A PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS, PART VIII.

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. The history of racing is filled with memorable moments, incandescent triumphs and yes, unspeakable tragedies. A kaleidoscope of images has captured these moments since racing's inception, and I plan to continue presenting a few of them in this column and in future columns through to the end of the year. I hope you enjoy it.
The great Fred "Fast Freddie" Lorenzen was a NASCAR star from 1958-1972. He won 26 races, including the 1965 Daytona 500 in the No. 28 Holman & Moody LaFayette Ford. Lorenzen was the USAC Stock Car Champion in 1958-1959 and he was also inducted into the USAC Hall of Fame in 2015. He was the first driver to win the same 500-mile superspeedway race three years in a row (Atlanta 500, 1962–1964); he was also the first driver to win at all five original Southern superspeedways (Daytona, Darlington, Atlanta, Charlotte, Rockingham, 1965). At the time of his initial retirement (1967), Lorenzen was the all-time superspeedway winner with twelve. Fred won the World 600 at Charlotte in 1963 and 1965; and he was the first NASCAR driver to go over $100,000 in winnings in one season ($122,000 in 1963). Lorenzen was the first driver to sweep both NASCAR races at Martinsville in a season (1964) and the only driver to win four consecutive 500 lap races at Martinsville. Freddie has an incredible 50 percent winning percentage. He finished with 26 wins, 84 top tens and 32 poles. Lorenzen was the NASCAR Grand National Series (precursor to Cup) most popular driver in 1963 and 1965; he was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998; he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2001; and he was a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee in 2015.
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico, October 23, 1966. Bruce McLaren (No. 17 Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M2B DOHC Ford) on his way to a DNF in the Grand Prix of Mexico. McLaren struggled mightily to adapt the DOHC Ford Indy engine to the rigors of F1, but the engine just wasn't up to it. 
Daytona International Speedway, January 1966. The Ford "J-car" prototype undergoes early testing. That's Bruce McLaren in the driver's seat and Mario Andretti with his back to the camera leaning-in (he's in the Firestone driver's suit). The early Kammback body design with a honeycomb aluminum chassis structure was fraught with high-speed stability issues. After the Ford Mk II swept the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a controversially orchestrated 1-2-3 finish - which cost Ken Miles the race - the development program for the J-car resumed. And since Miles was the principal development driver for Shelby American, he took the lead role in trying to turn the J-car into a competitive machine. Unfortunately, Miles tragically lost his life testing the J-car at Riverside International Raceway in August 1966. The J-car prototype was completely revamped for the 1967 season and renamed the Ford Mk IV. That machine won the only two races it was entered in: the 12 Hours of Sebring - with Andretti and McLaren driving - and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt at the wheel.
Sebring International Raceway, March 1967. Bruce McLaren and Mario Andretti with the No. 1 Ford Mk IV in a Ford publicity photo before the 12 Hours of Sebring. Mario put it on the pole, two seconds clear of the No. 6 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet driven by Jim Hall/Mike Spence. Andretti and McLaren went on to dominate the race, winning by twelve laps.

Monte Carlo, June 1962. Scuderia Ferrari arrived in force for the Monaco Grand Prix. The No. 36 Ferrari 156 was driven by Phil Hill, the No. 38 Ferrari 156 was driven by Lorenzo Bandini, and the No. 40 Ferrari 156 was driven by Willy Mairesse. Bruce McLaren (No. 14 Cooper T60/Climax) won the race that year, Phil Hill was second, and Bandini finished third. Mairesse did not finish.
Daytona International Speedway, February 1966. Roger Penske next to his entry before the start of the Daytona 24 Hours that year. The No. 6 Roger Penske Chevrolet/Sunoco Corvette Sting Ray Coupe was driven by Dick Guldstrand, Ben Moore and George Wintersteen. They finished 12th overall and 1st in GT +3.0.