6 replies to this topic

[AaPee89]

Does someone has some info regarding this race held during the Nassau Speed Week in the early 1960s?

[Tim Murray]

There's a report on the 1964 race in this post:

http://forums.autosp...rs/#entry359406

from Milan Fistonic in an earlier Nassau thread. It mentions that Dan Gurney had won the previous year's event:
 

The Grand Prix of Volkswagen

Dan Gurney and A. J. Foyt were the men to watch in the VW sedan class in this Friday afternoon classic. Both had won the Nassau Trophy – Gurney two years in succession in the Aciero Lotus 19. And Foyt took the big trophy last year in the rear-engines Scarab entered by John Mecom, Jr.

More to the point, perhaps, Dan Gurney had won the VW Sedan class last year – so he knew the fast way around in the Voksie.

The experience proved worthwhile as Gurney once again crossed the finish line in the lead … with Foyt in hot pursuit. Alas, the owner and entrant of Gurney’s car, EMPI, was not content with having a driver of Gurney’s obvious ability. They weren’t taking any chances and tweaked the Volks beyond the permissible limits. So winner Gurney was unceremoniously disqualified … and Foyt was declared the winner. A good-natured guy, Crockey Peterson of Flat River, Missouri, provided the wheels for Foyt. Meantime, Peterson himself was running up ahead in the Formula Vee class in his Formcar, finishing eleventh in Formula Vee. As further proof that class will tell, Bruce McLaren ran away with the Vee event in the Beach Formula Vee entered by Over-Keys Motors. Although this event is serious enough for most of those driving I it … it does seem to provide a bit of comic relief to relax the patrons before the big race. Actually the VW bit is fiercely competitive because the cars all conform to such rigid specifications … but to the spectator, the whole show seems to carry on in an absurd sort of slow motion.

ETA: more info in these links:

http://cal-look.no/n...a/risefall.html

https://www.pinteres...56477270213465/

https://books.google...en race&f=false

The event was apparently first run in 1963.

Edited by Tim Murray, 03 June 2015 - 16:58.

[GMACKIE]

Thanks for that, Tim.

 

I enjoyed some 'nostalgia' there. How about Bruce McLaren winning the Vee race...doesn't matter what the car is, it's hard to beat class !

[Tim Murray]

I thought it might tickle your fancy, Greg.

[Wirra]

'...but to the spectator, the whole show seems to carry on in an absurd sort of slow motion...'

 

Any information on lap times?

 

Always been curious to know the comparison between F Vee to FJ (1100cc).

[Ray Bell]

You could get that from Warwick Farm records, Peter...

Even Oran Park and Sandown, the latter probably being more like the Nassau comparison.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

I recall this event back in the day from the pages of SCG. Photos of both Dan in the Beetle and Bruce in the Vee.

As I remember, Dan's EMPI-tuned bug was so much faster, he was getting behind some competitors(AJ & Bruce?)and pushing them along with the front bumper.

A good time had by all. Hard to imagine such a thing going down today.