Hi there
I have spent some time today trying to locate at site where I can find information about the Historic Grand Prix at Long Beach this weekend. I know that the race maybe hasn't taken place yet but I haven't been able to locate any news from the qualifying ether. Is there somebody who can direct me to a site or tell me how it all went. Specially regarding Charlie Warner and his Shadow DN9B. But all information regarding the event will be most welcome. The Historical site don't bring much up-date.
kind regards
Historic F1 Cars at Long Beach 2003
Started by
CSGPR
, Apr 13 2003 18:27
55 replies to this topic
Advertisement
#2
Mike Argetsinger
-
- 948 posts
- Joined: April 00
Member
Posted 13 April 2003 - 19:50
Here is what I have received earlier today from Press Snoop via e-mail.
CHARLES NEARBURG of Dallas, Texas put his No.27 white/green/blue 1980 FW07B/1
Williams on the pole for the Historic Grand Prix with a time of
1:21.124/87.422 mph, which was faster than Trans-Am or Toyota Pro/Celebrity.
The race car had been raced by World Champion ALAN JONES. Nearburg said he
had about as much fun Saturday afternoon as he's ever had in a race car. "The
car felt just great," he enthused after qualifying. Nearburg has several
other vintage cars in his stable, but none of the racing background as this
Formula One car. He comes from a professional racing background including
SuperVees, Toyota Atlantics, sports cars both at home and abroad, at Le Mans.
Nearburg was fourth overall at the 1997 Twelve Hours of Sebring with JIM
DOWNING of HANS fame and his Kudzu. Nearburg wears a HANS device and wouldn't
leave home without it. He's been prostelyzing the vintage drivers. Former
IMSA racer, JIM BUSBY also wears one. Busby races the bright green and white
No.3 Benetton 1982 Tyrrell 001, which had been raced by MICHELE ALBORETO.
Nearburg said it looked like there was a good crowd for the late afternoon
qualifying session, and what was especially gratifying was the warm and
enthusiastic response he got on his cool-off lap. He said he sensed the crowd
was really pleased to see the vintage Formula One cars racing around the
streets of Long Beach, just like the good old days. One reason among many for
the popularity of the cars is that they all look different - no formulaic
similarity for these rolling pieces of history.
Earlier in the day, seven of the Formula One cars did Demonstration Drives
around the track, with former drivers of the cars racing in what used to be
theirs. Except for MARIO ANDRETTI, all were sans helmets. BOBBY RAHAL was
highly visible because of his very suntanned head, DEREK DALY's hair was
blowing in the wind, and PARNELLI JONES was wearing a baseball cap. Also
driving bareheaded were BOB BONDURANT, PETE LOVELY and EMERSON FITTIPALDI.
Andretti drove his old 1978 black and gold JPS Lotus 79 now owned by DUNCAN
DAYTON; Bondurant was in the gold Warsteiner Beer Arrows FIA now owned by
BRENT BERGE; Daly was in the 1979 Candy Tyrrell 009/7 now owned by RICK
KNOOP; Fittipaldi in the red and white 1976 Marlboro McLaren M-23 now owned
by STEVE EARLE; Jones in his old Viceroy VPJ104 now owned by DAVE OLSON;
Lovely in his 1968 Gold Leaf Lotus 49B/11 which he still owns; and Rahal in
his old blue and gold 1978 Wolf Racing Wolf WR6/2 now owned by MICHAEL
PINEAU.
CHARLES NEARBURG of Dallas, Texas put his No.27 white/green/blue 1980 FW07B/1
Williams on the pole for the Historic Grand Prix with a time of
1:21.124/87.422 mph, which was faster than Trans-Am or Toyota Pro/Celebrity.
The race car had been raced by World Champion ALAN JONES. Nearburg said he
had about as much fun Saturday afternoon as he's ever had in a race car. "The
car felt just great," he enthused after qualifying. Nearburg has several
other vintage cars in his stable, but none of the racing background as this
Formula One car. He comes from a professional racing background including
SuperVees, Toyota Atlantics, sports cars both at home and abroad, at Le Mans.
Nearburg was fourth overall at the 1997 Twelve Hours of Sebring with JIM
DOWNING of HANS fame and his Kudzu. Nearburg wears a HANS device and wouldn't
leave home without it. He's been prostelyzing the vintage drivers. Former
IMSA racer, JIM BUSBY also wears one. Busby races the bright green and white
No.3 Benetton 1982 Tyrrell 001, which had been raced by MICHELE ALBORETO.
Nearburg said it looked like there was a good crowd for the late afternoon
qualifying session, and what was especially gratifying was the warm and
enthusiastic response he got on his cool-off lap. He said he sensed the crowd
was really pleased to see the vintage Formula One cars racing around the
streets of Long Beach, just like the good old days. One reason among many for
the popularity of the cars is that they all look different - no formulaic
similarity for these rolling pieces of history.
Earlier in the day, seven of the Formula One cars did Demonstration Drives
around the track, with former drivers of the cars racing in what used to be
theirs. Except for MARIO ANDRETTI, all were sans helmets. BOBBY RAHAL was
highly visible because of his very suntanned head, DEREK DALY's hair was
blowing in the wind, and PARNELLI JONES was wearing a baseball cap. Also
driving bareheaded were BOB BONDURANT, PETE LOVELY and EMERSON FITTIPALDI.
Andretti drove his old 1978 black and gold JPS Lotus 79 now owned by DUNCAN
DAYTON; Bondurant was in the gold Warsteiner Beer Arrows FIA now owned by
BRENT BERGE; Daly was in the 1979 Candy Tyrrell 009/7 now owned by RICK
KNOOP; Fittipaldi in the red and white 1976 Marlboro McLaren M-23 now owned
by STEVE EARLE; Jones in his old Viceroy VPJ104 now owned by DAVE OLSON;
Lovely in his 1968 Gold Leaf Lotus 49B/11 which he still owns; and Rahal in
his old blue and gold 1978 Wolf Racing Wolf WR6/2 now owned by MICHAEL
PINEAU.
#3
cheesy poofs
-
- 3,243 posts
- Joined: July 01
Member
Posted 14 April 2003 - 13:37
CSGPR,
Don't worry because several posters on this board were at Long Beach this weekend for the HGP race. We should hear from them very shortly...
Don't worry because several posters on this board were at Long Beach this weekend for the HGP race. We should hear from them very shortly...
#4
paulb
-
- 11,957 posts
- Joined: June 00
Member
Posted 14 April 2003 - 18:48
Originally posted by cheesy poofs
CSGPR,
Don't worry because several posters on this board were at Long Beach this weekend for the HGP race. We should hear from them very shortly...
From Readers Comments: OT LBGP
Nice pics. Too bad no sound clips.Originally posted by Flash
Pictures of the classic F1 cars: http://www.pbase.com/cartpix/misc_sat
#5
rdrcr
-
- 2,727 posts
- Joined: June 01
Member
Posted 14 April 2003 - 19:23
It was a great race:
From fourth on the grid, Danny Baker in his 27-year-old McLaren M23, passed and re-passed pole sitter Charles Nearburg's 1980 Williams FW07B, finally winning the 20-minute Historic Grand Prix vintage race at Long Beach, California, by 1.2 seconds.
Third, 18 sec. behind the winner, was Erich Joiner in his 1983 Williams FW08C. Duncan Dayton finished fourth with his ex-Mario Andretti Lotus 79, but afterward received Historic Grand Prix's Pete Lyons Cup.
Motorsports writer Lyons said Dayton and his team best recreated the spirit of the eight-year era when Long Beach was home to the US Grand Prix-West.
David Kane's crew did a remarkable job on getting a new half shaft and repairing
his car after qualifying. He qualified 27th, ran the entire race and finished 20th in his 1974 ex Hans
Stuck March 741.
From fourth on the grid, Danny Baker in his 27-year-old McLaren M23, passed and re-passed pole sitter Charles Nearburg's 1980 Williams FW07B, finally winning the 20-minute Historic Grand Prix vintage race at Long Beach, California, by 1.2 seconds.
Third, 18 sec. behind the winner, was Erich Joiner in his 1983 Williams FW08C. Duncan Dayton finished fourth with his ex-Mario Andretti Lotus 79, but afterward received Historic Grand Prix's Pete Lyons Cup.
Motorsports writer Lyons said Dayton and his team best recreated the spirit of the eight-year era when Long Beach was home to the US Grand Prix-West.
David Kane's crew did a remarkable job on getting a new half shaft and repairing
his car after qualifying. He qualified 27th, ran the entire race and finished 20th in his 1974 ex Hans
Stuck March 741.
#6
byrkus
-
- 1,011 posts
- Joined: October 01
Member
Posted 14 April 2003 - 19:25
In those pics I noticed that driver of Villeneuve's 312T5 had almost the same helmet colours as GV... Nice touch. 
#7
BorsariG
-
- 37 posts
- Joined: December 02
Member
Posted 14 April 2003 - 22:12
This, I hope, is not too far off topic in locale, because it isn't in subject mater.
I was in Long Beach for the GP this weekend and the Historic GP group put on a hell of a show. Man those cars are great sounding (much better than the present Champ cars or IRL) and they all looked different, unlike almost all present day open wheelers.
A friend got me a pass so I was able to wander close up amongst the F/1 cars in the garage, pre-grid and pits. Thank you Dave Cook and Phil Gumbert!. I have probably seen lots of them before, when they raced at Long Beach, but I was struck by the quasi paleolithic technology, fit & finish! Amazing that at the time, they were the height of tech!
Got to talk to Dan Gurney as well as his son Justin. It was Dan's 72nd birthday, and he still looks great. His wife, Evi, and Secretary Kathy Wieda had an extra grandstand ticket and were kind enough to offer it to me. It was a great seat for watching the race, and I enjoyed their hospitality greatly. Alex Gurney was sitting a few seats away. I was sorry to see him there, he should have been in the race, I guarandamntee that he could blow off most of the grid.
Justin Gurney was nice enough to give me some inside info on the Alligator, the AAR new motorcycle. It is an amazing machine that you can see on their website.
The F/1 cars were really a big addition to the weekend. I hope the powers that be will continue along with this Historical aspect.
The Tecate Beer Girls didn't hurt the eyes either.
ps. How can I put in a photo ??
I was in Long Beach for the GP this weekend and the Historic GP group put on a hell of a show. Man those cars are great sounding (much better than the present Champ cars or IRL) and they all looked different, unlike almost all present day open wheelers.
A friend got me a pass so I was able to wander close up amongst the F/1 cars in the garage, pre-grid and pits. Thank you Dave Cook and Phil Gumbert!. I have probably seen lots of them before, when they raced at Long Beach, but I was struck by the quasi paleolithic technology, fit & finish! Amazing that at the time, they were the height of tech!
Got to talk to Dan Gurney as well as his son Justin. It was Dan's 72nd birthday, and he still looks great. His wife, Evi, and Secretary Kathy Wieda had an extra grandstand ticket and were kind enough to offer it to me. It was a great seat for watching the race, and I enjoyed their hospitality greatly. Alex Gurney was sitting a few seats away. I was sorry to see him there, he should have been in the race, I guarandamntee that he could blow off most of the grid.
Justin Gurney was nice enough to give me some inside info on the Alligator, the AAR new motorcycle. It is an amazing machine that you can see on their website.
The F/1 cars were really a big addition to the weekend. I hope the powers that be will continue along with this Historical aspect.
The Tecate Beer Girls didn't hurt the eyes either.
ps. How can I put in a photo ??
#8
Ray Bell
-
- 82,281 posts
- Joined: December 99
Member
Posted 14 April 2003 - 22:38
A couple of threads will interest you...
The one about twelve lines down about this topic, for one...
And one about posting pics...
http://www.atlasf1.c...&threadid=11783
The one about twelve lines down about this topic, for one...
And one about posting pics...
http://www.atlasf1.c...&threadid=11783
#9
Barry Boor
-
- 11,557 posts
- Joined: October 00
Member
Posted 14 April 2003 - 23:03
Vals, e-mail me the images and I'll post them for you....
Or I'll put up the ones you have already sent me, if you like.
Or I'll put up the ones you have already sent me, if you like.
#10
fattogatto
-
- 85 posts
- Joined: September 02
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 00:46
Hi Christian.
Practice went well for three laps until a miscommunication from my crew chief caused me to shut off the motor. No damage though. Qualifying was interesting and I qualified 21st but was gridded 19th due to two withdrawals. Finished 16th. The most important factor was that not one car touched any of the unforgiving walls. There were several mechanical failures, mostly related to the roughness of the track (halfshafts, gearboxes, etc.) All drivers were extremely careful, keeping the testosterone well in check. Looks like we can make this an annual event.
Practice went well for three laps until a miscommunication from my crew chief caused me to shut off the motor. No damage though. Qualifying was interesting and I qualified 21st but was gridded 19th due to two withdrawals. Finished 16th. The most important factor was that not one car touched any of the unforgiving walls. There were several mechanical failures, mostly related to the roughness of the track (halfshafts, gearboxes, etc.) All drivers were extremely careful, keeping the testosterone well in check. Looks like we can make this an annual event.
#11
fattogatto
-
- 85 posts
- Joined: September 02
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 00:52
Originally posted by rdrcr
David Kane's crew did a remarkable job on getting a new half shaft and repairing
his car after qualifying. He qualified 27th, ran the entire race and finished 20th in his 1974 ex Hans
Stuck March 741.
To give credit where it is due, The crew chief for David Kane, myself, and Phil Gumpert (DN-8) is Brian Stewart from Indianapolis. He runs Autocar, a formula car specialist shop. His CV can be seen at my website http://fattogatto.com under the Articles link. We also have to thank Marc Bahner who found the halfshaft at 11:30 at night after returning from an Hawaiian vacation.
#12
David M. Kane
-
- 5,402 posts
- Joined: December 00
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 13:59
There were so many highlights from the weekend. It all started with a fantastic party at Doug and Sonja Mockett's. When we walked up the driveway
there sat his Carrera car from the period, a 1954 Olds with a Chevy engine
and this fantastic paint job. They also had a great Mariachi Band, hope I spelled that correctly. But the highlight of the night for me was the hour
long home move that Steve Earle shot of the 1963 Monaco GP with his 16mm
Bolex. He was everywhere! There were great cameos of John Surtees in the pits and rare shots of Jim Hall in his funky Blue Cowboy hat as well as shocking shots of Trevor Taylor in his yellow driving suit. He even was in
the tunnel during the race.
He needs to find an editor to put a 30-minute special together for the Speed Channel because he REALLY captured the feel of the place and of the
race.
On Saturday they had a few laps of honor with Mario in his 79 thanks to Duncan Dayton, Derek Daley in a Tyrrell, Bob Bondaurant, Bobby Rahal in a Wolf, and Emmo in Steve Earle's M23. It was suppose to be no helmets, just
waving at the fans. Well Mario slapped on his helmet and roar off into the
distance followed at speed by a bare headed and shoeless Emmo! It was great to see Pete Lovely out there with those guys. My wife call him Lovely Pete.
What a nice man.
There was no waving!
Heady stuff! When Mario returned he didn't want to get out of the car.
I can only attempt to describe the @#$%^eating smile on his face!
We're were going to put Skip Barber in my car, but we broke the half-shaft.
Instead I had a marvelous 20 minute chat with him about my wife's and my
great experience at his Lime Rock School with Peter Argetsinger, Walt Bohren, Bruce MacInnis and Spencer Pumpelly.
Sitting on the back of grid due to missing qualifying with a broken half-shaft I got to look forward to the whole grid and the Tecate grid
girls with each car's number and driver's name. I was clearly in my
Andy Warhol moment. What a rush.
If you want to hear about the race and my impressions I will gladly share
them, otherwise I'll park my ego. We did only 14 very fast laps covering
27 miles. I can only attempt to imagine what it would be like to do 90-laps
over 2 hours!
Just remember, there is no substitute for good mechanics, really good mechanics!
there sat his Carrera car from the period, a 1954 Olds with a Chevy engine
and this fantastic paint job. They also had a great Mariachi Band, hope I spelled that correctly. But the highlight of the night for me was the hour
long home move that Steve Earle shot of the 1963 Monaco GP with his 16mm
Bolex. He was everywhere! There were great cameos of John Surtees in the pits and rare shots of Jim Hall in his funky Blue Cowboy hat as well as shocking shots of Trevor Taylor in his yellow driving suit. He even was in
the tunnel during the race.
He needs to find an editor to put a 30-minute special together for the Speed Channel because he REALLY captured the feel of the place and of the
race.
On Saturday they had a few laps of honor with Mario in his 79 thanks to Duncan Dayton, Derek Daley in a Tyrrell, Bob Bondaurant, Bobby Rahal in a Wolf, and Emmo in Steve Earle's M23. It was suppose to be no helmets, just
waving at the fans. Well Mario slapped on his helmet and roar off into the
distance followed at speed by a bare headed and shoeless Emmo! It was great to see Pete Lovely out there with those guys. My wife call him Lovely Pete.
What a nice man.
There was no waving!
Heady stuff! When Mario returned he didn't want to get out of the car.
I can only attempt to describe the @#$%^eating smile on his face!
