1973 USAC National Championship - History

Quote :

Now I'm eager to track down that photo

Now Jason will want to model it  

Unfortunately, Al put the car into the fence in practice -- which is well documented in the vintage films that are out there.

http://www.raresportsfilms.com/1973indilong.html

Alberto Ibañez wrote:

Quote :

Now I'm eager to track down that photo

Now Jason will want to model it  

Hard luck Loquasto cropped out of his own car photo!

I believe that's Gary B with the sunglasses 

Yes he is, the picture title said "Gary B and Mark Donohue helping Al Loquasto"

Drivers in their cockpits at Indy

http://whatmydadsaw.blogspot.com/


Mark Donohue


Johnny Rutherford




Peter Revson


Mike Hiss


David Hobbs


Bob Harkey


Bobby Allison


Joe Leonard 


Swede Savage




Bobby Unser

Dana Schurer wrote:

Gary B's rocking some proper racing shoes there!

Gary B looking bad ass in Gasoline Alley 
I believe that is Mel Kenyon in the yellow jacket.

Great history post Jason.
We'll sleep less stupid tonight.

I like that on the Bob Harkey picture, they didn't put his name on the car, it still has Mel Kenyon from the Texas race. 

Unless he practiced in Mel's Eagle at some point 

Richard Coxon wrote:

I like that on the Bob Harkey picture, they didn't put his name on the car, it still has Mel Kenyon from the Texas race. 

Unless he practiced in Mel's Eagle at some point 

It is indeed the Kenyon Coyote from the Texas 200; you can tell by the big triangular headrest 

Race Day 1973  (autolit photos)

Gordon Kirby with an article on 70's Indycar racing just today: http://gordonkirby.com/categories/columns/theway/2016/the_way_it_is_no532.html

You gotta love these cars, the gas pedal is like the fast forward button on your DVD

That on the video is Philippe de Lespinay's car, restored and on display at the Riverside museum. I contacted him for tecnical info when doing the mod

Here is his blog regarding the restoration of the car, and the invitation to Bobby Unser for the inaugural run after being completed:

http://www.tsrfcars.com/toys-full_size_eagle_2012.htm

Actual speeds from the 1973 Indianapolis 500 qualifying. Fun to compare your own times with. I was pretty close to A.J's speed!

Spoiler:

Vuky, eat your heart out

There's no risk of me repeating my cars 9th fastest time.

The actual front row for the 1973 Indy 500, as seen on a post card.
Johnny Rutherford on pole, Bobby Unser in the middle, and Mark Donohue on the outside.

Juha Bos wrote:

There's no risk of me repeating my cars 9th fastest time.

The laptimes show that sometimes it was more the driver than the car who reached the limit or that teams did eventually an all-out effort. It is likely that Martin did some exceptional driving with big balls to be in the show, and the team was willing to risk blowing the engine and screwed the pressure up enough. In turn, other drivers with good cars failed miserably and produced horrible laptimes, or didn't even qualify (Yes Sam that is you).

Martin's McLaren was actually Johncocks McLaren from 1972, so it was a decent car and ran by a crack team to begin with.

Next update I will give it a better engine, then  

Sorry for now Juha

It's only mine for this race, I won't lose sleep over it.

I believe Philippe de Lespinay's Eagle 72 is not an "Original" car. It was built in the Early 2000's by AAR specifically for him.

Jason Fitch wrote:

I believe Philippe de Lespinay's Eagle 72 is not an "Original" car. It was built in the Early 2000's by AAR specifically for him.

Yes AFAIK that one and the "Mistery Eagle" replica were built out of spare parts from AAR, but for the chassis core I'm not sure if the latter was actually a recovered one.