Circa approximately 1978+, Laguna Seca Indy car race. Camping out at the track, but being teens we quickly become bored with the lack of activity at night. So we begin a sortie into the pits to see what the heck might be going on. Lots of cool cars to see but, the place is mostly dark and dead, not a soul stirring except for two guys. One of the two providing set-up advice to an owner of an Eagle. My friend and I quietly make our way over and took up station only to find ourselves few feet away from DAN GURNEY. I count myself lucky to have been even an unnoticed part in a brief moment of time with one of our sport's absolute legends. We soaked up every word in the quiet of that night, never to be forgotten. That moment probably contributed to my own 20 year involvement motorsport.
Thanks for the tour! Dan was my boyhood hero along with Jim Clark. I was a charter member of the AAR club. I never got to meet Dan in person; I did get to see him race at a USRRC event at Laguna Seca while I was in language school at the Presidio of Monterey while in the military. When I came back to the States in 1971, I stopped in California to go through the Jim Russell School at Willow Springs. Through the week, I had the track mostly to myself, but on the final weekend, the instructor took me aside and ask me to use the school line on a particular section of the "backside" of the course, since other students would be watching me. When I asked why they hadn't said anything before, he said: "We figured that if you were good enough to find that line, you were good enough to use it." The next sentence might have made my helmet a bit tight. "Dan Gurney uses the same line through there." In 1975, I went through the Russell School in England, won my first race, a 6-lap club race, by nine seconds. Unfortunately, the political situation changed before I went to work on the North Sea, and the gentleman who had promised me a job could no longer hire me as an American. The best part of that trip to England may have been the trip to the new circuit at Donnington Park. I'm pretty certain a very kind English gentleman broke a rule or two in allowing this American to sit in the early Eagle they had in the museum. After returning to the States, it took me four years to get back in a race car. I talked my banker into loaning me money to buy a used Formula Ford with a Cortina engine, with the promise I wouldn't race it until it was paid for (it sat in my garage for two years). I earned my national license in that car, then used it as collateral to buy a second car with an uprated engine and some chassis and aerodynamic bodywork modifications. I won my first pro-Ford race through the streets of Austin in that car, a rain race that I won by more than a lap. At the end of the season, I sold both cars, planning to move up to the North American Formula Atlantic series, but the sponsorship fell through at the last moment when the company went bankrupt, and I never raced again. Still, I have some great memories!
Thank you for the awesome tour and sharing the history and story, especially at the end with the Cannonball nod! "At no time did we EVER exceed 175 miles per hour." One of my favorite quotes EVER. I also recall one of Mr. Gurney's articles where he spoke of days in racing when the cars had no seatbelts and drivers would hope to be thrown clear of wreckage in the event of a crash.
I truly had chills watching this video. I do wish you guys will revisit and please have him go through more of the pictures. And please next time when he points to one please get a close up of it. Thank you for the amazing videos.
Was able to tour AAR back in the late 90's and got Dan to sign my 1967 SPA program (my Dad, brother and I saw that race and still had the program). Wonderful to see it expanded.
I know you have done a few of these now, and I say it every time. Wow! So awesome! Would never even know this existed if it wasn’t for PAM. 🍻 cheers and thank you.
This video inspired me to ask Kathy Weida for a tour. She said Yes! It was the first time I was inside AAR since the Open House in November, 1968. A great privilege. Thanks Kathy, Justin and Alex for spending so much of your valuable time with us.
Justin - Loved the tale of pulling over to force Parkes to pass while leading in the MKIV. Proves that endurance racing is as mental as mechanical & physical.
In a word FABULOS! I had the pleasure of meeting your father at Bridgehampton many years ago. It was my honor to walk people through the Gurney exhibit at the Petersen, loved seeing your collection again in your place. Wonderful tour thank you
Thanks for the GREAT VIDEO! What a collection of memories, I remember seeing your Dad in the winner area with the GDP car at Road America, Truly one of the Greats!
