FAMOUS FRONT ROWS, PART VI.

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. These photographs of front-row qualifiers capture a moment in time, or rather, a moment in speed. For a fleeting moment we get a glimpse of the best of the best at a particular track, on a particular day. Is it too much wallowing in nostalgia? I have been roundly criticized for that, but then again, I disagree. In order to appreciate what we have now, or where we want the sport of racing to go, we have to appreciate where we've been. I hope you enjoy it, because even though these are historic photos - they never get old.
Riverside International Raceway, January 26, 1974. David Pearson in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Purolator Mercury qualified for the Winston Western 500 - the opener for the NASCAR season - on the pole. Joining David on the Front Row was Cale Yarborough (No. 11 Kare-Kare Chevrolet). Other notable qualifiers? Bobby Allison (No. 12 Coca-Cola Chevrolet) started third; George Follmer (No. 15 Bud Moore Engineering R. C. Cola Ford), fourth; Gary Bettenhausen (No. 16 Penske AMC Matodor), fifth; and Richard Petty (No. 43 Petty Enterprises STP Oil Treatment + Oil Filters Dodge) in sixth. Cale Yarborough won that day, followed by Petty and Pearson. How grueling was that race? The running time was 4:56:52. The average speed was 101.14 mph.
Nassau Speed Weeks, December 5, 1965. Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2C Chevrolet) leads Hap Sharp (No. 65 Chaparral 2A - with 2C mods - Chevrolet) and Bruce McLaren (No. 47 McLaren-Elva Mark II Oldsmobile) at the start of the Nassau Trophy race. Hap Sharp won that day, followed by John Cannon (No. 62 Genie Mk.10B Oldsmobile) and Peter Revson (No. 52 Brabham BT8 Climax). Hall and McLaren didn't finish, although Hall set the fastest lap of the race.
Italian Grand Prix, Monza, Italy, September 5, 1971. Ronnie Peterson (No. 25 March Racing Team STP March 711 Ford Cosworth DFV) leads Clay Regazzoni (No. 4 Scuderia Ferrari 312B) after the start with Jackie Stewart (No. 30 ELF Team Tyrrell Ford 003 Cosworth DFV) and Francois Cevert (No. 2 ELF Team Tyrrell Ford 002 Cosworth DFV) right behind. Other notables? Jacky Ickx (No. 3 Scuderia Ferrari 312B); Jo Siffert (No. 20 Yardley Team BRM P160); Howden Ganley (No. 19 Yardley Team BRM P160); Chris Amon (No. 12 Equipe Matra Sports Matra MS120B V12); and Mike Hailwood (No. 9 Team Surtees TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV). Amon, Ickx and Siffert had qualified 1-2-3, but they were passed by the fourth lap. Peter Gethin (No. 18 Yardley Team BRM P160 won the now famous race in a photo finish, followed by Peterson, Cevert, Hailwood and Ganley. The race set a number of a records. It was the fastest race in F1 history at 242.615 km/h (150.754 mph) at the time. And it is still the fifth-fastest race. The eight different leaders was, and still is, a stand-alone F1 record. The close finish of 0.01 seconds was - along with the 2002 U.S. Grand Prix - the closest-ever finish in an F1 race. It also still holds records for closest finish between first and third (0.09 seconds), first and fourth (0.18 seconds), and first and fifth (0.61 seconds).
(Dave Friedman photo)
Stardust International Raceway, November 13, 1966. The start of the Las Vegas Can-Am was a perfect glimpse of the pinnacle of sports car racing in the U. S. in the 60s with a glittering All-Star grid that resonates to this day. John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) started from the pole, and he is followed by Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Parnelli Jones (No. 98 Mecom Racing Team Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet); Jackie Stewart (No. 43 Mecom Racing Team Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark IIB Chevrolet); Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark IIB Chevrolet); Mark Donohue (No. 6 Penske Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Masten Gregory (No. 88 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Dan Gurney (No. 30 AAR Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford); Ralph Salyer (No. 26 McKee Mk.6 Oldsmobile) and Denny Hulme (No. 8 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet). Surtees won that day, followed by McLaren, Donohue and Peter Revson (No. 20 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford).
Italian Grand Prix, September 7, 1958. Phil Hill (No. 18 Scuderia Ferrari Dino 246) leads Stirling Moss (No. 26 Vandervell Products Ltd. Vanwall) and Mike Hawthorn (No. 14 Scuderia Ferrari Dino 246). Moss started from the pole, followed by Tony Brooks (No. 28 Vandervell Products Ltd. Vanwall). At the finish it was Brooks, followed by Hawthorn and Phil Hill. Moss didn't finish (gearbox issues).