Jump to content


Photo

1967 Belgian Grand Prix


  • Please log in to reply
87 replies to this topic

#1 Eagle104

Eagle104
  • Member

  • 123 posts
  • Joined: March 00

Posted 19 June 2001 - 01:03

On this date, June 18th, 1967, Dan Gurney managed to widen the smiles on all his fans' faces, at the wheel of Eagle/104. And though the years pass...the smile remains!

Thanks and Congratulations, Dan Gurney!
Forza AAR!

Advertisement

#2 Marcor

Marcor
  • Member

  • 1,198 posts
  • Joined: July 00

Posted 19 June 2001 - 01:26

About this GP, "l'Automobile" run as a headline: Double revenge for Mister Dan

"The day my car will be ok, I would like to win 2 GP as a priority: the US Grand Prix of course and also the Belgian GP..."

Dan Gurney spoke in this way, at Monza in 1966.

Why double revenge:

Remeber the 1964 edition. Dan Gurney had outclassed the race and the practice. With his Brabham, he was irresistible but the car ran out of petrol in the last lap !

In 1966 Dan Gurney came back in Spa with his own vann, his own material, his own car, the first F1 Eagle but the engine was an old 4-cylinder Climax. Started from the last row, the Eagle crawled along and Dan finished the race... unclassified !!

Dan Gurney, winning at the speed of 234.945 km/h, could forget those two bad memories.

This day only Clark was up to disputing the victory with the American...

#3 Bernd

Bernd
  • Member

  • 3,313 posts
  • Joined: October 00

Posted 19 June 2001 - 03:02

Jimmy was winning that race by a country mile until his plugs started exploding on him. Lanky Dan was very fortunate that his Weslake held together for once as were we all. If Clark wasn't to win Gurney was the next best thing.

#4 Barry Boor

Barry Boor
  • Member

  • 11,546 posts
  • Joined: October 00

Posted 19 June 2001 - 06:21

One of my very happiest days in motor racing terms.

If you have nothing to do for 5 minutes, perhaps you might like to read why.....

http://www.retroraci...dogsyndrome.htm

#5 Keir

Keir
  • Member

  • 5,241 posts
  • Joined: February 00

Posted 19 June 2001 - 12:20

;)
Barry,
Very nicely done. Dan would like it. :cool:

#6 borsari

borsari
  • Member

  • 64 posts
  • Joined: December 00

Posted 19 June 2001 - 20:59

Originally posted by Barry Boor
One of my very happiest days in motor racing terms.

If you have nothing to do for 5 minutes, perhaps you might like to read why.....

http://www.retroraci...dogsyndrome.htm


Barry,
Nice article, but why no photo credits

34 years ago . . . I was such a big fan of Dan's then . . .

Vals

#7 Bernd

Bernd
  • Member

  • 3,313 posts
  • Joined: October 00

Posted 20 June 2001 - 06:25

Very nice article there Barry it inspired me to do a small montage of this great race. Hopefully our friend Justin will see it.

Posted Image

Dan rounds Haute de la Cote. Dan passes JYS in front of the pits to take the lead.The vital stats.

Posted Image

The stunning Eagle soars out of Stavelot.

Posted Image

TRIUMPH!

Viva Gurney!

#8 Justin Gurney

Justin Gurney
  • Member

  • 60 posts
  • Joined: August 00

Posted 20 June 2001 - 18:36

Yes I see it. I will show my Dad your kind words! Maybe I can even get him to post a few words on here. That would be cool!
You know this exact car is being restored here at AAR as I am writing this. I sure hope Mr. Collieur will let us fire it up when it is finished.

#9 David M. Kane

David M. Kane
  • Member

  • 5,402 posts
  • Joined: December 00

Posted 20 June 2001 - 20:11

One of the Eagles was in the Historic Parade at the USGP in Indy last year. It is clearly one of the finest looking GP cars ever!
It sounded pretty darn good too! I assume this was the sister car to the actual race winner.

#10 Don Capps

Don Capps
  • Member

  • 5,933 posts
  • Joined: May 99

Posted 20 June 2001 - 20:11

Justin,

Pass onto your Dad just how popular he is on this forum. I think that I can speak for many in saying that he is easily one of the most popular drivers among those who post here.

