Dan Gurney has passed away.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Dan Gurney, one of the great developers of Formula One racing cars in the Golden Age of F1 racing (read: incredibly unsafe) has passed away.
Gurney was also a passionate motorcyclist and developed his own motorcycle, called the Alligator. He also sponsored motorcycle racing.

He was of course best-known for developing his own open-wheeled Grand Prix racing car, the Gurney Eagle.

Gurney was among the topmost, elite racers of his time and in all of Formula One history, which include racers like Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, and A. J. Foyt, as well as James Hunt and Niki Lauda, who are profiled in the movie "Rush".


Gurney is said to have originated the tradition of spraying pressurized champagne at the crowd.


Gurney's Alligator motorcycle.


Dan Gurney's Eagle open-wheeled Formula One racing car.

[redbirds_imp]

How sad to hear. A great driver and fine gentleman. A friend and I had the chance to "look over his shoulder" in the paddock at Daytona in 1970. We had a pass for the pits and garages for the "24 Hours of Daytona" and were wandering the garage area, two 21 year old wide eyed fans admiring the factory unlimited sports racers from Porsche, Ferrari and Matra. Gurney was not driving for a factory team but was racing a Ferrari entered by NART. The car looked as though it was driven to the track and some numbers slapped on it. The hood was up on the Ferrari and Gurney and a mechanic were busy under it. We got as close as we could, trying not to be in the way, Mr Gurney moved a bit giving us a good view of the car's engine and smiled.

http://www.sportscardigest.com/1970-24-h...profile/4/

This link has some info on that race and photo credits of my friend, Fred Lewis.

[Rocky_imp]

I always liked Dan and was sad to hear that he passed away a few days ago.

[the Ferret]

Great race driver. Sorry to hear of his passing.

I always thought the Alligator was a ridiculous design. Really bad for a rider that runs into something like the back of a car. Nowhere for the rider to go except into the frame and gas tank with your chest that can handle less than a 30 mph impact at best and the head which can handle far less. Besides that who needs to have their seat that close to the ground and legs bent that much at a stop light? Totally impractical design.

[Rolls_imp]

Very sad news, indeed. An indefatigable pioneer, that one. What a great memory to have, Redbirds! And nice photos, Ulve.

More on the unorthodox Alligator from Autoweek...

http://autoweek.com/article/car-life/gur...motorcycle

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Great race driver. Sorry to hear of his passing.

I always thought the Alligator was a ridiculous design. Really bad for a rider that runs into something like the back of a car. Nowhere for the rider to go except into the frame and gas tank with your chest that can handle less than a 30 mph impact at best and the head which can handle far less. Besides that who needs to have their seat that close to the ground and legs bent that much at a stop light? Totally impractical design.

Ferret, I was at the press intro for that bike at the Petersen Museum. Dan really just built those for himself and a few friends, like Eddie Lawson. It really does put you too low for safety when it comes to street riding. They are collector's items now, for sure.

How sad to hear. A great driver and fine gentleman. A friend and I had the chance to "look over his shoulder" in the paddock at Daytona in 1970. We had a pass for the pits and garages for the "24 Hours of Daytona" and were wandering the garage area, two 21 year old wide eyed fans admiring the factory unlimited sports racers from Porsche, Ferrari and Matra. Gurney was not driving for a factory team but was racing a Ferrari entered by NART. The car looked as though it was driven to the track and some numbers slapped on it. The hood was up on the Ferrari and Gurney and a mechanic were busy under it. We got as close as we could, trying not to be in the way, Mr Gurney moved a bit giving us a good view of the car's engine and smiled.

http://www.sportscardigest.com/1970-24-h...profile/4/

This link has some info on that race and photo credits of my friend, Fred Lewis.

Great link! I pulled up this morning at the hangout next to a guy in a Shelby Cobra; first thing I asked was did he know about Dan. He sure did, we both talked about what a great racer and guy he'd been for the sport.

[ChipBeck_imp]

Dan Gurney, one of the great developers of Formula One racing cars in the Golden Age of F1 racing (read: incredibly unsafe) has passed away.
Gurney was also a passionate motorcyclist and developed his own motorcycle, called the Alligator. He also sponsored motorcycle racing.

He was of course best-known for developing his own open-wheeled Grand Prix racing car, the Gurney Eagle.

Gurney was among the topmost, elite racers of his time and in all of Formula One history, which include racers like Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, and A. J. Foyt, as well as James Hunt and Niki Lauda, who are profiled in the movie "Rush".


