190 replies to this topic

[pacificquay]

Sad news breaking tonight that Dan Gurney is dead, aged 86

[RoseTinted]

Awful news, thoughts are with his nearest family and friends. A true gentleman.

[Rob Miller]

Oh no

[Radoye]

Sad indeed and a great loss to the entire motor racing community. I knew he was not in the best health lately but am shocked by the news, i came here to post this video that Marshall Pruett published just yesterday and i found out Gurney's dead!

 

[SJ Lambert]

Extremely sad news, a peerless American Eagle gone



One of the very best drivers, mentioned in the same breath as Jim Clark, one of Black Jack‘s best team drivers, one of the few constructors able to put one over the all conquering Lotus 49/Cosworth DFV package & Team Boss to some amazing drivers, such as Vern Schüppan etc.

I’d Vote 1, Dan Gurney for President all day long.

[GMiranda]

RIP

[eldougo]

DAN GURNEY: 1931 -2018 All-American racer had success in almost every aspect of motorsport

JANUARY 14, 2018    Gurney began racing in 1955 and drove competitively for 15 years. He competed in and won in just about every form of racing he tried. In Formula 1 he drove for Ferrari, BRM, Porsche and Brabham before forming his own team and designing and engineering his own cars. He won the Belgian Grand Prix in 1967 in his own car, the first and only time an American has won an F1 race in a car of his own design, and a feat matched by only a small handful of other driver/designers. In that same year, 1967, he co-drove with AJ Foyt to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ford GT40, after which he invented the tradition of spraying the champagne from the podium.  He also saw success in Indy cars, sports cars, Trans-Am, Can-Am and NASCAR.

He retired from driving in 1970, having won 51 races, but remained in the sport as owner of All-American Racers. AAR is still in business, having branched out to a number of other engineering endeavors, including aerospace.

Funeral arrangements are to be private but the family suggests donations be made to the Hoag Hospital Foundation in Newport Beach, Calif.

Edited by eldougo, 14 January 2018 - 23:58.

[D28]

Not unexpected but still very sad. This link has a good summary of his amazing career, also a poignant farewell message from wife Evi and family. Very unlikely his likes will be seen again, all motoring enthusiasts  are poorer for his passing.

 

https://www.motorspo...-legend-995818/

Edited by D28, 15 January 2018 - 00:04.

[retriever]

Very sad to hear of his passing. Great driver, great man.  Sadly, the final chapter is being written on those who competed in Formula One during the 1960s.  

 

Never saw him race in Formula One but was at Le Mans in 1967 to see him take the chequered flag. His AAR team fielded some of the most pleasingly designed single seaters to race either side of the Atlantic.

Edited by retriever, 15 January 2018 - 11:42.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Profoundly saddening. He was the embodiment of the American spirit in many ways..optimistic, fair, modest, generous, friendly, courageous, and always looking forward.

Above all, and by all accounts, he was a decent and honorable man.

Rest in peace, Dan Gurney.

Edited by Jack-the-Lad, 15 January 2018 - 01:39.

[WOT]

Sad day. Brilliant man. Great racer and a true gentleman. The only driver Jim Clark really feared on track.

 

 

RIP

[Lola5000]

RIP Hero.

[Gary Davies]

So sad. A genuine hero, a decent man, a fabulous racer. God speed. A famous picture comes to mind: Dan and Jimmy chatting somewhere round the back of the circuit at Spa in 1964, next to their out-of-fuel cars.

[Emery0323]

A true giant, gone.  Godspeed, Dan!

[cooper997]

The grid of 1950s and 60s GP driver's grows smaller every year. Dan's contribution to the era many of us enjoy will see him remembered for a long time to come. But it doesn't make today a good news day..

 

My condolences to Dan's family and friends.

 

Stephen.

[David Birchall]

Very sad to hear but not unexpected given recent reports.  He was larger than life in many ways.

Condolences to family and friends.  

[Ray Bell]

Would that I could find it...

There was a great interview with Dan in Motor Racing some time in 1959. I typed this up at some time and posted it on this forum, but I cannot find it.

Should anyone be able to, please post it here. It's very insightful, explains a lot about his early years and how he got to be a Grand Prix racer.

He will be missed. Not only for his contribution in the fifties, sixties and seventies, but also for his cars and his commitment in bringing them forth, his stature in the sport and his dignity in his later years.

[Marc Sproule]

rip dsg

 

as a tv guy long beach '77

 

https://www.flickr.c...57623311357576/

 

with james hunt, laguna seca '75

 

https://www.flickr.c...57623311357576/

Edited by Marc Sproule, 15 January 2018 - 19:07.

[WOT]

So sad. A genuine hero, a decent man, a fabulous racer. God speed. A famous picture comes to mind: Dan and Jimmy chatting somewhere round the back of the circuit at Spa in 1964, next to their out-of-fuel cars.

 

Is this the image?

 

[cooper997]

Not exactly a big highlight in his career, but a win's a win. In this instance, aboard the Bourne-built BRM at Ballarat.

 

 

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 21 April 2018 - 11:22.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by cooper997
Not exactly a big highlight in his career, but a win's a win. In this instance, aboard the Bourne-built BRM at Ballarat.
 

Lucky to have a car after it was taken for a joy-ride overnight...

I'll bet he loved telling that story at various places over the ensuing years.

[JacnGille]

Such sad news.

[Bikr7549]

I never saw him race but have seen his team do so and the results they achieved were superb. A true hero to me and a wonderful representative of our country. I agree with SJ, Dan for president, he is #1.

[Wirra]

Goodwood 2012

 

[Jack-the-Lad]

Goodwood 2012
 

For some reason I can't see your picture, but I'll never forget that event. Needless to say, for this Yank the ocular waterworks were in near full-flow during the ceremonies.....

[Ray Bell]

We need another picture...



I'd still love to know who she was and how come she was there on the unofficial practice day!

[StraightEdge]

RIP Dan Gurney

[Richard Jenkins]

Godspeed to a true legend and gentleman. What a man.

[Scuderia CC]

Very sad news...

 

R.I.P

[Gary Davies]

Is this the image?
 

Sure is! Thanks.
(Ssshhhh....Don’t tell anyone but I have in my computer but I balked at posting it lest I awoke some of the copyright zealots hereabouts).

[Tim Murray]

What dreadful news to wake up to.

I’ve always loved this photo - two of my all-time heroes. RIP Dan, and condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew him. I should have so loved to have met him.

[raceannouncer2003]

Very sorry to hear this.  I think I can safely say that he was, amongst racers, one of most popular as a person...ever.  He showed genuine interest whenever one spoke to him and he seemed to me very thoughtful with his answers.  I had the good fortune to interview him once at the Pacific Northwest Historic races.  I had the bad fortune to run out of tape before finishing.  He encouraged me to get more tape and come back.

 

My interview subject included his victory in the 1962 Northwest GP at Pacific Raceways in Frank Arciero's Lotus 19.  As race time approached, Dan's crew was busy replacing the gearbox with one provided by the Rosebud team.  The other drivers extended the pre-race meeting by asking endless questions so as to ensure Dan's participation in the race.  This photo shows Dan helping out in the process.

 

 

Photo by Ted Langton-Adams, copyright Eric Faulks

 

Vince H.

Edited by raceannouncer2003, 15 January 2018 - 06:45.

[ellrosso]

RIP Dan, a true hero and a decent human being to boot by all accounts. My older cousin gave my brother and I some American magazines from 1965 back in about 1967. One, (Car and Driver, Feb '65) had him winning the '64 Mexican Grand Prix in a Brabham Climax. The other was Sports Car Graphic April '66 which had a big article on the new AAR Eagle team and also a race report on the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside which Dan won in a 1966 Ford! Throw in his sports car exploits

and Indy........ Incredible really. Condolences to his family and friends.

[john winfield]

Very sad news. RIP Dan. Condolences to all family and friends.

[Henri Greuter]

Sadly not entirely unexpected anymore, but still a sad moment.

 

Rest in peace Dan Gurney, Racing worldwide owes you.

 

 

Henri

[Glengavel]

Very sad to hear of his passing. It is like the final chapter closing on those who competed in Formula One during the 1960s.  

 

 

Out of curiosity I had a quick check - Ickx, Moss and Stewart are the only 1960s winners (World Championship events) who are still with us. And Brooks and Moss the only winners from the 1950s.

[DogEarred]

I'm not all that sentimental but one of the things I am certainly glad to have seen, is him driving his Eagle at The 1968 British GP.

Even though it only lasted a few laps.

[Michael Ferner]

Very sad news!

[Lee Nicolle]

Very sad, another true great has gone. My condolences to all his family and friends.

[charles r]

One of the all time greats who made such an impact on motorsport across the decades. A hero.

RIP Daniel Sexton Gurney.

Edited by charles r, 15 January 2018 - 18:32.

[Repco22]

Very sorry to hear this.

[Leif Snellman]

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well.

(Havamal #76)

 

RIP

Edited by Leif Snellman, 15 January 2018 - 08:31.

[Claudio Navonne]

Very sorry to hear this.

RIP.

[RDV]

Racer, legend and, above all gentleman.

 

He will be missed.

[brucemoxon]

My very small tribute:

 

And this is on my hat:

[Tim Murray]

SophieB has posted a link to this very nice obituary in the Gurney tribute thread in Racing Comments. I’m reposting it here for those who might have missed it otherwise:

https://www.autospor...0529.1313540281

[bill p]

Sad news

RIP DSG, a gentleman and my hero

[Stephen W]

Oh no! So sad! Another icon leaves us. 

 

 

[Gary C]

Very sad to hear this. RIP Dan.

[Tim Murray]

I just had to dig this out of the archive. When Dan’s son Justin was a regular here he persuaded his Dad to post, just once, using Justin’s user name. Here’s the post:

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

Goodbye Dan, and thanks for everything.