Inspiration to many.
I had the pleasure of working with Dan on a project while I was at Saleen. Between the hours sitting in his office while he told stories and the time at our test track with him and his son Alex beating the snot out of the cars it was quite an experience. The photo shoot with his Trans-Am Mustang was cool as he had not seen the car in quite some time and started dumping more stories about that era.
Farewell Dan.
I'm going to find an aerodynamically effective spot to install a Gurney flap on the rear deck spoiler I have planned for the track car. And put the name "Dan" on the flap...
A life anyone would be proud of, RIP.
Anyone else think it would be very fitting for his headstone to be squarish with an offset raised hump? Everyone would know whose it is at a glance.
stafford1500 said:I had the pleasure of working with Dan on a project while I was at Saleen. Between the hours sitting in his office while he told stories and the time at our test track with him and his son Alex beating the snot out of the cars it was quite an experience. The photo shoot with his Trans-Am Mustang was cool as he had not seen the car in quite some time and started dumping more stories about that era.
Farewell Dan.
I am profoundly jealous.
I'm going to read the chapter in Brock Yates book about Dan driving in the Cannonball. Amazing that a driver of his stature would participate to prove competent drivers can drive safely faster than 55mph. Too bad Brock isn't around to write Dan's epitaph.
Many years ago Dan Gurney's son Alex was racing at one of our local SCCA regionals; both he and his brother were very down to earth and gracious people. I've also raced with a couple of people who worked for Dan Gurney and they had nothing but nice things to say about the man. I think that says a lot about the man. My condolences to his family.
RIP Mr. Gurney.
I remember a story about Toyota launching cars at Road Atlanta, and a bunch of writers were in Supras running around the track, when a Corolla caught and passed them. It was of course Dan Gurney. Until they saw him, they couldn't understand how a lowly Corolla caught up. Another guy I always wanted to meet.
A lot of good information about his career here - https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/dan-gurney-legend-passes-away-995822/
When you start reading about all the things he had contact/influence on, you wonder how one man had that much creativity in one lifetime. A remarkable mind.
And let’s not forget he wrote the white paper that resulted in the founding of Cart. An amazing mind that could do anything.
A friend of mine said that Gurney may well have been the last person on Earth that, on his own: designed, built, and drove his own F1 car - and won. Is that true, was he the last of the great engineer/constructor/drivers?
In reply to kb58 :
Jean-Pierre Jabouille was driver and chief engineer on the Renault RS01 and RS10, but Renault Sport was much larger than AAR.
I did not realize the Dan Gurney for President campaign was from 1964.
Another cool thing abut Gurney is he always seemed to have big smile on his face.
I remember the article in Road & Track about the restoration of the F1 Eagle. The restorer contacted Dan Gurney and asked about seat belts and mounting. Gurney replied that there weren't any because with a magnesium chassis, he didn't want to be anywhere near it after a crash. It was another era. R.I.P.
You'll need to log in to post.