We're were going to put Skip Barber in my car, but we broke the half-shaft.
Instead I had a marvelous 20 minute chat with him about my wife's and my
great experience at his Lime Rock School with Peter Argetsinger, Walt Bohren, Bruce MacInnis and Spencer Pumpelly.
Sitting on the back of grid due to missing qualifying with a broken half-shaft I got to look forward to the whole grid and the Tecate grid
girls with each car's number and driver's name. I was clearly in my
Andy Warhol moment. What a rush.
If you want to hear about the race and my impressions I will gladly share
them, otherwise I'll park my ego. We did only 14 very fast laps covering
27 miles. I can only attempt to imagine what it would be like to do 90-laps
over 2 hours!
Just remember, there is no substitute for good mechanics, really good mechanics!
#13
cheesy poofs
-
- 3,243 posts
- Joined: July 01
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 14:32
Hey there Dave,
Great story telling
Any home movies to go along with that ?
CP
Great story telling
Any home movies to go along with that ?
CP
#14
JacnGille
-
- 2,912 posts
- Joined: July 02
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 14:59
David M. Kane, thanks for the trip down memory lane: Bruce MacInnis! What is he up to these days? Is Seymour Chicken still with us? Oh, how I remember Bruce's FF battles!!!!!!!
#15
David M. Kane
-
- 5,402 posts
- Joined: December 00
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 16:04
Bruce MacInnis runs the Skip Barber School at Lime Rock. Yes, he was something special in FF. I use to see him twice a weekend, once at the beginning and once at the end of the day on Sunday. Oh! Yeah! Ocassionally
during the race IF he lapped me!
Boy was he quick!
Refresh my memory on Seymour Chicken? Was that his car? If so that thing was amazing, it was literally held together by bailing wire. That thing
was rolled more times than a Iraqi Tank, but they get out the plum and
measuring tape...set it up and off he roared! One can only imagine what
that guy could have done with proper backing!
during the race IF he lapped me!
Boy was he quick!
Refresh my memory on Seymour Chicken? Was that his car? If so that thing was amazing, it was literally held together by bailing wire. That thing
was rolled more times than a Iraqi Tank, but they get out the plum and
measuring tape...set it up and off he roared! One can only imagine what
that guy could have done with proper backing!
#16
paulb
-
- 11,957 posts
- Joined: June 00
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 19:19
Please, please tell us about the race!Originally posted by David M. Kane
If you want to hear about the race and my impressions I will gladly share
them, otherwise I'll park my ego. We did only 14 very fast laps covering
27 miles. I can only attempt to imagine what it would be like to do 90-laps
over 2 hours!
Just remember, there is no substitute for good mechanics, really good mechanics!
#17
JacnGille
-
- 2,912 posts
- Joined: July 02
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 20:16
David, Seymour was a stuffed toy chicken that Bruce brought to all the races. One year at the Runnoffs Seymour was "kidnapped" and held for ransom. There were several more stories regading Seymour over the years but that memory file isn't very accessable these days.
Thanks!
Thanks!
#18
Ray Bell
-
- 82,281 posts
- Joined: December 99
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 21:48
I believe I'll have some photos from this event to post in the next few days...
Two very interested and impressed observers on the weekend had a camera there, but they can't post pictures. Actually, they can't post anything, otherwise this thread would be at least two posts longer. Less this one, I guess, which makes it just one...
Two very interested and impressed observers on the weekend had a camera there, but they can't post pictures. Actually, they can't post anything, otherwise this thread would be at least two posts longer. Less this one, I guess, which makes it just one...
#19
Barry Boor
-
- 11,557 posts
- Joined: October 00
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 22:33
Here are a selection of BorsariG's images from Long Beach. I will let him do the explanations.....
Of course, not all the pictures require explanation!
Of course, not all the pictures require explanation!
Advertisement
#20
theunions
-
- 638 posts
- Joined: October 02
Member
Posted 15 April 2003 - 23:15
Barry, that's Justin G. and the Alligator in photo #3, right???
#21
RDV
-
- 6,765 posts
- Joined: March 02
Member
Posted 16 April 2003 - 03:23
..slightly OT , notice mention of Pete Lyons at LB, does anyone have his email? have been trying to contact him for some time... RSVP to private msgs please....
#22
rdrcr
-
- 2,727 posts
- Joined: June 01
Member
Posted 16 April 2003 - 04:56
Originally posted by theunions
Barry, that's Justin G. and the Alligator in photo #3, right???
Not to intervene, But if I may answer that and caption a couple of others...
Yes that is Justin Gurney on the Alligator.
The first photo is of Phil Gumpert in front of his 1976 Shadow DN8-1A.
The next one is of Alex Gurney's CART car.
The rest should be obvious...
Here is one of David in his #19 ex-Hans Stuck, March 741
#23
rdrcr
-
- 2,727 posts
- Joined: June 01
Member
Posted 16 April 2003 - 05:05
Originally posted by RDV
..slightly OT , notice mention of Pete Lyons at LB, does anyone have his email? have been trying to contact him for some time... RSVP to private msgs please....
Check your PM's...
#24
BorsariG
-
- 37 posts
- Joined: December 02
Member
Posted 16 April 2003 - 13:40
Barry,
Thanks for posting the pics. Where's the one with me and the TOYO girl?
Justin was nice enough to talk to me about the Alligator, and Dan asked me if I wanted to sit on it. I passed; I haven't ridden a motorcycle in over 25 years, and didn't want to tip it over, even not moving !
The AAR race car was never Alex's. Justin said he just put Alex's name on it for the show.
Evi, Dan's wife, was kind enough to give me a grandstand ticket for the race. I would have loved to have seen the f/1 race from that seat as it was right across from turn one and a big TV screen.
Thanks to Phil Gumpert, I did have a pit pass and watched the f/1 race from there. The noise and sounds were incredible. I had forgotten !!! I'd love to see (HEAR) a modern F/1 race.
It was a great weekend in Long Beach, it will be sad to see CART leave or self destruct or whatever.
Thanks for posting the pics. Where's the one with me and the TOYO girl?
Justin was nice enough to talk to me about the Alligator, and Dan asked me if I wanted to sit on it. I passed; I haven't ridden a motorcycle in over 25 years, and didn't want to tip it over, even not moving !
The AAR race car was never Alex's. Justin said he just put Alex's name on it for the show.
Evi, Dan's wife, was kind enough to give me a grandstand ticket for the race. I would have loved to have seen the f/1 race from that seat as it was right across from turn one and a big TV screen.
Thanks to Phil Gumpert, I did have a pit pass and watched the f/1 race from there. The noise and sounds were incredible. I had forgotten !!! I'd love to see (HEAR) a modern F/1 race.
It was a great weekend in Long Beach, it will be sad to see CART leave or self destruct or whatever.
#25
paulb
-
- 11,957 posts
- Joined: June 00
Member
Posted 16 April 2003 - 14:07
OMG, Richard you are wrong on the CART car ID. Alex has not yet made it to CART. The car is probably a show chassis.Originally posted by rdrcr
Not to intervene, But if I may answer that and caption a couple of others...
Yes that is Justin Gurney on the Alligator.
The first photo is of Phil Gumpert in front of his 1976 Shadow DN8-1A.
The next one is of Alex Gurney's CART car.
The rest should be obvious...
Great pics Bosari!
Which of the historic F! cars sounded the best, in your opinion?
#26
David M. Kane
-
- 5,402 posts
- Joined: December 00
Member
Posted 16 April 2003 - 15:09
From inside the car the Ferrari of Bud Moeller sounded the best, followed
by the Amon Ferrari.
When Bud passed me on Shoreline at about 160mph I almost creamed in my
pants, what a sound, flat-12 at full song...
by the Amon Ferrari.
When Bud passed me on Shoreline at about 160mph I almost creamed in my
pants, what a sound, flat-12 at full song...
#27
rdrcr
-
- 2,727 posts
- Joined: June 01
Member
Posted 16 April 2003 - 16:26
Originally posted by paulb
"OMG, Richard you are wrong on the CART car ID. Alex has not yet made it to CART. The car is probably a show chassis..."
I sit corrected...
#28
theunions
-
- 638 posts
- Joined: October 02
Member
Posted 16 April 2003 - 16:46
Originally posted by paulb
OMG, Richard you are wrong on the CART car ID. Alex has not yet made it to CART. The car is probably a show chassis.
I believe it's the '99 Castrol Eagle I saw in the AAR shop in mid-2000. At that time it still carried Raul Boesel's name on it as it had run in the final 1999 CART races.
#29
Ray Bell
-
- 82,281 posts
- Joined: December 99
Member
Posted 16 April 2003 - 19:55
Originally posted by David M. Kane
From inside the car the Ferrari of Bud Moeller sounded the best, followed
by the Amon Ferrari.
When Bud passed me on Shoreline at about 160mph I almost creamed in my
pants, what a sound, flat-12 at full song...
Now that's a good enough reason to have one of these cars...
#30
David M. Kane
-
- 5,402 posts
- Joined: December 00
Member
Posted 17 April 2003 - 20:41
One of the main reasons I feel the race was so successful was the way it was administrated and the way it was managed. It all started on Thursday
when we had a detailed track briefing by Jim Busby, the ex-Sebring winner
and former IMSA star and Erich Joiner (3rd place finisher). The briefing included in-car video from Erich's car from the press day. This was followed by a walk around on foot for each of us where Jim and Erich pointed out everything form surface changes, camber changes, marshaling
posts, where to pull off to get your car into a safe haven. James King,
Phil Reilly and Rebecca Hale also put a deal of emphasis on what driving
standards were expected and what would NOT be tolerated.
We had a meeting each day in which we continued to fine tune the basics of what was expected of each of us.
As a result of all of this pre-planning and the coaching we had an excellent race. So successful that they are now considering adding a Historic Indy Car race. I take that as a compliment to the fine job HGP did.
I must add that LBGP President, Jim Michaelian, the Clerk of the course
and their staff also participated in these meetings.
We bought 27 cars and 25 started the race, so the crews did a good job too.
On race day I think all of us were a little nervous after worrying about
the weather all weekend long. Phil had a cup of tea, Charlie and I had tea
and an English Muffin.
I must have gone to the head about 10 times between 8:30am and 9:15am when we climbed in the cars. I was calm on the outside, focused, but I was
peddling like crazy on the inside.
James King and Phil Reilly decided that there would be no passing until turn 8, this would allow everyone time to settle down, and get the tires
and the brakes up to snuff.
Todd Morici in Amon's Ferrari told me to come by whenever I was ready.
I waited two laps, frankly I was mesmerized by his engine and the sheer
beauty of his car. I was also extremely conscious that the damn thing is
worth at least $1 Million US. Currently, he has the sister car available
for $995,000, that's the Derek Bell chassis.
The weather and the track conditions were perfect, so I started to push
a little. The track isn't that technical or that difficult; but the hairpin
is a real ballet that got the attention of this average dancer. You roar up to it with a lot of pace and then you are forced in very quick succession
to brake properly, grab 1st gear which you never have to do at any other
circuit, rotate the steering wheel full-lock which isn't that easy with
an open-top steering wheel, and then hang on for a rocket ride as you
quickly accelerate up to 10,500rpms, grab 2nd, grab 3rd in very short order, then 4th. Now you are approaching the bend on Shoreline and you have
to feather it slightly, now 5th and I reckon you're at 165-170mph depending
on your car. I am very alert at this point.
While you're doing all of that in the hairpin, people are sticking cameras
at you, some with flashes. You could almost touch them. You feel like you're in a IMAX movie.
Now you can see the braking markers coming up , 400 ft, 300 ft. We were all
braking earlier here because the track conditions changed overnight and the
gray area was now back 50-100 feet.
Turn 1 was a hard left in 2nd which I carried all the way around the fountain. I could see cars in the near distance, so I tried to catch them.
BTW, as you approach the fountain you are stunned at just how many people
there are, how close they are and how many of them have cameras.
I was very respectful of the wall at turn 3, it was to suck you in like
some naughty woman. As you squirt toward turn 4 you turn right with correctness, squirt to turn 5 holding 2nd all the way, 5 is challenging as
the road falls away to the left, so you respect the rear end a lot.
Randy Johnson blast by me in his Williams FW08C and he was way tail happy!
Later, he spun it, but he saved it, keep the engine running and rejoined!
He had been fighting for the lead.
I am a big advocate of the tires sizes they ran in our era of car. If you
spin, its scrubs off speed so fast you can generally avoid hitting anything, which is hard at Long Beach. Duncan Dayton lost his brakes on Saturday and he too saved it in an impressive move I watched on the big
screen. BTW, you can watch yourself on the big screen as you drive around
but objects are larger than... In the CART race, Alex Yoong crashed so quickly, I had to blink for it to register.
It was the tires.
Turn 6 to 8 is REAL wide, so you really blast down into 8.
The surface in 8 and for the next 200 yards is a bit funky, so you have to
stay on your toes. I got a bit twitchy there a coupla of times, but the car
was solid. You really get hauling down to turn 9, squirt up to 10 which
was a deceptive corner that I probably respected a little too much, as a
result I lost a lot of time there. Again, lots of people staring at you.
We'ver already talked about the hairpin which I thought was a blast except
for the time I left my braking a little late and the front end started to
wash into the wall. Doug Mockett passed me in his Penske about 200 yards
out of there. His car had that crackly sound of a DFV at full song that just totally vibrated me, sounded a bit angry actually!
I wish I could articulate all of this a little better, but basically besides being very visual, the smells of burnt rubber, crackling engines
and exhausts is so burned in my brain that its all I've been thinking about
for four days.
The parting image is of Danny Baker coming by with Charles Nearburg up his
pipes. I would describe them as two fire engines on ice skates.
How one could maintain that pace for two hours is beyond my imagination;
however as a group we came close enough to bring the true spirit of those times back; and to echo the passions of those exceptional young pilots who
made the '60s, '70s and the early '80s some of F1's best racing.
I suspect the next race at Mont Tremblant in July will offer more of the
same, maybe even more?
Please join us!
when we had a detailed track briefing by Jim Busby, the ex-Sebring winner
and former IMSA star and Erich Joiner (3rd place finisher). The briefing included in-car video from Erich's car from the press day. This was followed by a walk around on foot for each of us where Jim and Erich pointed out everything form surface changes, camber changes, marshaling
posts, where to pull off to get your car into a safe haven. James King,
Phil Reilly and Rebecca Hale also put a deal of emphasis on what driving
standards were expected and what would NOT be tolerated.
We had a meeting each day in which we continued to fine tune the basics of what was expected of each of us.
As a result of all of this pre-planning and the coaching we had an excellent race. So successful that they are now considering adding a Historic Indy Car race. I take that as a compliment to the fine job HGP did.
I must add that LBGP President, Jim Michaelian, the Clerk of the course
and their staff also participated in these meetings.
We bought 27 cars and 25 started the race, so the crews did a good job too.
On race day I think all of us were a little nervous after worrying about
the weather all weekend long. Phil had a cup of tea, Charlie and I had tea
and an English Muffin.
I must have gone to the head about 10 times between 8:30am and 9:15am when we climbed in the cars. I was calm on the outside, focused, but I was
peddling like crazy on the inside.
James King and Phil Reilly decided that there would be no passing until turn 8, this would allow everyone time to settle down, and get the tires
and the brakes up to snuff.
Todd Morici in Amon's Ferrari told me to come by whenever I was ready.
I waited two laps, frankly I was mesmerized by his engine and the sheer
beauty of his car. I was also extremely conscious that the damn thing is
worth at least $1 Million US. Currently, he has the sister car available
for $995,000, that's the Derek Bell chassis.
The weather and the track conditions were perfect, so I started to push
a little. The track isn't that technical or that difficult; but the hairpin
is a real ballet that got the attention of this average dancer. You roar up to it with a lot of pace and then you are forced in very quick succession
to brake properly, grab 1st gear which you never have to do at any other
circuit, rotate the steering wheel full-lock which isn't that easy with
an open-top steering wheel, and then hang on for a rocket ride as you
quickly accelerate up to 10,500rpms, grab 2nd, grab 3rd in very short order, then 4th. Now you are approaching the bend on Shoreline and you have
to feather it slightly, now 5th and I reckon you're at 165-170mph depending
on your car. I am very alert at this point.
While you're doing all of that in the hairpin, people are sticking cameras
at you, some with flashes. You could almost touch them. You feel like you're in a IMAX movie.
Now you can see the braking markers coming up , 400 ft, 300 ft. We were all
braking earlier here because the track conditions changed overnight and the
gray area was now back 50-100 feet.
Turn 1 was a hard left in 2nd which I carried all the way around the fountain. I could see cars in the near distance, so I tried to catch them.
BTW, as you approach the fountain you are stunned at just how many people
there are, how close they are and how many of them have cameras.
I was very respectful of the wall at turn 3, it was to suck you in like
some naughty woman. As you squirt toward turn 4 you turn right with correctness, squirt to turn 5 holding 2nd all the way, 5 is challenging as
the road falls away to the left, so you respect the rear end a lot.
Randy Johnson blast by me in his Williams FW08C and he was way tail happy!
Later, he spun it, but he saved it, keep the engine running and rejoined!
He had been fighting for the lead.
I am a big advocate of the tires sizes they ran in our era of car. If you
spin, its scrubs off speed so fast you can generally avoid hitting anything, which is hard at Long Beach. Duncan Dayton lost his brakes on Saturday and he too saved it in an impressive move I watched on the big
screen. BTW, you can watch yourself on the big screen as you drive around
but objects are larger than... In the CART race, Alex Yoong crashed so quickly, I had to blink for it to register.
It was the tires.
Turn 6 to 8 is REAL wide, so you really blast down into 8.
The surface in 8 and for the next 200 yards is a bit funky, so you have to
stay on your toes. I got a bit twitchy there a coupla of times, but the car
was solid. You really get hauling down to turn 9, squirt up to 10 which
was a deceptive corner that I probably respected a little too much, as a
result I lost a lot of time there. Again, lots of people staring at you.
We'ver already talked about the hairpin which I thought was a blast except
for the time I left my braking a little late and the front end started to
wash into the wall. Doug Mockett passed me in his Penske about 200 yards
out of there. His car had that crackly sound of a DFV at full song that just totally vibrated me, sounded a bit angry actually!
I wish I could articulate all of this a little better, but basically besides being very visual, the smells of burnt rubber, crackling engines
and exhausts is so burned in my brain that its all I've been thinking about
for four days.
The parting image is of Danny Baker coming by with Charles Nearburg up his
pipes. I would describe them as two fire engines on ice skates.
How one could maintain that pace for two hours is beyond my imagination;
however as a group we came close enough to bring the true spirit of those times back; and to echo the passions of those exceptional young pilots who
made the '60s, '70s and the early '80s some of F1's best racing.
I suspect the next race at Mont Tremblant in July will offer more of the
same, maybe even more?
Please join us!
#31
Ray Bell
-
- 82,281 posts
- Joined: December 99
Member
Posted 17 April 2003 - 20:48
No doubt at least one of Buford's photos will illustrate something you've mentioned here David...
Might not be able to post them till Tuesday though.
Might not be able to post them till Tuesday though.
#32
Dave Ware
-
- 998 posts
- Joined: March 00
Member
Posted 17 April 2003 - 20:52
David, that was extremely well-written. Thank you.
#33
rdrcr
-
- 2,727 posts
- Joined: June 01
Member
Posted 17 April 2003 - 21:55
no doubt.Originally posted by David M. Kane
"...and then hang on for a rocket ride as you quickly accelerate up to 10,500rpms, grab 2nd, grab 3rd in very short order, then 4th. Now you are approaching the bend on Shoreline and you have to feather it slightly, now 5th and I reckon you're at 165-170mph depending on your car. I am very alert at this point..."
Great account Dave. I notice that you walked the track in its entirety. A practice not often found and spoke of in a thread around here.
Thanks for the driver's recap.
#34
Dennis Hockenbury
-
- 672 posts
- Joined: April 03
Member
Posted 17 April 2003 - 23:40
David,
I'm new here at TNF, but I wanted to sincerely thank you for allowing me to live vicariously through your post.
Absolutely wonderful. Thanks for sharing the memory.
I'm new here at TNF, but I wanted to sincerely thank you for allowing me to live vicariously through your post.
Absolutely wonderful. Thanks for sharing the memory.
#35
Don Capps
-
- 5,933 posts
- Joined: May 99
Member
Posted 18 April 2003 - 01:54
Getting to hang around with Dave and the HGP gang at Indy was one of those great experiences you savor for ages afterward. The HGP circus moves next to Thunderhill on 10-11 May, Ste. Jovite on 4-6 July, Laguna Seca on 14-16 August, and back to Indy on 26-28 September. If they come anywhere close to where you live, you have to make the effort to drop by and see them. Both the people and the machines are top-notch!
#36
David M. Kane
-
- 5,402 posts
- Joined: December 00
Member
Posted 18 April 2003 - 15:08
One highlight I left out is that Charlie Warner introduced me to the head
guy at Stand 21. What a great enthusiast he is. Charlie got his new Jan
Lammers schemed helmet from them and they did a great paint job on a beautiful helmet. I was impressed the quality of the helmet and the quality
of the workmanship.
Hopefully at Mont Tremblant I will be able to line-up a guest driver to
do a story for us. Last year Brian Redman was there. Plus, I would love
to get a Duncan Dayton story or someone like that. Bub Moeller would be
a good one in his Gilles Ferrari too.
Charlie speaks fluent French so maybe he will jump in with his impressions.
I think they are allowing Atlantics this year so many Atlantic Racer will
give us his impression too. This much I can tell you, Mont Tremblant is
most beautiful track I have ever driven on. It reminds me of Austria as it
is in the middle of a ski resort and it is right next to a small lake.
The surface is like a billard table, they had to use some sort of laser
technology to lay the asphalt down, it is that level and that correct.
guy at Stand 21. What a great enthusiast he is. Charlie got his new Jan
Lammers schemed helmet from them and they did a great paint job on a beautiful helmet. I was impressed the quality of the helmet and the quality
of the workmanship.
Hopefully at Mont Tremblant I will be able to line-up a guest driver to
do a story for us. Last year Brian Redman was there. Plus, I would love
to get a Duncan Dayton story or someone like that. Bub Moeller would be
a good one in his Gilles Ferrari too.
Charlie speaks fluent French so maybe he will jump in with his impressions.
I think they are allowing Atlantics this year so many Atlantic Racer will
give us his impression too. This much I can tell you, Mont Tremblant is
most beautiful track I have ever driven on. It reminds me of Austria as it
is in the middle of a ski resort and it is right next to a small lake.
The surface is like a billard table, they had to use some sort of laser
technology to lay the asphalt down, it is that level and that correct.