Dan was responsible for so much development in racing that isn't even touched on here. Gurney Westlake alone would fill a couple of volumes. It's great his legacy is being preserved and carried on.
I was 'honoured' to meet Dan Gurney briefly at Laguna Seca a few years ago, a total friendly and natural gentleman, happy to have a chat with me, best respects : ) At the moment, I cannot think of anybody else who made their own chassis, their own engine and drove it: and won ! an amazing achievement (OK, Jack Brabham gets close enough ? ! or Enzo Ferrari in the early days ? ? I am open for facts )
That made my day Justin. You really should be and I am sure are very proud. Your detail and knowledge on all this is truly amazing. The Legacy of your Father is amazing. He was without a doubt one of the best ever. Thanks for sharing and preserving this important part of racing history.
Dan and Evi are unforgettable, gracious, dynamic characters from the era of all-rounder men and women who excelled at so many things. Bigger than any racing successes, their life-long love affair through hardships and challenges, and the successful creation of a large and diverse family really deserves the checkered flag. Living well with purpose and meaning, creating legacy and tradition; That's champion level stuff is it not? God speed Dan, you're sorely missed here where the oranges used to grow.
What a history! Loved the story about Le Mans and Mike Parkes. How great a driver was Dan Gurney? A winner and one of the few survivors of what was the most dangerous period of motor racing. Thanks so much to Justin and The Pete for a great 40+ minutes!
One of my first races in person was the first year the Eagle Toyota's ran in GTP @ Lime Rock Park in 89, driven by I think Fangio and Olsen and one of them blew up late in the race. It was the next year they started stomping all over my beloved Nissan GTP ZX-T. Absolutely gorgeous cars all around. Thanks for the tour!
Would’ve been nice if the cameraman showed the picture of the Enzo Ferrari looking at the Eagle or all the pictures he was pointing out for that matter
The only cars missing from this video were the earlier IMSA sportscars (GTU and GTO Celica). Gurney dominated all three series in succession. The glorious Eagle Mark III GTP remains as one of the most successful competition cars of all time, winning 21 races in just 26 starts, including 10 one-two victories. Such was the performance of the Toyota Eagle that many of the car's track records still stand to this day, including at the Daytona International Speedway, until just recently. Justin is right. To help the competitors that were being dominated, to rein in the Toyota Eagle Mark III, further restrictions came into effect at the start of the 1993 season, which included a higher weight, a tighter restrictor and the mandatory use of steel brakes instead of the carbon ceramic discs raced the previous two seasons. The changes had little effect, as the Toyota Eagle GTP Mk III won every race it was entered in (for reasons unknown the team sat out the Road America round). Among these victories were outright wins at Daytona and Sebring. Naturally, both Fangio and the team once again ended the year as champions.
Good video, however, there was no point of going through the pictures if there was no plan to show them to the camera. Also, the music is cheesy and obnoxious.
Circa approximately 1978+, Laguna Seca Indy car race. Camping out at the track, but being teens we quickly become bored with the lack of activity at night. So we begin a sortie into the pits to see what the heck might be going on. Lots of cool cars to see but, the place is mostly dark and dead, not a soul stirring except for two guys. One of the two providing set-up advice to an owner of an Eagle. My friend and I quietly make our way over and took up station only to find ourselves few feet away from DAN GURNEY. I count myself lucky to have been even an unnoticed part in a brief moment of time with one of our sport's absolute legends. We soaked up every word in the quiet of that night, never to be forgotten.
That moment probably contributed to my own 20 year involvement motorsport.
