By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. The sport of motor racing is filled with memorable races marked by both triumph and tragedy. It's the nature of the sport that these two extremes have left such an indelible impression that they live on for decades, leaving a legacy that is part and parcel of our collective memories. The many heroic individuals - and individual efforts - that have carved out their place in motorsport history are too often luridly offset by gut-wrenching tragedies that have torn us apart along the way. It is an unfortunate consequence of a sport that consumes everything and everyone in its path, a fevered, relentless pursuit marked by unbridled elation and devastating, soul-crushing disappointment. In this series I will try to avoid dwelling on the tragic stories, because as enthusiasts of this sport we are all too familiar with them. If, in the course of talking about a particular race mentioning a tragic event is unavoidable that will have to be, but this series will mainly focus on those memorable moments from those glory days that rivet us to this day. This week, we go back to Riverside International Raceway on October 11, 1964, for the 200-mile Los Angeles Times Grand Prix for Sports Cars.
(Getty Images)
Once again, the best of the best in the sports car world assembled at Riverside International Raceway, this time for the prestigious 200-mile Los Angeles Times Grand Prix for Sports Cars. The entry list was a "who's who" of the then current all stars of road racing, including: Bruce McLaren (No. 2 McLaren Elva Mark 1 Oldsmobile); Frank Gardner (No. 3 Brabham BT8 Climax/Repco); Jack Brabham (No. 4 Brabham BT8 Repco); Skip Hudson (No. 5 Cooper Monaco T61M Chevrolet); Roger Penske (No. 6 Chaparral 2A Chevrolet); Jerry Grant (No. 8 Lotus 19 Chevrolet); Innes Ireland (No. 10 Lotus 19 Ferrari); Jim Clark (No. 15 Team Lotus 30 Ford); George Follmer (No. 16 Lotus 23 B Porsche 904); Dan Gurney (No. 19 Pacesetter Lotus 19 B Ford, above); A.J. Foyt (No. 23 Mecom Hussein1 Cooper Dodge); Augie Pabst (No. 25 Mecom Genie Mk.10 Chevrolet); Walt Hansgen (No. 26 Mecom Scarab Mk IV Chevrolet); Hap Sharp (No. 66 Chaparral 2A Chevrolet); Al Unser (No. 69 Arciero Bros. Lotus 23 B); John Cannon (No. 77 Elva Mk VII); Allen Grant (No. 81 Cheetah GT Chevrolet); Bob Johnson (No. 91 Shelby American McKee Mk III Ford); Richie Ginther (No. 92 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford); Bob Bondurant (No. 93 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford); Parnelli Jones (No. 94 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford); Ronnie Bucknum (No. 95 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford); Bobby Unser (No. 96 Arciero Bros. Lotus 19 Monte Carlo Chevrolet); Ed Leslie (No. 97 Shelby American Cooper Monaco Lang II Ford); Ken Miles (No. 98 Shelby American Cobra); John Morton (No. 99 Shelby American Lotus 23 B). All I can say, is wow, what a lineup!
Detroit. The sport of motor racing is filled with memorable races marked by both triumph and tragedy. It's the nature of the sport that these two extremes have left such an indelible impression that they live on for decades, leaving a legacy that is part and parcel of our collective memories. The many heroic individuals - and individual efforts - that have carved out their place in motorsport history are too often luridly offset by gut-wrenching tragedies that have torn us apart along the way. It is an unfortunate consequence of a sport that consumes everything and everyone in its path, a fevered, relentless pursuit marked by unbridled elation and devastating, soul-crushing disappointment. In this series I will try to avoid dwelling on the tragic stories, because as enthusiasts of this sport we are all too familiar with them. If, in the course of talking about a particular race mentioning a tragic event is unavoidable that will have to be, but this series will mainly focus on those memorable moments from those glory days that rivet us to this day. This week, we go back to Riverside International Raceway on October 11, 1964, for the 200-mile Los Angeles Times Grand Prix for Sports Cars.
(Getty Images)Once again, the best of the best in the sports car world assembled at Riverside International Raceway, this time for the prestigious 200-mile Los Angeles Times Grand Prix for Sports Cars. The entry list was a "who's who" of the then current all stars of road racing, including: Bruce McLaren (No. 2 McLaren Elva Mark 1 Oldsmobile); Frank Gardner (No. 3 Brabham BT8 Climax/Repco); Jack Brabham (No. 4 Brabham BT8 Repco); Skip Hudson (No. 5 Cooper Monaco T61M Chevrolet); Roger Penske (No. 6 Chaparral 2A Chevrolet); Jerry Grant (No. 8 Lotus 19 Chevrolet); Innes Ireland (No. 10 Lotus 19 Ferrari); Jim Clark (No. 15 Team Lotus 30 Ford); George Follmer (No. 16 Lotus 23 B Porsche 904); Dan Gurney (No. 19 Pacesetter Lotus 19 B Ford, above); A.J. Foyt (No. 23 Mecom Hussein1 Cooper Dodge); Augie Pabst (No. 25 Mecom Genie Mk.10 Chevrolet); Walt Hansgen (No. 26 Mecom Scarab Mk IV Chevrolet); Hap Sharp (No. 66 Chaparral 2A Chevrolet); Al Unser (No. 69 Arciero Bros. Lotus 23 B); John Cannon (No. 77 Elva Mk VII); Allen Grant (No. 81 Cheetah GT Chevrolet); Bob Johnson (No. 91 Shelby American McKee Mk III Ford); Richie Ginther (No. 92 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford); Bob Bondurant (No. 93 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford); Parnelli Jones (No. 94 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford); Ronnie Bucknum (No. 95 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford); Bobby Unser (No. 96 Arciero Bros. Lotus 19 Monte Carlo Chevrolet); Ed Leslie (No. 97 Shelby American Cooper Monaco Lang II Ford); Ken Miles (No. 98 Shelby American Cobra); John Morton (No. 99 Shelby American Lotus 23 B). All I can say, is wow, what a lineup!
