Post by Roel de Vringer on Jan 15, 2018 15:07:48 GMT
This morning it was announced that yesterday, on sundayafternoon, all-time racing legend Dan Gurney has passed away at the age of 86. Dan was a living legend and won so many races that it's impossible to list all 51 of them.
Perhaps - for us at the ECC - the most memorable victory was the 1967 Le Mans, co-driving a Ford GT40.
During the podium ceremony, Dan joyfully shaked the bottle of champagne and sprayed the stuff all over the present co-drivers, the officials and the gridgirls... A tradition that is still in practice today, was born!
Another 'thing' that is forever connected with the 1.86m tall Dan Gurney, is the bump in the roof of the GT40, the so-called Gurney bubble. Simply because Dan couldn't fit in the car wearing a helmet, so one of the mechanics banged the aluminium roof to create that extra headroom.
And last but not least: Dan was the very first person to win the 'magic trilogy' i.e. Le Mans, F1, Nascar.
His wife, now widow, Evi stated that he went with a smile on his face, remembering the good life he had.
I will treasure my original sticker: "Dan Gurney for President" forever!!
Thanks for all the wonderfull moments Dan, we love it!
RandY
Perhaps - for us at the ECC - the most memorable victory was the 1967 Le Mans, co-driving a Ford GT40.
During the podium ceremony, Dan joyfully shaked the bottle of champagne and sprayed the stuff all over the present co-drivers, the officials and the gridgirls... A tradition that is still in practice today, was born!
Another 'thing' that is forever connected with the 1.86m tall Dan Gurney, is the bump in the roof of the GT40, the so-called Gurney bubble. Simply because Dan couldn't fit in the car wearing a helmet, so one of the mechanics banged the aluminium roof to create that extra headroom.
And last but not least: Dan was the very first person to win the 'magic trilogy' i.e. Le Mans, F1, Nascar.
His wife, now widow, Evi stated that he went with a smile on his face, remembering the good life he had.
I will treasure my original sticker: "Dan Gurney for President" forever!!
Thanks for all the wonderfull moments Dan, we love it!
RandY