Thanks for the tour! Dan was my boyhood hero along with Jim Clark. I was a charter member of the AAR club. I never got to meet Dan in person; I did get to see him race at a USRRC event at Laguna Seca while I was in language school at the Presidio of Monterey while in the military. When I came back to the States in 1971, I stopped in California to go through the Jim Russell School at Willow Springs. Through the week, I had the track mostly to myself, but on the final weekend, the instructor took me aside and ask me to use the school line on a particular section of the "backside" of the course, since other students would be watching me. When I asked why they hadn't said anything before, he said: "We figured that if you were good enough to find that line, you were good enough to use it." The next sentence might have made my helmet a bit tight. "Dan Gurney uses the same line through there." In 1975, I went through the Russell School in England, won my first race, a 6-lap club race, by nine seconds. Unfortunately, the political situation changed before I went to work on the North Sea, and the gentleman who had promised me a job could no longer hire me as an American. The best part of that trip to England may have been the trip to the new circuit at Donnington Park. I'm pretty certain a very kind English gentleman broke a rule or two in allowing this American to sit in the early Eagle they had in the museum. After returning to the States, it took me four years to get back in a race car. I talked my banker into loaning me money to buy a used Formula Ford with a Cortina engine, with the promise I wouldn't race it until it was paid for (it sat in my garage for two years). I earned my national license in that car, then used it as collateral to buy a second car with an uprated engine and some chassis and aerodynamic bodywork modifications. I won my first pro-Ford race through the streets of Austin in that car, a rain race that I won by more than a lap. At the end of the season, I sold both cars, planning to move up to the North American Formula Atlantic series, but the sponsorship fell through at the last moment when the company went bankrupt, and I never raced again. Still, I have some great memories!
That was awesome. A journey through racing history starring one of the greats.👍🏻
Thank you for the awesome tour and sharing the history and story, especially at the end with the Cannonball nod!
"At no time did we EVER exceed 175 miles per hour." One of my favorite quotes EVER.
I also recall one of Mr. Gurney's articles where he spoke of days in racing when the cars had no seatbelts and drivers would hope to be thrown clear of wreckage in the event of a crash.
I truly had chills watching this video. I do wish you guys will revisit and please have him go through more of the pictures. And please next time when he points to one please get a close up of it. Thank you for the amazing videos.
Was able to tour AAR back in the late 90's and got Dan to sign my 1967 SPA program (my Dad, brother and I saw that race and still had the program). Wonderful to see it expanded.
I know you have done a few of these now, and I say it every time. Wow! So awesome! Would never even know this existed if it wasn’t for PAM. 🍻 cheers and thank you.
This video inspired me to ask Kathy Weida for a tour. She said Yes! It was the first time I was inside AAR since the Open House in November, 1968. A great privilege. Thanks Kathy, Justin and Alex for spending so much of your valuable time with us.
WOW. Thank you Justin. What a collection of awesomeness. Your father is a driving legend.
Great collection and history! I love how proud Justin is of his Dad! How can anyone not like this video!!? Amazing!
Thanks Justin!! Your Dad is my favorite Driver !! He was definitely one of bravest there ever was!!!
Dan Gurney is one of my favorite drivers ever, since I was a kid. Great video!
Amazing, the history.
Justin - Loved the tale of pulling over to force Parkes to pass while leading in the MKIV. Proves that endurance racing is as mental as mechanical & physical.
In a word FABULOS! I had the pleasure of meeting your father at Bridgehampton many years ago. It was my honor to walk people through the Gurney exhibit at the Petersen, loved seeing your collection again in your place. Wonderful tour thank you
Thanks for the GREAT VIDEO! What a collection of memories, I remember seeing your Dad in the winner area with the GDP car at Road America, Truly one of the Greats!
Great history beeing told by mr. Gurney! Next time could you please try to get better shots of the pictures?
Dan was responsible for so much development in racing that isn't even touched on here. Gurney Westlake alone would fill a couple of volumes. It's great his legacy is being preserved and carried on.
I was 'honoured' to meet Dan Gurney briefly at Laguna Seca a few years ago, a total friendly and natural gentleman, happy to have a chat with me, best respects : ) At the moment, I cannot think of anybody else who made their own chassis, their own engine and drove it: and won ! an amazing achievement (OK, Jack Brabham gets close enough ? ! or Enzo Ferrari in the early days ? ? I am open for facts )
No possible way to do that place justice. Absolutely amazing
That made my day Justin. You really should be and I am sure are very proud. Your detail and knowledge on all this is truly amazing. The Legacy of your Father is amazing.