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The stellar field takes the green, with McLaren (No. 2), Hansgen (No. 26) and Clark (No. 15) accelerating away up front.
The stellar field takes the green, with McLaren (No. 2), Hansgen (No. 26) and Clark (No. 15) accelerating away up front.
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Jim Clark qualified the notoriously fragile Team Lotus 30 Ford in third position, with all of his prodigious talent on full display.
Jim Clark qualified the notoriously fragile Team Lotus 30 Ford in third position, with all of his prodigious talent on full display.
(Getty Images)
Roger Penske put Jim Hall's Chaparral 2A Chevrolet fourth on the grid.
Roger Penske put Jim Hall's Chaparral 2A Chevrolet fourth on the grid.
(Getty Images)
Needless to say, the race action that day was intense. Here, Augie Pabst (No. 25 John Mecom Racing Genie Mk.10 Chevrolet) leads Bobby Unser (No. 96 Arciero Bros. Racing Lotus 19 Monte Carlo Chevrolet), Ronnie Bucknum (No. 95 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford), Parnelli Jones (No. 94 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford), Jim Clark (No. 15 Team Lotus 30 Ford) and Richie Ginther (No. 92 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford).
Needless to say, the race action that day was intense. Here, Augie Pabst (No. 25 John Mecom Racing Genie Mk.10 Chevrolet) leads Bobby Unser (No. 96 Arciero Bros. Racing Lotus 19 Monte Carlo Chevrolet), Ronnie Bucknum (No. 95 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford), Parnelli Jones (No. 94 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford), Jim Clark (No. 15 Team Lotus 30 Ford) and Richie Ginther (No. 92 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford).
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Jim Clark (No. 15 Team Lotus 30 Ford) made a lasting impression on American racing enthusiasts present that day.
Jim Clark (No. 15 Team Lotus 30 Ford) made a lasting impression on American racing enthusiasts present that day.
(Getty Images)
Bruce McLaren qualified his No. 2 Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd. McLaren Elva Mark 1 Oldsmobile in second to Dan Gurney (No. 19 Pacesetter Homes Lotus 19 B Ford), but Gurney was relegated to the back of the grid, so Bruce took over pole position for the start. Walt Hansgen (No. 26 John Mecom Racing Scarab Mk IV Chevrolet) started next to him on the front row.
Bruce McLaren qualified his No. 2 Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd. McLaren Elva Mark 1 Oldsmobile in second to Dan Gurney (No. 19 Pacesetter Homes Lotus 19 B Ford), but Gurney was relegated to the back of the grid, so Bruce took over pole position for the start. Walt Hansgen (No. 26 John Mecom Racing Scarab Mk IV Chevrolet) started next to him on the front row.
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Dan Gurney (No. 19 Pacesetter Homes Lotus 19 B Ford) had a disappointing run that weekend. He qualified on the pole but had to start at the back of the grid in 31st. He did not finish due to a broken suspension.
Dan Gurney (No. 19 Pacesetter Homes Lotus 19 B Ford) had a disappointing run that weekend. He qualified on the pole but had to start at the back of the grid in 31st. He did not finish due to a broken suspension.
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Quick as always, Walt Hansgen was a force to be reckoned with in his No. 26 Mecom Racing Scarab Mk IV Chevrolet. He did not finish due to an oil leak.
Quick as always, Walt Hansgen was a force to be reckoned with in his No. 26 Mecom Racing Scarab Mk IV Chevrolet. He did not finish due to an oil leak.
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Parnelli Jones and Ken Miles having a chat in the pits.
Parnelli Jones and Ken Miles having a chat in the pits.
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Bobby Unser in the No. 96 Arciero Bros. Racing Lotus 19 B Chevrolet. Bobby ran a respectable sixth, although he was three laps down at the finish.
Bobby Unser in the No. 96 Arciero Bros. Racing Lotus 19 B Chevrolet. Bobby ran a respectable sixth, although he was three laps down at the finish.
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The HEMI Dodge in the back of the No. 23 Mecom Racing Hussein 1 Cooper Dodge driven by A.J. Foyt.
The HEMI Dodge in the back of the No. 23 Mecom Racing Hussein 1 Cooper Dodge driven by A.J. Foyt.
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Parnelli Jones (No. 94 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford) delivered the win that day. Roger Penske (No. 6 Chaaprral 2A Chevrolet) finished second, 35 sec. behind Jones. Jim Clark (No. 15 Team Lotus 30 Ford) was third, Ed Leslie (No. 97 Shelby American Cooper Monaco Lang II Ford) fourth, Bob Bondurant (No. 93 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford) fifth, Bobby Unser (No. 96 Arciero Bros. Racing Lotus 19 Monte Carlo Chevrolet) sixth, and Richie Ginther (No. 92 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford) finished seventh, four laps down.
Parnelli Jones (No. 94 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford) delivered the win that day. Roger Penske (No. 6 Chaaprral 2A Chevrolet) finished second, 35 sec. behind Jones. Jim Clark (No. 15 Team Lotus 30 Ford) was third, Ed Leslie (No. 97 Shelby American Cooper Monaco Lang II Ford) fourth, Bob Bondurant (No. 93 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford) fifth, Bobby Unser (No. 96 Arciero Bros. Racing Lotus 19 Monte Carlo Chevrolet) sixth, and Richie Ginther (No. 92 Shelby American Cooper King Cobra Ford) finished seventh, four laps down.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG