- Dan Gurney and his Eagle. Photo Credit: Autoweek

Dan Gurney (1931-2018)

Gurney was a driver, owner, innovator, and automotive icon.

4y ago
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The word Gurney is synonymous with American motorsports and motorsports as a whole. From the Gurney flap to Dan's Gurney's All American Racers, the fingerprints of the bombastic New York native are all over the racing community. With his passing, the racing world loses not only an icon, but one of its truest racers.

Gurney with the last of his 'All American Racers' Photo Credit: Allan Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Gurney with the last of his 'All American Racers' Photo Credit: Allan Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Gurney was born in Port Jefferson, NY in 1931, the son of a Harvard graduate father. His family was one that of innovators, with his grandfather being the man behind the revolutionary 'Gurney Ball Bearing.' However, inventions were not the only thing the Gurney family had in their life to proud of. Gurney's father, Jack, was also lead basso profundo in the New York Metropolitan Opera.

Dan's love of racing and all thing automotive began when his family moved to California and Gurney quickly became wrapped up in the hot rod culture that had come to dominate Southern California. He began drag racing and entering himself in sports car racing, but his racing career was briefly halted when he enlisted in the US Army, serving as a mechanic in the Korean War.

Upon his discharge from the army, Gurney quickly reengaged himself back into the racing world and, in 1957 he was entered in the inagural Riverside Grand Prix, held at the now defunct Riverside International Raceway. His car, powered by a 4.2-litre reworked Maserati engine with Ferrari running gear, was deemed almost un-drivable by such aces as Carol Shelby himself. But it made no matter to Gurney, managed to finish second in the race.

Gurney doing what he loved most, driving a sports car.

Gurney doing what he loved most, driving a sports car.

This successful race earned him a Le Mans test and drive in 1958. Partnering with fellow American Bruce Kessler, they managed to push their Ferrari up to fifth place overall before being retired due to accident.

This, in turn, impressed a certain team principal by the name of Enzo Ferrari, who arranged for a test drive with the young American for his works Ferrari. He proceeded to race four races for the Prancing Horse, but soon decided to leave the team, with Enzo's strict limits placed on his drivers proving to be a deal breaker for Gurney. The next year, 1960, saw Gurney jump to BRM where mechanical reliability scuppered any chance of a good result.

Gurney on track, behind the wheel of an Eagle in F1. Photo Credit: Autosport

Gurney on track, behind the wheel of an Eagle in F1. Photo Credit: Autosport

At the Dutch Grand Prix in 1960, Gurney suffered a brake failure that nearly led to his premature death. His failing brakes sent Gurney careening off the track, killing a spectator and breaking Gurney's arm.

Because Gurney was Gurney, he took the accident as a chance to learn, adapting his driving style to go lighter on his brakes, which proved fortuitous in later years as this new style of driving allowed him to prevent his brakes from suffering the wear that his rivals saw.

In 1961, Gurney moved to the Porsche works team and scored his first victory for the team at the French Grand Prix that year.

When Australian World Champion announced he would be starting his own team, Gurney was his first call and the American earned the team their first win once again at the French Grand Prix.

Gurney on his way to victory at Spa.

Gurney on his way to victory at Spa.

Gurney, despite being a stellar driver, is perhaps best known as a team owner, founding his All American Racers in 1965. The team first focused on winning the 500 mile race at Indianapolis, but they soon expanded into Formula One as well, nicknaming their cars 'Eagles' and painting them in a distinct navy blue tint. Despite the All American Racers being the official name of the team, however, Gurney was cognizant of the stereotype Americans had in the sport and instead ran the team under the moniker of 'Anglo American Racers' while in F1.

The team may have started off slow but by 1967, they were fully up and running and Dan Gurney made history by becoming the first (and only) American driver to win a Formula One race while driving an American car by taking top step of the podium in Belgium of that year.

However, the engine problems that initially plagued the team continued to grow and the team eventually folded in 1970.

Gurney preparing to go out on track at Indianapolis. Photo Credit: Driving Line.

Gurney preparing to go out on track at Indianapolis. Photo Credit: Driving Line.

Despite his F1 team folding and Gurney's retirement from racing in 1970, he continued to run the stateside iteration of the All American Racers, until his full retirement in 2011.

Gurney's All American Racers enjoyed outstanding success in the US, scoring victories in the States most celebrated races, such as the Indianapolis 500, 12 Hours of Sebring, and the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Engineering-wise, Gurney was responsible for the eponymous 'Gurney Flap' a vertical uptick on the rear of a wing that dramatically increases downforce on a car.

An example of a Gurney Flap. Photo Credit: Joe Toth Customs.

An example of a Gurney Flap. Photo Credit: Joe Toth Customs.

In the cultural impact of racing, Gurney was responsible for 'The White Letter,' a memo written to fellow CART owners that called for, among other things, a break away from the USAC sanctioning body and the creation of a series that allowed for the team owners to have more of a say in how the regulations were written. The letter was considered to be the inciting incident for the creation of CART and the way in which American Open Wheel Racing would be structured until the ill-fated split in the 1990s.

No amount of writing can put into words the legend that was Dan Gurney. To any American, he is the definition of speed and ambition. He represents one of the last men living from a time of racing when most did not finish the race and many did not make it home to their families. But Gurney, and in so doing was able to inspire a whole generation of Americans to strap themselves behind the wheel and take on the world. The loss of Dan Gurney represents the loss of one of America's greatest racing icons. He will be missed.

And, in the words of another one of America's greatest racing icons, Mario Andretti, " I was first inspired by him when I was in midgets dreaming of being like him. I was last inspired by him yesterday."

Godspeed, Dan. May you rest in peace.

And, oh yeah, one more thing.

TAGS: #F1 #indycar #motorsport

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