Dan Gurney 1931-2018

[Neil Davies]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/dan-gurney-legend-passes-away-995822/

Race in Peace.

[MC Dyno Don]

Dan Gurney was an Amazing Human being period..!!  Over the years there were a few VW people employed there(Danny Gabbord/ Gab_fab)..(Roger Grago), and a host of others that have escaped me. Dan could often be seen with one of many favorite toys that he indulged in, such as his (not so famous gravity cycle) that he was seen by myself and others, literally square(Flat) with the road as he would often travel the back roads of O.C. and San Diego county. I can remember when I got a call from Roger Grago when working for Dan in the late 80's ? , and he recommended me to color sand and rub out his NEW Factory To#¤ta (supra)? white and bright as all could be. The only issue was that with only limited space and lighting in my ancient single car garage it was a project from hell/LOL. I finished the car and delivered to Gurneys and later,when Dan had pulled the car in for the night under scrutiny of the massive lighting in the shop, he almost had a shit fit when he had noticed the MANY imperfections/LOL. Roger called me and I picked the car back up the following day to use more pressure and more aggressive compound and WHALA..!! Dan was a VERY HAPPY CAMPER, and being a painter, as everything else he accomplished, he acknowledged the Hard Factory paint and mentioned that he was glad that I did the job, instead of himself/LOL.                                                                                                                                          ................   Time gone by, I had my notorious 69 Red turbo ghia(91-92)?, and was traveling on the 22 frwy here in garden grove about 11pm/best time for speed addicts?/.. and I see this white ball of lightning just blitzing up on me from behind so I decided to stay my course at about 70mph. The white car took the middle lane and began to taunt me, so I obliged, and spooled up Instantly, and proceeded to Kick His ASS to about 140mph... all happening in the blink of and eye, ... and left him standing still, about 10 cars back..!! I slowed down to about 90mph when This white car pulls up along side me and I see the window come down, only to see see, none other than  Dan Gurney, giving me a HUGE SMILE and THUMBS UP, out of the drivers window..!! He then boosted his Newer To#¤ta (with Twin Turbo power),into the darkness, with the same flash of speed he came up from behind me with..!!  What A true legend..!!    Dyno Don

[Neil Davies]

That is a cool story Don! It's funny that nowhere in anything that you read about Dan Gurney does it mention his success in the Inch Pincher before it became the legendary drag car. I know that's only really interesting for Cal Look geeks like us, but the fact that he had success even in a humble Volkswagen early on in his career says a lot about the talent he was to become.

I sometimes wondered if he knew what his (well, Darrell's!) old race car became, but with that many VW guys working for him, he must have done!

[Fastbrit]

Not early in his career, Neil. far from it. By the time he raced the Inch Pincher, he was already driving works Porsche grand prix cars, winning one event – Porsche's one and only F1 victory.

[Andrew]

Just watched the documentary on the late sixties Le Mans GT rivalry between Ford's GT40 and Ferrari's and their P3 and P4 cars. I hadn't realised how instrumental Gurney was to Ford's success, he was still with us when the documentary was filmed, he featured heavily and gave a number of personal interviews most of which were intermingled with archive racing footage, what an amazing driver, what a time to be a racing driver....dangerous too.....

[Neil Davies]

I hadn't realised that Keith, I thought the Inch Pincher days were much earlier on! Mind you, I knew nothing about it at all before your first California Look book!

[So.Cal.Life]

 WHAT A MASSIVE LOSS ,,,,, Early in 1992 I was introduced to Dan (one of my all time hero's) Gurney by Jim Kitasaki , Jim also worked for him , Jim & I ported and reworked the chambers on a new To#¤ta cyl head he had planned on using for one of his personal projects , WOW, WHAT A PRIVILAGE AND HONOR , He was so down to earth and unimpressed with himself . SO SORRY TO HEAR THIS NEWS , GODSPEED, DAN GURNEY!!!

[danny gabbard]

https://www.facebook.com/speed/?hc_ref=ARRaoduz2BXvb0z5U2EB4e-eBZBixrDR4iFJkM1a9uclD8q9xPonYLfhPrhVvZl0PYA Open and scroll down a couple videos

[danny gabbard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4eKqmYO9lQ Cool set of videos

[danny gabbard]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1756522491025071&set=pcb.10155016981457312&type=3&theater&ifg=1 The man on far left , The Master himself ! ( REM )

[Martin S.]

Just watched the documentary on the late sixties Le Mans GT rivalry between Ford's GT40 and Ferrari's and their P3 and P4 cars. I hadn't realised how instrumental Gurney was to Ford's success, he was still with us when the documentary was filmed, he featured heavily and gave a number of personal interviews most of which were intermingled with archive racing footage, what an amazing driver, what a time to be a racing driver....dangerous too.....

What's the name of the documentary? A link would be great 

[Andrew]

It's on Amazon Prime, I'll look it up for you.

[Mike P]

Just watched the documentary on the late sixties Le Mans GT rivalry between Ford's GT40 and Ferrari's and their P3 and P4 cars. I hadn't realised how instrumental Gurney was to Ford's success, he was still with us when the documentary was filmed, he featured heavily and gave a number of personal interviews most of which were intermingled with archive racing footage, what an amazing driver, what a time to be a racing driver....dangerous too.....

What's the name of the documentary? A link would be great 

It's called "The 24 Hour War" and its also available on iTunes.  It's an awesome film.

[Andrew]

Yep, that's the one, I'd watch it a second and a third time.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B01MR4S9XT


Andrew

[Martin S.]

Thanks! I had no idea. It is a recent production as it says 2016 release year.