Gurney is said to have originated the tradition of spraying pressurized champagne at the crowd.


Gurney's Alligator motorcycle.


Dan Gurney's Eagle open-wheeled Formula One racing car.

Gentlemen,

Dan Gurney absolutely started that tradition in 1967 after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans co-driving with A.J. Foyt in the #1 Ford GT Mark IV. The picture above was taken after that race. Carroll Shelby was running the team for Ford. While heading to the winners circle with A.J. driving that Ford GT and Dan riding on the left front fender an enthusiastic race fan or possibly a race official in a white sweater jumped on the fender with Dan and handed him a big magnum of champagne. During the trophy ceremony Dan popped the cork intending to drink some but spontaneously decided to shake the bottle and spray it everywhere. That had never been done before and it created such a stir that soon everybody was doing it.

I've been very involved in the Ford GT community for the last 12 years and was at Le Mans last summer with the Ford team who was racing the new Ford GT. On the 50th anniversary of that win at Le Mans Ford invited A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney to return with the team but Dan was too frail to make the trip. I talked to A.J. Foyt for about 30 minutes and asked him who the guy was that handed Dan that bottle of Champagne. He didn't know. I asked A.J. how many times he raced at Le Mans and he said, "Just that one time. Carroll Shelby asked me to co-drive with Dan, we won, and I never returned."

I never met Dan Gurney, wish that I had.

Chip

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Dan Gurney, one of the great developers of Formula One racing cars in the Golden Age of F1 racing (read: incredibly unsafe) has passed away.
Gurney was also a passionate motorcyclist and developed his own motorcycle, called the Alligator. He also sponsored motorcycle racing.

He was of course best-known for developing his own open-wheeled Grand Prix racing car, the Gurney Eagle.

Gurney was among the topmost, elite racers of his time and in all of Formula One history, which include racers like Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, and A. J. Foyt, as well as James Hunt and Niki Lauda, who are profiled in the movie "Rush".


Gurney is said to have originated the tradition of spraying pressurized champagne at the crowd.


Gurney's Alligator motorcycle.


Dan Gurney's Eagle open-wheeled Formula One racing car.

Gentlemen,

Dan Gurney absolutely started that tradition in 1967 after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans co-driving with A.J. Foyt in the #1 Ford GT Mark IV. The picture above was taken after that race. Carroll Shelby was running the team for Ford. While heading to the winners circle with A.J. driving that Ford GT and Dan riding on the left front fender an enthusiastic race fan or possibly a race official in a white sweater jumped on the fender with Dan and handed him a big magnum of champagne. During the trophy ceremony Dan popped the cork intending to drink some but spontaneously decided to shake the bottle and spray it everywhere. That had never been done before and it created such a stir that soon everybody was doing it.

I've been very involved in the Ford GT community for the last 12 years and was at Le Mans last summer with the Ford team who was racing the new Ford GT. On the 50th anniversary of that win at Le Mans Ford invited A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney to return with the team but Dan was too frail to make the trip. I talked to A.J. Foyt for about 30 minutes and asked him who the guy was that handed Dan that bottle of Champagne. He didn't know. I asked A.J. how many times he raced at Le Mans and he said, "Just that one time. Carroll Shelby asked me to co-drive with Dan, we won, and I never returned."

I never met Dan Gurney, wish that I had.

Chip

Gentlemen,

Dan Gurney absolutely started that tradition in 1967 after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans co-driving with A.J. Foyt in the #1 Ford GT Mark IV. The picture above was taken after that race. Carroll Shelby was running the team for Ford. While heading to the winners circle with A.J. driving that Ford GT and Dan riding on the left front fender an enthusiastic race fan or possibly a race official in a white sweater jumped on the fender with Dan and handed him a big magnum of champagne. During the trophy ceremony Dan popped the cork intending to drink some but spontaneously decided to shake the bottle and spray it everywhere. That had never been done before and it created such a stir that soon everybody was doing it.

I've been very involved in the Ford GT community for the last 12 years and was at Le Mans last summer with the Ford team who was racing the new Ford GT. On the 50th anniversary of that win at Le Mans Ford invited A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney to return with the team but Dan was too frail to make the trip. I talked to A.J. Foyt for about 30 minutes and asked him who the guy was that handed Dan that bottle of Champagne. He didn't know. I asked A.J. how many times he raced at Le Mans and he said, "Just that one time. Carroll Shelby asked me to co-drive with Dan, we won, and I never returned."

I never met Dan Gurney, wish that I had.

Chip Great story, Chip, thank you!