If you could ever get him here, that would be great. :up:

I had the pleasure to watch your Dad race many times, both in the US in Europe. One of my fondest memories is finding out that he had won the Belgian GP in the Eagle.

As an aside, when I first met him in 1959, he was very gracious to a 12-year old pest.... :lol: ....who asked a LOT of questions!

#11 bobbo

bobbo
  • Member

  • 841 posts
  • Joined: March 01

Posted 20 June 2001 - 20:25

Justin:

I will second Don Capps' wonderful words: " . . .How POPULAR he is on this forum." (CAPS [no pun intended!:blush:] added )

Your Dad is and will ever be my (and MY late Dad's) #1 driver. And hero. Thank him for me, for setting an outstanding example of style and class.

THANK YOU, DAN! Your career made memories and set examples that keep us going in this cynical selfish cruel age we live in!

Bobbo

#12 Gary C

Gary C
  • Member

  • 5,571 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 20 June 2001 - 20:35

guys, the photos in Barrys' 'Underdog Syndrome' article come from my collection (www.superchargedcollection.com), the more recent photos are Barrys' own.

#13 Buford

Buford
  • Member

  • 11,174 posts
  • Joined: March 01

Posted 20 June 2001 - 22:06

I will add my admiration here for Dan Gurney.

#14 bobbo

bobbo
  • Member

  • 841 posts
  • Joined: March 01

Posted 21 June 2001 - 01:07

Recently Jackie Stewart was knighted, following in the footsteps of Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss, and (that I can think of) Sir Frank Williams. TOO D**N BAD we Americans have no such way of recognizing such excellence, but if we ever do, I nominate:

DANIEL SEXTON GURNEY!!

Sounds great, doesn't it?

Sir Daniel Sexton Gurney.

Oh, well, maybe we can lobby for him to be awarded the Freedom Medal.

It's the least we can do.

We love you, Dan! :up: :up: :up:

Bobbo

#15 Megatron

Megatron
  • Member

  • 3,688 posts
  • Joined: January 99

Posted 21 June 2001 - 01:50

That Dan won didn't suprise me. He had been robbed of a victory earlier in the year at the ring. What suprised me was the fact that the H16 brought two cars home in the points. I suppose at the fast Spa track, the fact that it had 16 cylinders helped over the fact that it had a terrible power/weight ratio.

#16 Roger Clark

Roger Clark
  • Member

  • 7,502 posts
  • Joined: February 00

Posted 21 June 2001 - 05:25

I would like to add my ppreiation for his skill, his attitude and for demonstraing that people of reasonable hight could fit into an F1 car. As well as thethe spa win, he and AJ Foyt had won Le Mans the week before. A good eight days.

Following Le Mans, they "invented" the practice of spraying the crowd with champagne.

#17 Barry Boor

Barry Boor
  • Member

  • 11,546 posts
  • Joined: October 00

Posted 21 June 2001 - 06:22

With regard to Roger's

people of reasonable height

quote, I can vouch that he speaks from a personal position, i.e. TALL! :)

#18 CVAndrw

CVAndrw
  • Member

  • 108 posts
  • Joined: February 00

Posted 21 June 2001 - 06:49

Justin! What you may have done to get so many aging heart rates so dangerously accelerated!

If a poll were to be introduced here as to just how high the percentage of life-long, desperately devoted American Formula One addicts became such precisely because of the exploits, dreams and accomplishments of your father, Keir’s “Famous Amon Stories” might well be under threat, in passion if not in number…

Seldom have so many owed so much to such a guy…

#19 Vitesse2

Vitesse2
  • Administrator

  • 41,769 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 21 June 2001 - 10:20

Anyone still got a "Dan Gurney for President" bumper sticker? Was that the 1968 campaign?

Advertisement

#20 Buford

Buford
  • Member

  • 11,174 posts
  • Joined: March 01

Posted 21 June 2001 - 10:35

Yeah I do and a button too.

