A mountain of a man and among the last of a very rare breed: http://www.racer.com/f1/item/146728-dan-gurney-1931-2018#!1959_Portugal_Ferrari I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Gurney on a few occasions and to learn a lot of behind the scenes things about both him and his company. In all instances his behavior was exemplary and a model to anyone. Mr. Gurney certainly lived a rich, full, and proper life and for that I honor him.
I wonder if Gurney will best be remembered as a driver or as a car builder. As a driver, he was fast but often unlucky, and Jim Clark once referred to him as the only driver he feared. Certainly his one-two punch of winning Le Mans and Spa back-to-back in 1967 will remain the highlight of his career, but all those NASCAR wins at Riverside and a couple of second-places at Indy are highlights as well. But of course as a car builder there were all those Eagles, including the car that dominated IndyCar grids through much of the '70s. Later on the dominant Toyota Mk. III cars in IMSA. And the 1967 Weslake-powered F1 car is generally considered one of the best-looking, if not THE best-looking F1 car ever built. (The photos below were taken at Watkins Glen in 1992.) R.I.P. Dan; you were one of the best. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for posting that article, first time I learnt most of that. Seems like an amazing person, the kind we don't see in modern racing. RIP.
Along with all the cars he built...driving winner in F1, Indycar, Le Mans, Can Am, Trans Am, NASCAR and what all else. Dan the Man. Rest in peace Mssr. Gurney. ;(
A true American legend and the only driver Jim Clark feared. Godspeed Dan, thanks for all of the memories and incredible racing cars, you will be missed.
Rest In Peace Dan. 86 F1 Grands Prix First GP - France 1959 Last GP - Great Britain 1970 4 Wins 3 Pole positions 6 Fastest Laps 19 Podium finishes
Always loved this great guy and his Eagle. RIP Mister Gurney. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That is very sad news - RIP Dan the Man He won the first F1 race I ever saw. His reaction to the tributes paid to him at the 2012 Goodwood Revival showed his humility. His emotion talking about Jim Clark’s death on a documentary showed his humanity. A great driver and a great man. Paul M (BTW car 22 above is Richie Ginther)
One of the all time great men and drivers, a fantastic ambassador for the sport. It was very special to be at Goodwood in 2012 and to see the tributes, Lord March was quite emotional (for a Brit!) and confessed he was one of his heroes and rightly so. RIP Sir.
Saw that car in the Collier collection a few years back. Docent was amazed that I knew what the bubble was, and for who. R.I.P., Dan.
Rip Good Sir, a hero and champion but, most of all, a true gentleman. We all should spray a bottle in Mr. Gurney's honour.
A great hero, a champion and a gentleman; a class act. One of the last giants. The world in a poorer place today. Rgds
Nice piece from Autosport website: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/133892/obituary-dan-gurney-19312018
Gurney was so tall - 6'4" - that Ford had to put a bubble in the roof of the GT40 so he could fit with a helmet on. So I guess that made it a GT43. lol RIP Dan. Image Unavailable, Please Login
