to post above. This was always my favorite Dan Gurney photo. Dan is the tall guy.
My favorite Gurney
Gary said: I have a "Dan Gurney for President" sticker in a prominent location on my tool box.
That needs to come off the tool box and find a spot on a car.
Still have a Dan Gurney for President campaign button stashed away. Saw him drive in Trans-Am, Can-Am and F1, and as a team owner in Indycar. Many people get called legends, but Gurney was the real deal. One of the true greats, a winner in every kind of racing, and always a car guy who enjoyed the sport.
Thanks, guys, for sharing all the fabulous photos. What a career, what a life! He inspired so many of us.
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