#21 Don Capps

Don Capps
  • Member

  • 5,933 posts
  • Joined: May 99

Posted 21 June 2001 - 12:52

Vitesse2, it was the 1964 campaign. It was the 'brainchild' of David E. Davis and the crew at Car and Driver. The "In" candidate for 1968 was Pat Paulsen -- who received my write-in vote incidentially! Whether "The Hump" or "Tricky Dick" won was irrelevant to Yours Truly since I was on my way to Viet-Nam anyway....

#22 Barry Boor

Barry Boor
  • Member

  • 11,546 posts
  • Joined: October 00

Posted 21 June 2001 - 12:57

Yes, I have a sticker, too.

It is on my computer bench so that I am looking at it whenever I am on the computer. I got it courtesy of Borsari (Mark Valsi) many years ago.

#23 Bayou Bengal

Bayou Bengal
  • Member

  • 134 posts
  • Joined: March 01

Posted 25 July 2001 - 04:51

Originally posted by Roger Clark

Following Le Mans, they "invented" the practice of spraying the crowd with champagne.


You have made an error, it wasn't "they invented" it was "he invented". All the photos show Dan Gurney spraying the champagne. He said he saw Henry Ford in his suit and had this desire to spray champagne all over him!

Posted Image

#24 Justin Gurney

Justin Gurney
  • Member

  • 60 posts
  • Joined: August 00

Posted 25 July 2001 - 21:36

He is away right now but I have talked to him and I think he will post next Monday!

#25 Barry Boor

Barry Boor
  • Member

  • 11,546 posts
  • Joined: October 00

Posted 25 July 2001 - 22:17

Wouldn't that be great! :)

They say 'don't wish your life away' but I say 'ROLL ON MONDAY!'

#26 Vitesse2

Vitesse2
  • Administrator

  • 41,769 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 25 July 2001 - 23:53

:up: :up: :up: :up: :up:

#27 bobbo

bobbo
  • Member

  • 841 posts
  • Joined: March 01

Posted 25 July 2001 - 23:58

MONDAY!?!?!????!?!!!!!?!?!??!?!?

I have to wait THAT LONG?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?

Bobbo:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up:

#28 Vitesse2

Vitesse2
  • Administrator

  • 41,769 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 26 July 2001 - 00:09

Originally posted by bobbo
MONDAY!?!?!????!?!!!!!?!?!??!?!?

I have to wait THAT LONG?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?

Bobbo:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up:


I'll probably have to wait till Tuesday ... the US is quite a few time zones away!!!:) :) :) :)

#29 Gary C

Gary C
  • Member

  • 5,571 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 28 July 2001 - 22:00

well, it's till Saturday night in England, but I say : WELCOME DAN!!!

#30 Toine

Toine
  • Member

  • 102 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 30 July 2001 - 13:25

Hi Justin:)

Nice website you have there:) I've heard before about your dad but i didn't know alot about him:) Great racer he was:)
I've seen on the Net about a Formula 3 championship in the US, is it becoming popular? good luck to Alex in the UK!:)

See u

Toine
aka Antoine Pilette

#31 fines

fines
  • Member

  • 9,647 posts
  • Joined: September 00

Posted 30 July 2001 - 15:26

The US Formula 3 championship is already dead. Bad jokes don't survive very long...

#32 Toine

Toine
  • Member

  • 102 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 30 July 2001 - 15:48

Aww too bad, i thought it was made to bring up more american drivers in Formula One:(

Thx,

Toine

#33 ray b

ray b
  • Member

  • 2,945 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 30 July 2001 - 18:11

in hope of dan g posting here, some questions for our hero
have you tried the gpl game?
could you coment on how it feels to you as your experance
and knowlage would be very insiteful to us.
do you have any records of how you setup the great aar eagle cars at diffrent tracks in 67.
how many weslake motors were made?
were any of the f-1 eagle cars used in indy races later?

#34 Justin Gurney

Justin Gurney
  • Member

  • 60 posts
  • Joined: August 00

Posted 30 July 2001 - 23:50

Justin gave me a glimpse of the DG part of your nostalgia forum.