He was without a doubt one of the best ever. Thanks for sharing and preserving this important part of racing history.
Dan and Evi are unforgettable, gracious, dynamic characters from the era of all-rounder men and women who excelled at so many things.
Bigger than any racing successes, their life-long love affair through hardships and challenges, and the successful creation of a large and diverse family really deserves the checkered flag. Living well with purpose and meaning, creating legacy and tradition; That's champion level stuff is it not?
God speed Dan, you're sorely missed here where the oranges used to grow.
What a history! Loved the story about Le Mans and Mike Parkes. How great a driver was Dan Gurney? A winner and one of the few survivors of what was the most dangerous period of motor racing. Thanks so much to Justin and The Pete for a great 40+ minutes!
One of my first races in person was the first year the Eagle Toyota's ran in GTP @ Lime Rock Park in 89, driven by I think Fangio and Olsen and one of them blew up late in the race. It was the next year they started stomping all over my beloved Nissan GTP ZX-T. Absolutely gorgeous cars all around. Thanks for the tour!
Thank you Justin! Fantastic video and narration 👏👍🏻
Only people with badass dad's call their dad, dad to total strangers. Awesome history, thank you!
So many memories of a legend. So awesome.
Thank you for the video tour of your fathers amazing racing career and legacy. A truly great American. Continued success at AAR.
I spoke to him at the Houston CART race in the late 90’s. He was very generous and easy to talk with. Childhood hero for sure
Walking along and hearing stories from the photo wall was a treat...
The Falcon 200 jet that I flew for 10 years had a Gurney flap on its rudder. Pretty cool that even the French took a cue from Dan.
5:11 That’s what you call a hallWAY of fame. Amazing.
How awesome great stories and car's. He seems like a top bloke I bet he has got 40 hour's of stories and then some. Part 2 to 100 coming soon.
incredible history, thank you
Thank you for his amazing tour!
The best.
Thanks so much for this tour.
I would love to build an AAR Eagle mk.3 replica some day.
Justin! When did you become an adult??!! 😄 What an awesome tribute to your dad!❤️
Looking forward to seeing this.
Fantasticc video
Thank you so much 😀
Would’ve been nice if the cameraman showed the picture of the Enzo Ferrari looking at the Eagle or all the pictures he was pointing out for that matter
The only cars missing from this video were the earlier IMSA sportscars (GTU and GTO Celica). Gurney dominated all three series in succession. The glorious Eagle Mark III GTP remains as one of the most successful competition cars of all time, winning 21 races in just 26 starts, including 10 one-two victories. Such was the performance of the Toyota Eagle that many of the car's track records still stand to this day, including at the Daytona International Speedway, until just recently.
Justin is right. To help the competitors that were being dominated, to rein in the Toyota Eagle Mark III, further restrictions came into effect at the start of the 1993 season, which included a higher weight, a tighter restrictor and the mandatory use of steel brakes instead of the carbon ceramic discs raced the previous two seasons. The changes had little effect, as the Toyota Eagle GTP Mk III won every race it was entered in (for reasons unknown the team sat out the Road America round). Among these victories were outright wins at Daytona and Sebring. Naturally, both Fangio and the team once again ended the year as champions.
Brilliant, thanks.
Oh wow, really enjoyed the vid!!!! 👍👍👍
I remember when jim and john gurney ran firehawk-their mechanic
Thanks....!
6 people just didn’t appreciate the effort this guy made to bring us this info.
Not humans!
Seven thumbs down. Sorry you didn't like it. I will do better next time.
I wish the camera could actually show the pictures he's talking about.
Eagle FF was great
Hard to believe he never won the Indianapolis 500 as a Driver
a shame AAR isn't doing auto racing anymore
American treasure.
Good video, however, there was no point of going through the pictures if there was no plan to show them to the camera. Also, the music is cheesy and obnoxious.
I disagree. This was not shot with an iPhone so how would you turn a larger professional camera 90 degrees to face the wall of photos?
"Music" a distraction. Totally unnecessary. Terrific content.
😍