Choisir un pays ou une région pour afficher le contenu spécifique à votre position géographique
13.09.2018
Dan Gurney was an American racing driver and a team owner who was very successful during the sixties. He won races in the Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, Can-Am, and Trans-Am Series. Gurney is the first of three drivers to have won races in Sports Cars (1958), Formula 1 (1962), NASCAR (1963), and IndyCar (1967). The other two are Mario Andretti and Juan Pablo Montoya. In 2016, Dan Gurney was named the 14th best pilot worldwide in the history of Formula 1.
Pleasant side note: In 1967, after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a team effort with A. J. Foyt, he spontaneously sprayed champagne while celebrating on the podium, which has since become a tradition at many motorsports events.
Successful in the States and around the world, Gurney decided to participate in the British Saloon Car Championship (BSCC) in 1961, hoping to beat the English Jaguars that had dominated the Championship… until then. He imported his own brand new 360 bhp stock car to the UK, only slightly modifying it with brake cooling and a Corvette anti-roll bar. He even left the radio in.
In Dan Gurney’s talented hands, the heavy American muscle car unexpectedly became a potential winner . His dominance in the race eventually led to a mysterious ban from the next race at Silverstone. Bitterly disappointed, Dan sold the car which was shipped to Australia shortly thereafter.
Ed Foster, deputy head of motorsport content at Goodwood, heard about the story, tracked down the Chevrolet Impala SS around the world, and acquired it earlier this year. He had it delivered to Jordan Racing Team (JRT) and asked them to return it to its exact specifications from Dan Gurney’s racing days, including its starting number ‘37’.
Touching UK soil for the first time since 1961 and fully restored, the car has made its comeback at this year’s Goodwood Revival. It had the honour of leading the St Mary’s Trophy cars onto the grid with three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti at the wheel.
Ed Foster shares the unique story about the Impala’s heritage:
Pictures : Jason Vian