I am truly overwhelmed! Thank you all. I wish I could meet each of you and that we could bench race for a few hours!

Keep checking our website for our Alligator motorcycle. It is getting closer!

Thanks again and good luck to all of you.


Dan

#35 Eagle104

Eagle104
  • Member

  • 123 posts
  • Joined: March 00

Posted 30 July 2001 - 23:52

Thank YOU, Dan. It's an honor and thrill to have you here!

Eagle104
Paul Castagnoli
(near)Danville, IN

#36 Gary C

Gary C
  • Member

  • 5,571 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 30 July 2001 - 23:53

Thank you Dan! We hope you keep checking back!

#37 bobbo

bobbo
  • Member

  • 841 posts
  • Joined: March 01

Posted 31 July 2001 - 01:27

Dan:

Keep coming back!!!!!!!

Bobbo

#38 leegle

leegle
  • Member

  • 499 posts
  • Joined: June 01

Posted 31 July 2001 - 01:57

Is this the first famous driver to post on TNF?
I know Keir wants Chris Amon to post but anything is a step in the right direction isn't it? I for one would love to bench race for a few hours with Dan!:D

#39 ray b

ray b
  • Member

  • 2,945 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 31 July 2001 - 02:53

my timing was good

Advertisement

#40 Peterson

Peterson
  • Member

  • 91 posts
  • Joined: August 00

Posted 31 July 2001 - 07:46

As a big fan of motorracing and its history i think its really nice to see that this forum actually contains posts by the people that made that history, or was around when it happened, and share their knowledge.

A question to Dan and all drivers around at that time;
Have you ever tried the PC Racing simulation (not a game..) "Grand Prix Legends"? It simulates the 1967 Grand Prix Season.
It´s car physics is claimed to be the most realistic ever made for a PC simulation.
I have taken the Eagle many times round Spa, and i think its the biggest thrill you can get in any racingsim.


Greetings from Sweden
Fredrik

#41 Andreas Wilke

Andreas Wilke
  • New Member

  • 1 posts
  • Joined: July 01

Posted 31 July 2001 - 08:57

Hi all,

wow, what a great owner, Dan and Jason Gurney here

Could someone pls pass the their URL, they mention?

And about the Race Dan, what about a Testrace in GPL ;)

Dan/Jason, what im really interested in is, do u still
remember the Setups u used back in 1967?

Because I (we're) driving GPL for almost 3 years now
we're still wondering, what kind of setups u were using?

Thanx in advance
Andreas Wilke

#42 MONTOYASPEED

MONTOYASPEED
  • Member

  • 8,110 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 31 July 2001 - 09:05

What a surprise! :D

A Dan's family member here with us! :up:

I wish you can come here with us frequently to share stories about the old era!

#43 Bee

Bee
  • Member

  • 332 posts
  • Joined: July 01

Posted 31 July 2001 - 12:42

Well, I'm just completely blown away !! Goosebumps!
Sorry mine is not an aging heart:lol: but I've grown up listening to stories from an anorak Dad. And Dan's story is one of the greatest ever!!
I think F1Racing did my generation a massive favour by doing that feature in the May issue. That car!!:cool:
Hollywood make films out of CD-Rom plots :rolleyes: - about time they made one about a true American hero. I mean - Francis Ford Coppola made a film on Tucker for chrissakes - so why not Dan Gurney?

By the way Mr. Gurney I loved your site. But your Eagle Gallery was being re-constructed at the time , so I couldn't access the pics. Hope it's up by now.
Loved your note to F1Racing in the following June issue as well.
Hope modern F1 can find the kind of buccaneering, pioneering spirit you have, because it's sure getting a little soulless now - as are most sports today.

This has made my DAY !!

:)

#44 Mickey

Mickey
  • Member

  • 2,870 posts
  • Joined: August 00

Posted 31 July 2001 - 12:59

The good news about Dan Gurney posting in this forum (Dan - if you're reading this - THANKS!!! :up: ) is speading in Reader's Comments too in this thread :)

#45 pinchevs

pinchevs
  • Member

  • 438 posts
  • Joined: February 99

Posted 31 July 2001 - 13:16

OH MY GOD!!!
:eek:

I've never dreamed one of my heros would post here (and no, I'm not speaking of Mr. Wilke, who I use some of his set ups).

