35 replies to this topic

[Gary Adams]

Dan Gurney, 1931-2018

[The Number of]

Sad and a great loss to motorsports.

[Dennis David]

What can I say but his loss is like a death in the family. An American hero.

[Phil Hackett]

Another giant gone... RIP, Dan Gurney, 2018.

[Rob Voska]

Legendary!

[Ecurie Martini]

I have the good fortune to have been hanging around motorsports long enough to have seen him drive on a number of occasions - one of the greats - RIP.

 

EM

[Tex]

RIP, Dan.

[Half Fast]

From the Gurney family:

 

“With one last smile on his handsome face, Dan drove off into the unknown just before noon today, January 14, 2018. In deepest sorrow, with gratitude in our hearts for the love and joy you have given us during your time on this earth, we say ‘Godspeed.’

 

“… Smell the sea and feel the sky,

Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic…”

 

RIP, All American Racer.

 

Tears,

[Steve Deiters]

Sad beyond words.

[Roy Lievanos]

Wow. I am sitting in front of Dan's AAR shop waiting for my wife so we can grab a late lunch at Burgerstop next to his shop and just read this. So sad. A true Legend.

[mike1972chev]

So sad .. Another legend gone...  :/

[idare2bdul]

Another of my heros gone. Watching Dan at Riverside was one of my first introductions to road racing. He taught me to value smooth driving.

[Tom Eatherly]

Wow! One of the greatest drivers of all time. A legend in American racing. RIP, Dan Gurney.

 

I'm thinking Gary Donahoe will be having a hard time with this. Damn.

[Jaeger Team]

A myth of my generation...

 

Targa Florio 1964.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[slotbaker]

Wow...

That's terrible news.

So sad.

Such a huge loss to the motorsport world.

My American hero has gone.

 

 

RIP, Mr D. S. Gurney.

[NSwanberg]

Go, Dan, Go! This one hurts.

[slotcarone]

Another one of our generation's heros gone!!

 

RIP, Dan!

[A. J. Hoyt]

One of my big inspirations to become a fan and participant of motorsport.

 

I got to see him drive to a respectful third place to fill out the podium for the juggernaut McLaren team (fittingly driving the orange number 1) at the Michigan Interational Speedway's only Can-Am race!

 

His visionary capability to create his own uniquely designed cars (open wheel at Indy and F1, then sedans and prototypes along with his very unique motorcycle - check that one out!), the wherewithal to build and develop them and the skill to drive anything prepared that well to the front of the field still inspires me to try to do the same with my racing, at whatever level I can participate.

 

He was always approachable and actually knew my name when my wife and I met him and his wife on the boat ride to Catalina Island one day; I have never felt more honored.

 

He will be missed and there will never be another like him!

 

Keep it in the slot (I'm sure he would have!),

 

AJ

[alainprost22]

One of my idols...  Dan led a good life... Great guy.

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

Probably the greatest all around racer ever. End of an era.

[Howie Ursaner]

This is a day of national mourning. Dan Gurney for President forever!

[Dave Crevie]

What can one say? I never met the man, but I watched him and his team work at Indy back in the Olsonite days. The most organized team I ever saw.

[Jean-Michel Piot]

A giant is gone...

[Steve Deiters]

Dan Gurney was more of a driving force in the "rear engine revolution" at Indy than he was ever really given credit for. His string of stock car wins at Riverside every winter is unprecedented and also very much unheralded. Also a string of strong runs with stock blocks at Indy when no one else ran them could have set the stage for another revolution, but the rule makers stepped in. The landmark "72 Eagle design and its successors for several years raised the bar to new heights.

 

I don't think we'll see the likes of the generation of auto racers that Dan Gurney was part off again in our lifetimes. He will be missed.

[Martin]

Well, that is really sad news.

 

He was a hero of mine for sure. Anybody who can build his own F1 car, go to Europe, and be competitive is a legend. Not to mention so many other milestones.He is a truly a one of a kind

 

I was lucky enough to have him sign a few thing while at a vintage meet a long time ago. While I had his attention, and while he was signing my Cox Gurney stock car I ask him whether the roof should be painted metallic red. 

 

Now remember there are dozens of fans lined up behind me and we are in the middle of the busy pits. But I will never forget the calm and focus he took to go through his memory and deduce, "The year before the car had been all metallic red so it made sense to him that they would have masked off the roof and painted the bottom white for that next year."

 

A small detail I know, but it was the time he took to get it correct.

 

He got a kick out of signing my copy of  Philippe's vintage slot cars book. Worth a second read of Dan's foreword in his honor. 

 

I will always be a fan.