It's remarkable that in the past 20 years on the reporting of classic motorsports from the 1960s, that we, the public, are more informed with details (that happened back then) with the side-stories of the drivers; race teams; events; and organizers, than what the news media was reporting on when the events were happening. it's amazing the revelations that were withheld at the time, only to surface decades later. I've been following motorsports since the mid-1960s, and two details about A.J. Foyt was not reported on until many years later: -The 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours race where Foyt had to do back-to-back driving stints since Dan Gurney overslept and missed the pit stop to relieve Foyt. Not a word of that was ever mentioned back in 1967, or for many years afterwards. - In 1964 when Foyt was speed testing his Goodyear tires at the San Angelo, Texas, test track with his Sheraton Watson/Offy Roadster, reaching speeds of over 200 mph, he made sure after the tire test that the roadster was not closely observed by the press covering the event, as the tires were blistered. That issue of the blistered tires didn't reach the light-of-day until many years later when Foyt mentioned about it. I feel fortunate to have lived long enough to hear about the revelations in racing that were withheld during the racing seasons of the bygone era.
The crash happened during practice. I was walking into the grandstands. The entrances are at ground level and I was at the entrance that is located at the start of turn one. As I walked in Foyt whizzed past me only feet away. I was in the ideal vantage point to see that he never started the turn. Something broke and he pretty much just slid along the wall. Very minor impact. As the ambulance took AJ back to the pits I could see his legs flailing away. He wasn't happy. Fire was always a danger back then. In 1964 Jim Hurtubise's wreck stopped right in front of me. The people (including his brother) in the pits rushed across the track to help put out the fire. Even with immediate response his burns were so bad that he never was a star again.
He teamed up with the late Jack Bowsher running Fords in USAC . At a race in Milwaukee for whatever reason he slowed on the front straight pulled out of the groove and was hit by Bay Darnell both survived thank God. When all the cars were stooped it was dead quiet only thing heard was the rescue crews until the drivers could be seen then they heard the crowd reaction in Green Bay!
1966...Not a good year for the all-time great and, one of my top five all-time favorites in the sport of auto racing: "SuperTex" Foyt, Jr. This latest release book on A.J.'s life history has to be included in my fair collection of race drivers! I have admired Foyt greatly since 1964 (one of his best years, as we fans know). The late, great Jim Clark of Duns, Scotland has been my overall favorite since 1963 when I got serious at the age of 12 to 13. When "The Flying Scot" died tragically in April of '68...my heaviest likes for an "open wheel" U.S.A.C. (United States Auto Club) driver was A.J. Literally most of the drivers didn't have "the driving determination" to win and be the best like "SuperTex". (Yes...there were several who had that "go-getter attitude" like Andretti, the Unsers, and some others, including Rick Mears but, that's another story) At least one thing I still proudly wear from time to time is, a black pullover golf style shirt I bought almost 20 years ago online from an A.J. Foyt website: "A.J. Foyt Racing Team". It's great quality! Need to buy a couple of other things to wear from Foyt's collection, soon...like the A.J. Foyt Coyote t-shirt character drawing he wore underneath his racing suits. May "The King" long live!
They broke the mold when AJ came along. I got to see him at the Old Sacramento Fair Grounds starting in 1965. Also saw him at Ontario California 500 several times and the Times 500 at Ontario. He was always my favorite. Guy could do things other guys couldn't.
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It's remarkable that in the past 20 years on the reporting of classic motorsports from the 1960s, that we, the public, are more informed with details (that happened back then) with the side-stories of the drivers; race teams; events; and organizers, than what the news media was reporting on when the events were happening.
it's amazing the revelations that were withheld at the time, only to surface decades later.
I've been following motorsports since the mid-1960s, and two details about A.J. Foyt was not reported on until many years later:
-The 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours race where Foyt had to do back-to-back driving stints since Dan Gurney overslept and missed the pit stop to relieve Foyt. Not a word of that was ever mentioned back in 1967, or for many years afterwards.
- In 1964 when Foyt was speed testing his Goodyear tires at the San Angelo, Texas, test track with his Sheraton Watson/Offy Roadster, reaching speeds of over 200 mph, he made sure after the tire test that the roadster was not closely observed by the press covering the event, as the tires were blistered. That issue of the blistered tires didn't reach the light-of-day until many years later when Foyt mentioned about it.
I feel fortunate to have lived long enough to hear about the revelations in racing that were withheld during the racing seasons of the bygone era.
My wife served him breakfast at a motel he used to stay at when he raced at Trenton... 1965-1969.... also that last bit of music.... who is that?
The crash happened during practice. I was walking into the grandstands. The entrances are at ground level and I was at the entrance that is located at the start of turn one. As I walked in Foyt whizzed past me only feet away. I was in the ideal vantage point to see that he never started the turn. Something broke and he pretty much just slid along the wall. Very minor impact. As the ambulance took AJ back to the pits I could see his legs flailing away. He wasn't happy. Fire was always a danger back then. In 1964 Jim Hurtubise's wreck stopped right in front of me. The people (including his brother) in the pits rushed across the track to help put out the fire. Even with immediate response his burns were so bad that he never was a star again.
Been lucky enough to have known Dick & Dean Billings for over 40 years, RIP Dean.
I heard Art say that Foyt hit the wall nose first but the video clearly shows the nose was hardly damaged and the rear of the car took the hit.
I was there that day and saw the crash. Foyt fan since 1964 Rex Mays 100 my first race.
He teamed up with the late Jack Bowsher running Fords in USAC . At a race in Milwaukee for whatever reason he slowed on the front straight pulled out of the groove and was hit by Bay Darnell both survived thank God. When all the cars were stooped it was dead quiet only thing heard was the rescue crews until the drivers could be seen then they heard the crowd reaction in Green Bay!
1966...Not a good year for the all-time great and, one of my top five all-time favorites in the sport of auto racing: "SuperTex" Foyt, Jr.
This latest release book on A.J.'s life history has to be included in my fair collection of race drivers!
I have admired Foyt greatly since 1964 (one of his best years, as we fans know). The late, great Jim Clark of Duns, Scotland has been my overall favorite since 1963 when I got serious at the age of 12 to 13. When "The Flying Scot" died tragically in April of '68...my heaviest likes for an "open wheel" U.S.A.C. (United States Auto Club) driver was A.J. Literally most of the drivers didn't have "the driving determination" to win and be the best like "SuperTex". (Yes...there were several who had that "go-getter attitude" like Andretti, the Unsers, and some others, including Rick Mears but, that's another story)
At least one thing I still proudly wear from time to time is, a black pullover golf style shirt I bought almost 20 years ago online from an A.J. Foyt website: "A.J. Foyt Racing Team". It's great quality! Need to buy a couple of other things to wear from Foyt's collection, soon...like the A.J. Foyt Coyote t-shirt character drawing he wore underneath his racing suits.
May "The King" long live!
They broke the mold when AJ came along. I got to see him at the Old Sacramento Fair Grounds starting in 1965. Also saw him at Ontario California 500 several times and the Times 500 at Ontario. He was always my favorite. Guy could do things other guys couldn't.