The computer simulation Grand Prix Legends has made Dan, Chris and all the other 1967 drivers, big heros for a all new generation. They deserve it!

The video of the Nurburgring race of 67, is available from Duke video. It is a must for all GPL fans and actually for all racing fans. Buy the video, watch it and then run to your computer and go racing at the ring.

#46 Greg23

Greg23
  • New Member

  • 1 posts
  • Joined: July 01

Posted 31 July 2001 - 16:22

Was going to ask if anyone remembered 'Dan Gurney for President' but it looks like that has already been covered.

I went to high school where Dan was born (Port Jefferson (Sta.) N.Y.). To Justin or Dan - ever get back there? It has certainly changed over the years.

#47 Dave Ware

Dave Ware
  • Member

  • 998 posts
  • Joined: March 00

Posted 31 July 2001 - 17:07

Very nice of Dan Gurney to take the time to look at our posts. It should come as no surprise to him that he's still a great hero of American racing. I think more people than he suspects were hoping that the recent Eagle Champ car would continue and be competitive...just not people with the financial backing, unfortunately.

Thanks for visiting, Dan.

Dave Ware
Cleveland, Ohio
Formula Vee #94

#48 Toine

Toine
  • Member

  • 102 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 31 July 2001 - 17:21

Hi!!

I'm pretty amazed to see Dan posting here:) I agree it would be nice to exchange posts here with some great celebrities:) To know how it was to race during those years, etc.
I've learned alot in this message board and i'm always amazed about the knowledge in it.
I've seen somewhere about a Grand Prix Drivers Club, does it still exist? i have an old agenda from it, i'll try to find it in my boxes. Fangio, Stewart, Striling Moss, Trintignant etc were members.
It would be nice to organize meetings with this Club, for all the fans and to let the drivers know that we don't forget them.

C U

Toine

#49 Toine

Toine
  • Member

  • 102 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 31 July 2001 - 17:34

Originally posted by Toine
Hi!!

I'm pretty amazed to see Dan posting here:) I agree it would be nice to exchange posts here with some great celebrities:) To know how it was to race during those years, etc.
I've learned alot in this message board and i'm always amazed about the knowledge in it.
I've seen somewhere about a Grand Prix Drivers Club, does it still exist? i have an old agenda from it, i'll try to find it in my boxes. Fangio, Stewart, Striling Moss, Trintignant etc were members.
It would be nice to organize meetings with this Club, for all the fans and to let the drivers know that we don't forget them.

C U

Toine


Found the agenda, it's "Club International des anciens pilotes de Grand Prix F 1" = International former F1 GP drivers Club(?).
The adress is Bergamo, Italy.

#50 paulb

paulb
  • Member

  • 11,182 posts
  • Joined: June 00

Posted 31 July 2001 - 18:23

I've had the distinct pleasure of meeting Dan Gurney on a couple of non-racing occasions.

I first met him about 6 years ago at a briefing for an advanced aircraft concept that my employer was developing. I did not know it at the time, but Dan is a close friend of a Mr. Bob L., one of the innovators behind the aircraft concept. I believe they worked together in the past and currently ride motorcycles together.

Anyway, I'm waiting for the meeting to start and look around and I see ** Dan Gurney :eek: :eek: **. I was amazed (and still am now that I think about it) and did not believe it at first. So I looked again, and yes, it was really him!

At a break, I worked up the nerve to talk to him, asking him about the AAR CART program. He was polite and gave me a business card. I really laugh when I remember that I gave him one of mine :rolleyes:.

A couple years later, I saw him at a flight test of a model of the aforementioned aircraft concept. Again I was surprised. He was with someone, so I only had the guts to ask him to autograph the brochure I had for the test flight.

I am now a huge fan of Dan and AAR. I will not forget how gracious Dan was to spend a couple minutes with a fan, what a gentleman he is.

We all need to support Alex Gurney in the British F3 series. He is in his first year with Fortec Motorsports.