FAMOUS FRONT ROWS, PART IV.

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. These photographs of front-row qualifiers capture a moment in time, or rather, a moment in speed. We get a glimpse for a fleeting moment of the best of the best at the particular track, on that particular day. Is it too much wallowing in nostalgia? I have been roundly criticized for that, but I disagree. In order to appreciate what we have now, or where we want the sport 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.
(Photo by Dave Friedman)
Start of the USRRC GT race, Laguna Seca, May 9, 1965. Ken Miles (No. 98 Shelby American Cobra) and Ed Leslie (No. 96 Shelby American Cobra) lead the charge from the Front Row with Bob Johnson (No. 97 Shelby American Cobra) close behind. Other notables? Ernie Kessling (No. 1 Shelby Cobra), Dave Jordan (No. 31 Otto Zipper Porsche 904 GTS), Kurt Nuemann (No. 34 Porsche 904 GTS) and Scooter Patrick (No. 32 Otto Zipper Porsche 904 GTS). Ken Miles and Ed Leslie delivered a 1-2 for Shelby American, lapping the field, while Bob Johnson did not finish. Scooter Patrick finished third.
24 Hours of Le Mans, June 25, 1960. The Briggs Cunningham Chevrolet Corvette team lined up for the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. No "Front Row," instead the cars were placed at the front of the field because of the displacement of their Corvette V8s, according to ACO rules. The production Corvettes were ordered from a dealer - Don Allen Chevrolet in Manhattan - and were outfitted with every performance option available at the time, including a fuel-injected, 283 cu. in. 290HP V8; a close-ratio 4-speed gearbox; heavy-duty suspension; heavy-duty sintered-metallic brake linings; quick-ratio steering; a Positraction limited-slip differential; a temperature-controlled radiator fan and radio delete (!). From there, Cunningham's ace mechanic - Alfred Momo - completed a long list of modifications that would serve the Corvette team well, including: Stewart Warner gauges; a huge Jones-Motorola tachometer with tell-tale; a massive aircraft-sized fuel-filler relocated to a cove cut into the middle of the rear window; Halibrand knock off wheels with Firestone racing tires; Koni competition shocks; two Bendix fuel pumps; an additional front sway bar; a 37 gallon fuel tank; extensive brake ducting from the grille area; a cooling duct from drivers side front bumper area (directing cooling air to the driver through the foot well); two seats from a WW II Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft; and custom-fabricated exhausts that exited in front of the rear tires. Zora Arkus-Duntov was slated to drive one of the Cunningham Corvettes in the race, but GM prevented him from doing so because of the company's self-imposed ban on factory-supported participation in racing of any kind. So the driver line-up consisted of Briggs Cunningham/William Kimberly (No. 1 Chevrolet Corvette); Fred Windridge/Dr. Dick Thompson (No. 2 Chevrolet Corvette) and John Fitch/Bob Grossman (No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette). Even though the No. 1 and No. 2 cars did not finish, the No. 3 machine finished eighth overall, delivering a class victory (GT - 4,000 to 5,000cc) for Chevrolet Corvette in its first year of competition at Le Mans. But it wasn't without considerable drama, as the No. 3 Corvette started to overheat in the 23rd hour of the race. Since race rules prohibited cars from receiving any fluids other than fuel, Momo jam-packed ice from drink coolers in and around the engine, which was enough to allow the No. 3 Corvette to continue on to the class win. 
Daytona International Speedway, February 27, 1966. The start of the Daytona 500 with Richard Petty (No. 43 Petty Enterprises Plymouth GTX) on pole and Dick Hutcherson (No. 29 Holman-Moody Racing East Tennessee Motor Co. Ford) on the Front Row. Petty won, followed by Cale Yarborough (No. 27 Banjo Matthews/Abingdon Motor Ford) and David Pearson (No. 6 Cotton Owens/Southeastern Dodge Dealers Dodge).
(Dave Friedman photo)
Nassau Speed Weeks, December 1, 1963. The Front Row for the Preliminary Nassau TT (GT +2.0) consisted of Augie Pabst (No. 00 Mecom Racing Team Lola Mk.6 GT Chevrolet, not visible to the right), Jim Hall (No. 65 Mecom Racing Team Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport 003) and Dr. Dick Thompson (No. 80 Mecom Racing Team Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport 005). That's Roger Penske in the dark jacket talking to Thompson, with John Mecom Jr. in the white sweater looking on. Pabst won, followed by Thompson and Hall.
Silverstone, July 10, 1965. The Front Row for the British Grand Prix: Jim Clark (No. 5 Team Lotus/Lotus 33 Climax V8, pole); Graham Hill (No. 3 Owen Racing Organization BRM P261/BRM P60 V8), Richie Ginther (No. 11 Honda R&D/Honda RA272 V12) and Jackie Stewart (No. 4 Owen Racing Organization BRM P261/BRM P60 V8). Clark won that day, followed by Hill and John Surtees (No. 1 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 1512 F12).
Trenton Speedway, Trenton, New Jersey, April 23, 1967. Mario Andretti (No. 1 Al Dean/Dean Van Lines Brawner/Ford, pole) and Lloyd Ruby (No. 25 Gene White/American Red Ball Mongoose/Offy) on the Front Row for the 150-mile USAC Champ Car Series race. Mario won, followed by Roger McCluskey (No. 12 Lindsey Hopkins/G.C. Murphy Eagle/Ford) and Bobby Unser (No. 6 Bob Wilke/Rislone Eagle/Ford).