FAMOUS FRONT ROWS, PART VII.

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 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.

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Lexington, Ohio, June 1970. Mark Donohue (No. 6 Penske Racing Sunoco AMC Javelin) and Ed Leslie (No. 2 Chaparral Cars Chevrolet Camaro) lead the Trans-Am field at the start, followed by Parnelli Jones (No. 15 Bud Moore Engineering Ford Mustang Boss 302), George Follmer (No. 16 Bud Moore Engineering Ford Mustang Boss 302), Swede Savage (No. 42 All American Racers Plymouth Barracuda), Jim Hall (No. 1 Chaparral Cars Chevrolet Camaro), Sam Posey (No. 77 Autodynamics Dodge Challenger), Jerry Titus (No. 8 T-G Racing Pontiac Firebird), et al. Parnelli and George dominated, finishing 1-2 after battling each other for the entire race. Mark finished third.
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Circuit Park Zandvoort, June 23, 1963. Start of the Dutch Grand Prix with Jim Clark (No. 6 Team Lotus/Lotus 25 Climax V8, pole), Graham Hill (No. 12 Owen Racing Organization BRM P57 V8) and Bruce McLaren (No. 20 Cooper Car Company Cooper T66 Climax V8) on the front row. Jim Clark won that day, followed by Dan Gurney (No. 18 Brabham Racing Organization Brabham BT7 Climax V8) and John Surtees (No. 2 Scuderia Ferrari 156/63 V6).
(Sports Car Digest)
Sebring, Florida, March 27, 1965. The running start at the 12 Hours of Sebring, with Jim Hall (No. 3 Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2A Chevrolet), Bruce Jennings (No. 4 Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2A Chevrolet), Ken Miles (No. 11 Ford GT40) and Richie Ginther (No. 10 Ford GT40) sprinting to their cars at the front of the field. This was one of the most memorable 12 Hours of Sebring ever run. Known for "The Deluge" because a ferocious late-afternoon storm dumped 5" of rain on the circuit in just 30 minutes. Lap times slowed to ten minutes per lap and the pit lane was completely flooded with over a foot of water carrying wheels and tires away. It was incredible. Jim Hall, with co-driver Hap Sharp, won by four laps that day for the first big international win for the Chaparral Cars team. The Ken Miles/Bruce McLaren No. 11 Ford GT40 was second, and David Piper/Tony Maggs (No. 32 Ferrari 250 LM) finished third.
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Stardust Grand Prix Can-Am, Las Vegas, November 13, 1966. The last race of the inaugural Can-Am season took place at Stardust International Raceway, a circuit outside of Las Vegas. By then, the Can-Am had established itself as the racing series of the moment, with racing stars from all over the world eager to get in on the action. This shot captures the start, with Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) starting from the pole. Others visible: John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet), Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Racing McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet), Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) and Jackie Stewart (No. 43 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet). Surtees won that day, followed by Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Racing McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet) and Mark Donohue (No. 6 Penske Racing Sunoco Special Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet).
(Getty Images)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 30, 1963. Not the start, but a great action shot: Paul Goldsmith (No. 99 Demler Special Watson/Offy) leads Eddie Sachs (No. 9 Bryant Heating & Cooling Watson/Offy), Dan Gurney (No. 93 Team Lotus Powered By Ford), Jim Clark (No. 92 Team Lotus Powered By Ford), Allen Crowe (No. 35 Gabriel Shocker Trevis/Offy), Chuck Hulse (No. 10 Dean Van Lines Ewing/Offy) and Roger McCluskey (No. 14 Konstant Hot Watson/Offy). Parnelli Jones (No. 98 J.C. Agajanian Willard Battery Watson/Offy) won that day in a controversial finish. Parnelli's machine was visibly spewing oil from an oil tank at the end of the race, so much so that Colin Chapman furiously protested to the officials that Jones should be black-flagged. The officials, in a clear display of "Not Invented Here Home Cookin'" ignored Chapman's pleas and let the race play out, as is. Jones won, Clark was second and A.J. Foyt (No. 2 Sheraton/Thompson Trevis/Offy) finished third.

Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG