22 replies to this topic

[Megatron]

I know that in 1968, two USAC drivers tried F1 briefly, those being Mario Andretti for Lotus and Bobby Unser for BRM. Mario was very impressive, taking pole in his first start (but second outing) at the Glen. Unser was less impressive, perhaps in part due to his equipment.

We all know Mario turned into one of the greatest F1 drivers of the 70s but Unser never again tried F1. Is this because he didn't have offers, or did he just not like the atmosphere or something.

[Dave Ware]

Joe Fan posted this in another thread:

here is something I read in American Grand Prix Racing by Tim Considine about Bobby.

When Bobby first tested for BRM he admitted that he was shocked that he wasn't faster than Pedro Rodriguez. He said that he was real cocky then and and that he couldn't understand how any race car driver could be faster than him. Especially when Louis Stanley pledged to provide him a car equal to what Pedro had.

The night before practice opened for Watkins Glen, Bobby broke his right ankle in a charity basketball game. Lou Stanley pressured Bobby to race in the US Grand Prix there when Bobby felt he couldn't do it. After further coaxing from Lou, Bobby agreed. He went to the doctor and expected to get a Novocain shot, instead the doctor gave him pain pills--powerful ones at that. So he took them before practice and then proceeded to wreck the car so bad that it was junk. However, he felt no pain!

Now here is Bobby own words:

"So, I went over and says, 'You got another car?' Well, the spare car was made up for Pedro, so they had to make me a seat. There wasn't anything left of my car, so they made me a seat. So, I got into that car and went out, and the transmission was bad, but I found out that engine must've had 30 percent more power than mine! So, I made a few laps with the car and came in. I told'em about the gearshift and then walked right back over to that limousine and told Louis Stanley, I says, 'I thought there was somethin' goin' on before.' I says, 'You promised me that we would have equal stuff and no matter what, my car would be as fast as Pedro's.' I says, 'I'm gonna tell you something, my engine was down at least 30% on power compared to his.' And I says, 'I'm not buyin' this program. I been had.' "And so, that was my last deal. I drove the car in that one race. And, of course, the transmission wouldn't work."[p][Edited by Joe Fan on 08-03-2000]

We may have had addition discussions on this. Do a seach on "Unser" and "BRM."

Dave

[McRonalds]

I heard that story too, so the Bobby Unser/F1 episode appears in a different light. I rather believe that he'd found out, that it was better for him to stay in his familias series. For example, even a real F1-champ like Juan Fangio had massive problems at Indy (when he decided to quit - and his car was qualified by a guy called Mike Magill - surely no real threat to the champion, but he did it, while Fangio did not!) - so the conclusion could rather be that Fangio was a LOW CARD. But that's not the fact.

Bobby Unser was one of the all time greats, especially in the american ovals - his qualifying lap from '72 (with one of Gurney's Eagles), was one of the best drives ever at the speedway.

Talking of Bobby Unser (an of course his giant family! - how many RACING Unsers do we have?), there is question I wanted to ask for a long time. Since I saw this picture (below) in a German book about Maserati, I wonder if there is a Bobby Unser II, for it's titled: 'Bobby Unser on his way to another victory a Pikes Peak, where he won in '46 and '47'. Now that could hardly be OUR Bobby Unser - for at that time he was only 14/15 years old...

Or is it a stupid mistake...?!

[McRonalds]

Sorry, wong URL

Here it comes again - Bobby Unser(?!) at Pikes Peak '46 or '47 in a Maserati #25.

[Buford]

Yes there is a Bobby Jr, or the 3rd or whatever. He was racing at the time I was, and when Al Jr was also starting out. Little Al was spectacular from the beginning. Young Bobby struggled and was losing out in the comparison to his cousin. Plus he had the disadvantage of having Bobby as a demanding father while big Al was always more laid back.

What pretty much finished Bobby Jr (who did win Pikes Peak one year if I recall correctly) was a sprint car wreck at Manzanita one year when he flipped over the wall, went through a sign board, and ended up out in the junk yard. It was a very serous wreck. People ran through the hole in the sign board fearing the worst. They found him conscious in the massively wrecked car, but with his bell rung in a major way. He was in La La Land and they did not want to move him until he woke up enough to say if he was hurt or what was hurt. Many people ran to the car, but not his father who had no idea if he was dead or alive. Bobby Sr. had business to attend to first.

Finally Bobby Sr. arrived on the crash scene and without inquiring of his son's condition he shouted words to the effect "Hurry up, get back to the pits. I have the 39 car for you to drive."

Tough sport...

