Happy Birthday Dan Gurney

(time for my yearly checkup around here.....;) )

Happy Birthday, Dan!

And may you have many, many more.

Thanks for all you've contributed to our sport, and for being my all-time favorite. You've served me -- and countless others like me -- very well.

Forza Dan Gurney

I did not realize that it was Dan's birthday.

My best wishes for a very happy birthday to one of my heroes.

Happy Birthday to The Boy!

Happy Birthday Dad! I will wish him a Happy Birthday from all of you.

Happy Birthday Mr. Gurney and many more!
Back in 1960 when Olivier Gendebien was visiting Westwood he mentioned that both Phil Hill and Dan were two U.S. drivers who would do well in F1 racing. As it turned out Dan did more than just race. He's a great role model for motor sport.

West
Canada Track & Traffic
Summer 1960

After his win at Sebring and his not quite successful drive at Harewood, Ont., Olivier Gendebien made his way across Western Canada. This trip was strictly a holiday "to see the Rockies and some Indians." In Calgary the local sports car club presented him with a 10-gallon hat, the standard gift for visiting VIP's. On his departure for Vancouver, a lady with two children asked the Belgian driver for his autograph; she explained her little girls had "never seen a real, live cowboy before!"
Gendebien arrived in Vancouver in early June, and was immediately taken in hand by the SCC of BC. Because it was a weekday, no race could be arranged but Dr. Claire Wilson offered Gendebien his Lotus 17 so that he could try out the Westwood circuit. The 17 was originally designed for a 750 cc engine to compete in the Index of Performance at Le Mans, and subsequently Lotus offered the car with an 1100 cc engine. The "Doc" went one step further and installed a 1500 cc, making his car a hairy piece of machinery. The car had never been run, and Gendebien was asked, "to break it in."
Wilson suggested a limit of 7,000 revs, but Gendebien felt this was a bit too much for a new engine and held it down to 5500. The times for his first six laps were: 1:30, 1.26, 124.5, 123.2, 1.22, 121.6. The last two times, 79 and 79.4 mph, were both over the existing track record. Some cowboy!
Chatting in the pits, Gendebien thought he could get around at well over 80 mph with more practice and full power in the Lotus. Turn 3, the right-hand bend with just a bit of reverse banking, intrigued him. He said he should be able to save half a second on that turn alone, but it would take a lot of practice. He added he could take a Formula 1 car around at about 85 mph without too much trouble.
Gendebien was the first major European driver to visit Westwood, and SCC of BC made the most of the occasion. A special meeting was called to give the members an opportunity to ask questions. Speaking excellent English, Gendebien offered his comments on a variety of subjects.
His performance at Westwood: "Maybe I found a shortcut."
Westwood: "It's a fine track, probably one of the four best in the world. It's a driver's circuit. For a long race it would be very tough, because there is no long straight to relax on - you have to drive all the time."
Wilson's Lotus: "This was my first experience on the Lotus, and I was very impressed with the road holding of that little car."
His race at Harewood: "I had a very good race. The organization was very good, and I had a very good car. But on that course if you are not driving the fastest car you just have to stay behind, which I did. But I must say the two drivers who were driving the 1600 cc Porsches (Roger Penske and Peter Ryan) were using their cars very well. (Gendebien was driving a 1500 cc RS-60.)
The toughest race: "The Targa Florio."
Preparation for a race: "The best preparation is sleep."
His best performance: "The 1957 Mille Miglia, where I finished third in a GT Ferrari and made the fastest time overall through the mountains."
Porsches: "After driving Ferrari's for four years, I found the Porsche far less tiring. After Sebring I wasn't tired at all. I could have carried on for another 12 hours. The Porsches oversteered a lot a few years ago, but the RS-60 has just enough oversteer to enjoy yourself."
Front vs. rear engine: "All I care about is a comfortable driving position, good roadholding and brakes, and enough power to make up for little mistakes. The engine can be in the front, the back or the middle."
Seat belts: "I'm not against seat belts for the others. I had two accidents, but had I had a seat belt on at those times I wouldn't be here."
The 1500 cc Formula 1: "I heard the FIA lowered the minimum weight by 10%. With the old weight regulation you would have to add weight to a Formula 2 car (to comply with the new Formula 1), and that seems to be going backwards."
Drifts: "Any drift that isn't deliberately set up is very dangerous."
Formula Junior: "A very good idea at the start, but now it is too expensive."
The Monte Carlo rally: "That is the only big rally that I have never run. In the Monte Carlo rally there is too much guessing about the weather conditions in finding the best starting point; I don't like the 'poker game' before the start."
Most promising young driver: "Definitely Bruce McLaren."
American drivers: "There are only two American drivers who could become world champion; Phil Hill and Dan Gurney." The American would have a better chance if they had 20 GP drivers. I've never been to Indianapolis, but I'm sure that with training many Indianapolis drivers could adjust to European driving."
At the end of the question period said he hoped to return to Westwood and bring some other drivers with him. He told the members to watch for him in the films of Le Mans; I'll be wearing my cowboy hat!"

Congratulations from me, too.

I hope to meet the Great Man again when I visit Santa Ana in three week's time!!!

Happy birthday Dan. My hero since I was 10 and saw your smiling face on the cover of Car and Driver in 1962. My birthday is today also and my father's. There must be a bio somewhere done a million years ago that has the wrong date, because I always thought we missed by a couple of days.

Remember the Dan for President campaign? He would make a much better president than either Bush or Kerry.

Coo - raise the bar a little higher Stu???? Many happy returns big man...

DCN

one of the all time greats, both on and off the track.... Happy Birthday Dan...

Originally posted by dretceterini
Remember the Dan for President campaign? He would make a much better president than either Bush or Kerry.

I voted that way. Twice.

With gratitude for outstanding performance in human and auto sports dimensions, sincere best wishes.

The World's Most Youthful Korean War Vet! A terrific driver, constructor, ambassador and all-round Good Guy!

I was lucky enough to see Dan win the GP of France @ Rouen in the Porsche. Some years later, @ Clermont-Ferrand, I also watched him secure his last F1 point.

While I was in VN in '68, Dan -- who had precious plenty on his plate those days -- was kind enough to hand-write me a long personal letter of encouragement. I treasure it to this day.

Happy Birthday, Dan!

You have been for me a role model and true Hero. Many, many thanks!

Bobbo

Happy Birthday, Dan!!


Get working on that autobiography now!

Happy Birthday Dan !!
I'll always be a Rodriguez-fan but since we met at Spa 2002, you're second in my ranking.

Luc Ghys
The Rodriguez-nut from Belgium

Happy Birthday Dan! Your one of our "National Treasures".

Happy Birthday, Mr. Gurney!

Happy birthday, Dan

He's the man!

Hats off to a great American.

- Diego

75 today !! Happy Birthday Dan - many happy returns and looking forward to see you at Goodwood next July.

Happy birthday, can't believe he's 75...goes without saying that he's one of the greatest of all-time.

Cris

Originally posted by Cris
Happy birthday, can't believe he's 75...goes without saying that he's one of the greatest of all-time.

Cris

.............and still has great hair!

Happy Birthday!

Henry

Many happy returns! When you get to meet him, it feels like he'd be happy to chat with you all day...a real nice guy! Here are some photos from last weekend at the AAR office taken by my friend Phil Dauphinee...Dan was then off to be inducted with Phil Hill on the Long Beach Walk of Fame (I think it was called)...

http://public.fotki....006/dan_gurney/

Vince Howlett, Victoria, B.C., Canada

All The Best...and...Many Happy Returns...and thank you, Dan.

Many more, hero..many, many more.

Eagle104

Seventy-five...

That's diamond , is it not?

Very appropriate.

Thank you again for your immaculate representation of racerdom.

--
Frank S

same from another long time fan....

Happy Birthday Dan! One of the true gentlemen of the sport.

1959 Tourist Trophy, Goodwood. Vintage print of a Henry Manney photo from my collection. Dan was kind enough to autograph this for me at Monterey several years ago. He immediately recognized the car, year and track.

Cheers,
Kurt

Justin, here is a website your dad (and others) might enjoy...related, I think?

http://www.infotecbu...s.com/wildlife/

Happy Birthday Dan, many happy returns !!!!

Happy Birthday Dan!

I take pride in the fact that my son was born in the same hospital as you.

He doesn't look 75.

Happy birthday Mr Gurney!

Happy Birthday President Gurney!

Happy Birthday Dan. Thanks for all the great races, terrific cars, and nice teammates.

mike martin

Originally posted by Justin Gurney
Happy Birthday Dad! I will wish him a Happy Birthday from all of you.

Please do. And are you taller than your father? He was a giant in motorracing (both literally and figuritively)

J.

Happy 76th birthday Dan!

Happy 76th Birthday, Dan! Throughout my life you have always been my hero.

Happy 76th Birthday, Dan! Throughout my life you have always been my hero.

What he said!

The Very, Very Best to Dan Gurney. Once a hero...always a hero.

PS: Still not too late to run for President, ya know?

Happy Birthday, and many more, to Dan Gurney, one of the all-time greats.


Jack

I will show him this thread again today and wish him a Happy Birthday from all of you.

We just returned from a very nice service for Joe MacPherson. There were several cars in Joe's collection including Dans' '66 Indy Eagle and his Arciero Lotus. (on loan I think) Very cool to see them again. Anyway, my Dad is doing great and still riding motorcycles every weekend.

By the way, I am just as tall as he is; maybe even a little taller but in no way even close to as fast as he is. I leave that up to Alex.

If any of you are at the Long Beach Grand Prix tomorrow I believe he will be attending and you can wish him a Happy Birthday in person.

Justin

Justin, at the 24 Hours of Daytona one year (the GTP days) I was standing by myself in the middle of the night at the fence around turn 1. Your dad came by to watch from there and we talked for a good ten minutes. Mind you, I was a complete stranger to him. That's the kind of guy he is.

Jack

Happy Birthday Dan! It's been a long road since that TR2 at Torrey Pines. Thanks for the ride!

Cheers,
Kurt Oblinger

Tonight, my six-year-old daughter and I were walking downstairs to the basement, where most of my modest collection of automotive art resides. As we passed a framed David Lord print of the Larrousse/Kauhsen "hippie" 917, she said, "The purple car is my favorite. Which one is your favorite, Dad?" I thought for a minute, then led her to an original Hot Wheels poster from 1970 showing Gurney and Hulme in their McLaren M8D's. "Are the drivers still alive?" she asked. So I explained that Denny was no longer among us, but remembered that Dan turned 76 today. "Do you know his address?" she said. "Maybe we can send him a card."

Making rare apperance down under -Warwick Farm Sydney Australia January 1961 BRM 2.5 L, Happy Birthday.

:

I don't think that was quite what you intended to post, John!

Happy Birthday, from downunder....................

This is what I meant !

Dan....you are a legend....thanks for wandering down to New Zealand and Australia all those years ago...y'all come back now!! Cheers, Mick