11 replies to this topic

[Mig007]

Hello

I have been searching for material to write about Josele Garza, but I barely found anything on internet, only his CART races. How did he started? I think he was a promising rider. And did he suffered any bad accident that led to his retirement? He retired with only 25.
As he was quite promising, why did he never entered on a team better than Machinists Union, that seems to me a team who needed cash and was always on the lower and medium places on the peloton?

I show you here the results summary I have for now:



* Garza, Josele (MEX):
b. 15/03/1962 (Mexico City)



1980 – SCCA F.Super Vee (Ralt RT-1/RT-5/VW), 3rd, 532 pts, 1 win;
CART (Garza Racing Penske PC-7/79-Cosworth):
Phoenix ? DNQ, crashed at practice

1981 – CART (Garza Racing Penske PC-7/79-Cosworth), 21st, 30 pts:
Phoenix 9th ret/1/accident
(Garza Racing Penske PC-9/80-Cosworth):
Indy 500 6th ret/138/accident
(Garza Racing Penske PC-7/79-Cosworth):
Milwaukee 20th 14th
(Garza Racing Penske PC-9/80-Cosworth):
Atlanta 17th 12th
Atlanta 12th ret/38/engine
Michigan 19th ret/141/engine
Riverside 11th ret/52/injector
Milwaukee 11th 8th
Michigan 9th ret/2/oil leak
Watkins Glen 16th ret/9/accident
Mexico City 11th 18th
Phoenix 10th 6th

1982 – CART (Garza Racing March 81C-Cosworth), 13th, 56 pts:
Phoenix 11th ret/128/oil leak
Atlanta 8th ret/50/engine
(Garza Racing March 82C-Cosworth):
Indy 500 33rd ret/1/engine
(Garza Racing March 81C-Cosworth):
Milwaukee 15th 8th
(Garza Racing Penske PC-9/80-Cosworth):
Cleveland 12th ret/56/accident
(Garza Racing March 81C-Cosworth):
Michigan 25th ret/130/engine
Milwaukee 22nd 8th
(Garza Racing Penske PC-9/80-Cosworth):
Pocono 19th ret/106/transmission
Riverside 20th ret/46/engine
Road America 10th 4th
Michigan 12th 9th
Phoenix 19th ret/89/gearbox

1983 – CART (Machinists Union Racing Team Penske PC-10-Cosworth), 22nd, 9 pts:
Indy 500 18th ret/64/oil leak
Cleveland 8th ret/52/transmission
Michigan 22nd ret/159/gearbox
Road America 15th 11th (ret/47/out of fuel)
Pocono 11th 9th
Riverside 10th ret/33/suspension
Mid-Ohio 14th ret/15/engine
Michigan 21st 17th
Las Vegas 14th 11th (ret/170/ suspension)
Laguna Seca 20th 12th (ret/85/fire)

1984 – CART (Machinists Union Racing Team Penske PC-10-Cosworth), 13th, 42 pts:
Long Beach 25th ret/25/electrical
Phoenix ? DNS
(Machinists Union Racing Team March 84C-Cosworth):
Indy 500 24th 10th
Milwaukee ? DNS
Portland 23rd 7th
Meadowlands 12th ret/20/accident
Cleveland 18th ret/75/ignition
Michigan 18th 11th
Road America 16th 7th
Pocono 21st ret/97/wheel bearing
Mid-Ohio 17th 11th
Sanair 7th 4th
Michigan 11th 10th
Phoenix 16th 8th
Laguna Seca 20th ret/92/accident
Las Vegas 17th 10th (ret/171/gearbox)

1985 – CART (Machinists Union Racing Team March 85C-Cosworth), 12th, 46 pts:
Long Beach 13th ret/0/broken half shaft
Indy 500 18th ret/15/engine
Milwaukee 14th 7th
Portland 16th 12th (ret??)
Meadowlands 12th ret/25/engine
Cleveland 12th 6th
Michigan 10th ret/109/accident
Road America 14th ret/34/accident
Pocono 18th ret/31/clutch
Mid-Ohio 17th 11th
Sanair 16th 6th
Michigan 25th 6th
Laguna Seca 15th 7th
Phoenix 15th 10th
Miami 22nd 9th

1986 – CART (Machinists Union Racing Team March 86C-Cosworth), 14th, 45 pts:
Phoenix 16th ret/31/accident
Long Beach 19th 7th
Indy 500 17th 18th
Milwaukee 17th 7th
Portland 15th ret/29/handling
Meadowlands 15th 8th
Cleveland 15th 7th
Toronto 16th ret/7/lost wheel
Michigan 22nd 2nd
Pocono 16th 7th
Mid-Ohio 15th ret/76/accident
Miami 20th ret/22/fire

1987 – CART (Machinists Union Racing Team March 87C-Cosworth), 11th, 46 pts:
Long Beach 11th 5th
Phoenix 11th 6th
Indy 500 25th 17th
Milwaukee 9th ret/78/steering
Portland 14th 6th
Meadowlands 11th ret/30/suspension
Cleveland 15th 16th
Toronto 13th ret/34/gearbox
Michigan 25th 12th (ret/238/out of fuel)
Pocono 22nd 11th
Road America 13th 11th (ret/47/out of fuel)
Mid-Ohio 12th 8th
Nazareth 11th 8th
Laguna Seca 12th 8th
Miami 15th 18th

[Marc Sproule]

Josele ran with Tom Gloy's Lane Sports Formula Atlantic team in '82. I have only two of him from that season on flickr currently. I also have pics of him in champ cars too.

It will be some time before I'm able to get them up, not enough time in the day for me to get to them presently.

http://www.flickr.co...157623186773769

http://www.flickr.co...157623186773769

They can be found in my Atlantic set.....

http://www.flickr.co...57623186773769/

All my sets....

http://www.flickr.co...81980@N03/sets/

Edited by Marc Sproule, 17 July 2012 - 03:50.

[Mig007]

Hi

Many Thanks. I know your page, I have added you on Flickr. You have followed CART and other USA competitions closely, as I see

[eldougo]

He was one of the drivers for the PYE sponsored RALT Australia team at Calder in 1983 that is Grant and Myself behind the left wheel.He was a very nice person to deal with and quite quick he really enjoyed his time down under.



This is he with the late Graham Watson a big difference in height.

Team in the Calder pits Josele car was No8 Paul Radisich No9.

Results courtesy of Oldracingscars .com
http://www.oldracing...ceID=AU83#note5

Edited by eldougo, 18 July 2012 - 09:29.

[Catalina Park]

He was one of the drivers for the PYE sponsored RALT Australia team at Calder in 1983 that is Grant and Myself behind the left wheel.He was a very nice person to deal with and quite quick he really enjoyed his time down under.

That brings back memories. How many cars did PYE and Ignis sponsor in that meeting? I think it was five.
I was wearing a PYE hat that weekend too, helping Doug Macarthur.

[eldougo]

Talking about a really nice man , Doug sure was meet upwith him many years later in Historical racing still the same. And has a (Good Name) to boot. Our path have crossed a few time Michael we must meet up one day.

[Mig007]

Many Thanks for the photos. Do you have any stories about Mr.Garza? And more details about his career, statistical or not? I have made a research on internet and it's being really difficult to find anything.

[wenoopy]

Many Thanks for the photos. Do you have any stories about Mr.Garza? And more details about his career, statistical or not? I have made a research on internet and it's being really difficult to find anything.

There is information on Josele Garza on the internet, but it takes some time to find.

In 1981 he was the "Indy 500 Rookie Driver Of The Year". As he was only 19 years old at that time, he should have been too young to enter, but somehow his racing licence showed his age as 2 years older.

He raced in the (Canadian) Formula Atlantic Championship in 1982 and 1983 and possibly other years also.

He had a big accident at the August 1986 CART race at Mid-Ohio, breaking his left thigh, and missed the next 5 races before running in the season finale at Miami. He raced again in 1987 for his best CART Championship points total, but then apparently retired from racing. Perhaps there was family pressure on him to "get a real job". Apparently he is involved in broadcasting and property investment now.

Stu

[Mig007]

Yes, I have contacted him. Many Thanks for all help, I am trying to gather information, but on internet it's really difficult. It was said that the accident also affected him, and so many years with poor machinery couldn't have helped too.

[D-Type]

Have you tried asking the same question on Trackforum? That forum focuses on Indianapolis and US racing.

[Mig007]

Many Thanks. I didn't know that forum. I'll try. We are always learning

[Mig007]

I have questioned on the trackforum and I was really well-recieved, again many Thanks. I have contacted Mr.Garza, and he showed some interest on my project, so hope for news soon. At the moment, I keep only workin on this and Kesjar's projects.