#37
AtlanticRacer
-
- 167 posts
- Joined: June 02
Member
Posted 18 April 2003 - 19:22
here is a link for some photos : http://www.alexking.com/longbeach/
John Dimmer
David Kane
James King (father of alex - me!)
[IMG]http://www.alexking....arberg.jpg/IMG]
Charlie Nearburg
John Dimmer
David Kane
James King (father of alex - me!)
[IMG]http://www.alexking....arberg.jpg/IMG]
Charlie Nearburg
#38
JacnGille
-
- 2,912 posts
- Joined: July 02
Member
Posted 18 April 2003 - 23:33
Thanks to all who have posted pics and links to pics!!!!!!!!
#39
don hodgdon
-
- 125 posts
- Joined: February 00
Member
Posted 19 April 2003 - 03:50
Many thanks to those who posted their images and experiences from the LBGP weekend. As a course worker at Long Beach back in '75,'76 and '77, I was able to see many of these cars run in anger and the weekend brought back many great memories. Hopefully this can become an annual affair.
Advertisement
#40
Ray Bell
-
- 82,281 posts
- Joined: December 99
Member
Posted 21 April 2003 - 10:16
Originally posted by AtlanticRacer
here is a link for some photos : http://www.alexking.com/longbeach/
Charlie Nearburg
Looking the part... very good.
#41
David M. Kane
-
- 5,402 posts
- Joined: December 00
Member
Posted 21 April 2003 - 13:33
I believe Charles was a Formula Atlantic racer of note in his day. He still pretty damn fast, in my opinion, he is consistently the fastest in the group.
Alex isn't a bad photographer either, that is a very nice shot!
The question is, how fast will Atlantic Racer be this year the BRIC?
Alex isn't a bad photographer either, that is a very nice shot!
The question is, how fast will Atlantic Racer be this year the BRIC?
#42
cheesy poofs
-
- 3,243 posts
- Joined: July 01
Member
Posted 22 April 2003 - 00:43
When the Swift was the thing to have in the Toyota Atlantic series in the late eighties / early nineties, it was both, Charles Nearburg and Stuart Crow, who gave the Ralt RT-40 its first moments of glory for the marque's return to Atlantics.
#43
David M. Kane
-
- 5,402 posts
- Joined: December 00
Member
Posted 22 April 2003 - 13:43
Thanks Cheesy Poofs, since both Stuart and Charles are from Dallas I wonder
if they ran as teammates? I'll have to ask Charles that question at Mont
Tremblant.
if they ran as teammates? I'll have to ask Charles that question at Mont
Tremblant.
#44
cheesy poofs
-
- 3,243 posts
- Joined: July 01
Member
Posted 22 April 2003 - 15:14
Yes David, they did run as teammates as the Ralt America factory team.
As I said previously, it was Stuart who gave the RT-40 its first win at Mid-Ohio in 1992.
CP
As I said previously, it was Stuart who gave the RT-40 its first win at Mid-Ohio in 1992.
CP
#45
Don Capps
-
- 5,933 posts
- Joined: May 99
Member
Posted 16 May 2003 - 03:01
Our hero....
Actually, I was looking for something else and stumbled over this. I thought Dave might enjoy it.
Actually, I was looking for something else and stumbled over this. I thought Dave might enjoy it.
#46
Ray Bell
-
- 82,281 posts
- Joined: December 99
Member
Posted 25 June 2003 - 01:15
Originally posted by Don Capps
Our hero....
Actually, I was looking for something else and stumbled over this. I thought Dave might enjoy it.
I've been waiting a while for this pic...
Eventually my exclusive photographer came through.
#47
Barry Boor
-
- 11,557 posts
- Joined: October 00
Member
Posted 25 June 2003 - 06:39
Please don't get me wrong here, I am most emphatically NOT criticising but.... did this car ever actually run in this colour scheme? Including the orange pin striping on the front bodywork?
It just doesn't seem like something Max and co would have bothered to do. I seem to recall that when I saw these cars in the 70s, they always looked pretty scruffy whereas this one looks magnificent and a credit to its owner.
It just doesn't seem like something Max and co would have bothered to do. I seem to recall that when I saw these cars in the 70s, they always looked pretty scruffy whereas this one looks magnificent and a credit to its owner.
#48
petefenelon
-
- 4,815 posts
- Joined: August 02
Member
Posted 25 June 2003 - 10:02
Originally posted by Barry Boor
Please don't get me wrong here, I am most emphatically NOT criticising but.... did this car ever actually run in this colour scheme? Including the orange pin striping on the front bodywork?
It just doesn't seem like something Max and co would have bothered to do. I seem to recall that when I saw these cars in the 70s, they always looked pretty scruffy whereas this one looks magnificent and a credit to its owner.
March certainly ran in mixed green/orange on occasion in '74 - Hanschen and the Gorilla were quite heavy users of bodywork and tubs and there was a certain degree of 'cross-fertilisation';)
Not sure about orange pinstriping though, the only pinstriped F1 car of that era I remember was the Ensign.
(Mind you, the number of March 761s around in approximate facsimilie of Peterson blue/yellow Monza 76 livery surprised me...)
#49
Ray Bell
-
- 82,281 posts
- Joined: December 99
Member
Posted 25 June 2003 - 10:09
Pinstriping wasn't unknown on the cars out of Hethel in that period...
#50
dolomite
-
- 1,200 posts
- Joined: March 01
Member
Posted 25 June 2003 - 16:47
Originally posted by petefenelon
(Mind you, the number of March 761s around in approximate facsimilie of Peterson blue/yellow Monza 76 livery surprised me...)
I thought Peterson's car at Monza 76 had the red/white/blue Citibank livery.
![http://www.alexking....arberg.jpg/IMG]](http://www.alexking.com/hgplb/nearberg.jpg/IMG]){kind=link}