[McRonalds]

NOW... how many Unsers do we have?! And what is their exact relation - that's a most interesting theme. Bobby & Al Unser sr, Al Unser jr., Jerry (who had a fatal crash in Indy '59), Johnny & Robby (the son of Bobby). Please Info.

Here is another one: Louis Unser, again at Pikes Peak, this time from 1938 in a so called Loop Cafe Special. Is this Father UNSER??

[David McKinney]

The 1946/47 Pikes Peak winner was of course Lou Unser

[fines]

I think we just had this a couple o' weeks ago...

Louis------Jerry

			 I

		   Jerry------Louis------Bobby------Al

						I		  I		 I

					  Johnny	 Robby	  Al

											 I

											Al

Hope this come's out well...

[Buford]

Except there is a Bobby son of Bobby Sr. too in addition to Robby who has raced the IRL. Bobby is the one I was talking about and is not the same as Robby. Confusing eh?

[McRonalds]

Thanks... ...and all Unsers are racing drivers?!

But who is the guy who is driving Maserati #25 at Pikes Peak '46 or '47. Can't be Bobby? So I rather think it's Louis and it was only a misprint

[Vitesse2]

It would help if they could come up with some new names ... at this rate we'll have Littlest Al and Bobby IV by about 2030

[Buford]

Well Mini Al's son some day would have to be Teeny Weenie Al - I suppose.

[McRonalds]

I think numbering children consecutively all the way through is typical american characteristic. Never heard such things in other countries in such extent.

[Buford]

Wait - didn't the French and English have tons of kings named stuff like Louie the 145th and Henry the 678th?

[Buford]

Of course then there are guys like former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman. He has three sons and all three are named George.

[McRonalds]

Well, I think these were of noble birth. Did not apply to the Unser-(extended)-family

[MPea3]

Originally posted by McRonalds
Sorry, wong URL

Here it comes again - Bobby Unser(?!) at Pikes Peak '46 or '47 in a Maserati #25.

i don;t think that's bobby, as he woudl have been either 12 or 13 at the time. louie, perhaps?

[ehagar]

Originally posted by Buford
Of course then there are guys like former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman. He has three sons and all three are named George.

Actually five plus Georgetta!

The things you have to do when you are a boxer.... preparing himself for memory loss!

[Buford]

Yeah I was going to mention a daughter too but I wasn't sure. Couldn't remember quite what her name was.

[Carlos Jalife]

This thread has really given me a great way to face the end of the year, laughing.
Really what a way of Bobby whining about his lack of depth for racing at Watkins Glen.
Pedro having 30% more horse power in his car? Give me a break! Pedro didn't need that. Bobby was good in ovals but he couldn't come close to Pedro anywhere else. It sounds like a great excuse for his pitiful times, and why risk it someplace else if he was doing fine earning dollars by just turning the steering wheel a quarter of an inch to the left in the US? 30% more....my schmore, now I have to buy Considines's book and find out exactly whta the words are, and if I ever see Bobby (I've seen Al his brother) I'll ask. By the way, how do you calculate 30% more horsepower
does it mean he would have been 30% faster, and on pole by a mile? Ridiculous!!!!

[Gerr]

Re:Bobby U and BRM.....the Dave Ware/Considine quote reminded me of something I had read about a driver and his treatment at BRM. From"Whatever Happened to Richie Ginther" by Pete Lyons, Car and Driver, 10/88.
quote: The last straw came at the ultrafast Reims circuit during his third year. "Reims was a horsepower track. I'd say,'No horsepower.' They'd say,'We'll fix it tonight.' They had the engine apart every night,but there still was no power. I said,'I won't drive it in the race.' The chief engineer brought out the dyno sheets. 'Look,'he said,'it's an even better engine than Graham's.' But I couldn't even hold a tow behind the privateers. I demanded the spare car,even though they told me,'It's even worse.' I went from fifteenth to third in about five laps. I was about to catch Gurney,and saw Clark ahead,but Gurney threw up a stone and holed my radiator."
"I told BRM I'd never drive for them again."

I think that Ginther felt he wasted his time at BRM. Maybe he warned Foyt. I guess Bobby U didn't want to waste his time,either.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by fines
I think we just had this a couple o' weeks ago...
Hope this come's out well...

My attempt at duplicating it didn't, so we'll just have to do without the visual aids (though your version did come through well, fines)

Johnny is Jerry Jr.'s son.

And, like Buford mentions, there was a Bobby Unser Jr. I recall him racing Super Vees.

To add to more confusion, Louie (Al, Jerry and Bobby's brother) had a son, Mike Unser, who only got as far as racing Street Stocks on the dirt oval at Ascot Park, Los Angeles in the late 80's.


Jim Thurman

[fines]

Thnx Jim for clearing that up, I think I got it wrong