Re: I talked to Dan Gurney about GPL!

"EldredP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > I met Mario Andretti last year at the Detroit GP. He acted like a dick, > though. He seemed pissed that I didn't buy something just to get his > autograph. If I was an autograph collector, I might have. Since I'm not,I > didn't... He was all about the money, and not about the *fans*... :( > > Eldred > -- > Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 > Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc You must understand though, when a racing driver is at a track, he is at work. Even a retired racing driver<g>. I don't know what you do for a living, but I'll bet that if a boatload of tourists waddled up to your desk, armed with cameras and pens and the same inane questions you've heard every day for 30 years, you'd be a little edgy too. True, there is an element of celebrity involved and a driver has to play that game to some extent, but it gets old after a while. These guys are only human and have their good days as well as their bad, just like the rest of us, which leads me to my Mario story. I hated the bastard<g> for years because the first time I met him he had just knocked my favorite F5000 driver, Brian Redman, off the pole at Ontario Motor Speedway. Of course, like most American race fans, when Mario went off to F1, I felt he could do no wrong. Watching him win at Long Beach against Lauda and Scheckter is still one of the highlights of my racing experience. Later I had a chance to meet Mario away from the track, he used a photograph of mine in one of his books, and he was a perfect gentleman, charming and very disarming, but very business like, no bs. Mario has added a great deal to our sport and gets a great deal of respect in my book. I've met my fair share of drivers over the years, my step-dad raced sports cars in the 50's against Gurney and Ginther and the west coast crowd. I was brought up around those guys so it was never a big deal...if I'd known then what I know now<vbg>...hell, my girlfriend used to baby sit Dan and Eva's kids, Alex and Dan(don't call me Danny)Junior. They were just the Gurney family, down the block! One of the best days I ever spent with a driver was with Danny Sullivan, two weeks after he had won Indy. I worked for a commercial photographer in LA and we were shooting Sully for some hair care product, "cashing in" as he said<g>. He was still buzzing from his win, I think you could have told him his dog had died and he wouldn't have stopped grinning! He told me it was just beginning to hit him, that he had won the lotto, hit the big one, he'd won at Indianapolis! Dan's is the only autograph I ever asked for, I had the Autoweek from his 500 win in my car and just couldn't resist having him sign the "Spin and Win" cover. Now you have to go through layers of PR people(scum) and handlers to get to most racers, but it's a big time professional sport now. Imagine trying to get to Shaq while he's sitting on the bench during a game, they'd haul your ass off to the greybar hotel. I'd say we race fans still have it pretty good, most racers if approached correctly, are pretty tolerant of race fans and realize how important that reationship is to the future of the sport. Oh, and I guess I should make this sim related<g>. GPL was released here on a thursday and I picked it up that night on the way home, As I was leaving early in the morning to shoot the CART race in Fontana, I only had enough time to load the CD, set the controls and sample a few of the cars and tracks. Friday evening I ran into Gurney in the garage area and asked him if he knew of the game. He had heard about it of course, they had to get his permission to use his name, but he let the lawyers handle the deal and had not seen it. He seemed skeptical that a simulation of something that happened so long ago would hold any general interest, and in retrospect, he was probably right. All the more remarkable that GPL ever got made. Sorry for rambling on so...it's just that racers are some of my favorite people...away from the track. At the race track... well you never know if you're going to get Jekyl or Hyde, just try to excercise a little common sense and you will find most drivers very approachable. -- don New GPL Program Covers for Converted Tracks: http://www.ianparker1.clara.co.uk/clara.net/i/a/n/ianparker1/webspace/gpl/

EldredP, I had a 180 degree different impression of Mario. It was Dutch GP 1981.(The previous day I saw Mario crash heavily at Zandvoort (the downhill part leading to Scheivlak(?)). He was carried to the ambulance). While waiting at the gate for the flight to London I hear this voice(!) asking me about the gate, I spun around and blurted out "How's your foot!?" He just brushed that off like it was nothing. Later, flying to JFK on the *C*! -I sure miss those pre retirement days sometimes :) Mario was seated near me and I witnessed the following: a father with a couple of kids in tow asked Mario if he would like to meet them. A few minutes later I looked across the aisle and honest to god I saw Mario playing cat's cradle with those two little boys! arcman EldredP wrote: > <snip>

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> > I met Mario Andretti last year at the Detroit GP. He acted like a dick, > though. He seemed pissed that I didn't buy something just to get his > autograph. If I was an autograph collector, I might have. Since I'm not, I > didn't... He was all about the money, and not about the *fans*... :( > > Eldred > -- > Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 > Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc > > Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you > with experience... > Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Todd Walker) writes: >WOW, you met Gurney. That is pretty incredible. I met Don Garlits at a >drag race once but that is the closest to a driving legend that I have >come. Gurney is truly a legend and you should feel honored to have met >him. Great stuff!!!! > >TW I met Mario Andretti last year at the Detroit GP. He acted like a dick, though. He seemed pissed that I didn't buy something just to get his autograph. If I was an autograph collector, I might have. Since I'm not, I didn't... He was all about the money, and not about the *fans*... :( Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Closest I ever came to meeting a racing legend was one time at the CART NJGP of the Medowlands (remember that track?). It was after the race and it was pouring down rain and who should we see coming the other way...Cheif Steward Wally Dallenbach. Hes actually a friend of the family as my father and grandfather worked on his pitcrew in the 70s. However it was still quite fun to meet someone of his stature. Chris

1997? Ah, those dark ages we lived in, pre-GPL :o) rik anthrax wrote: > He's awesome isn't he? I was at the US500 in 97, at the winners circle fan > club meeting had a front row seat, and the drivers didn't show. Safety > meeting. Gurney was kind enough to come down and treat us to 1 hour of > F1/CART/irl talk. Some of his stories were priceless, and he's got a great > sense of humor. > Rik

Nicest Racer I met was Scott Goodyear, thats one nice person. :-) Lets see if he can win the 500. ------------------------------------ | _ | | o-| |-o | | |o| | | 0-|--|-0 | | | | | http://Swtwok.00game.com

He's awesome isn't he? I was at the US500 in 97, at the winners circle fan club meeting had a front row seat, and the drivers didn't show. Safety meeting. Gurney was kind enough to come down and treat us to 1 hour of F1/CART/irl talk. Some of his stories were priceless, and he's got a great sense of humor. Rik

Did he [Gurney] complain about John Surtees at all? Todd Walker <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> WOW, you met Gurney. That is pretty incredible. I met Don Garlits at a > drag race once but that is the closest to a driving legend that I have > come. Gurney is truly a legend and you should feel honored to have met > him. Great stuff!!!! > > TW > >

Did anyone see Mika Hakkinen stick his hand in the air in sundays race? well he was waving at me. nah! :-p

I met Dan Gurney in the airport at San Francisco after the 1965 or '66 Can Am at Laguna Seca (may have still been the USRRC then, I can't remember). He and Parnelli Jones and crew were just walking around and Gurney walked off by himself, so I approached him and talked with him for a few minutes. We talked about his drive that day (short, as his Weslake-headed engine blew itself up about 1/4 through the race). I had always admired him before this, but afterward, he was a damn hero to me, and still is. John

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>"EldredP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:[email hidden]... >> I met Mario Andretti last year at the Detroit GP. He acted like a dick, >> though. He seemed pissed that I didn't buy something just to get his >> autograph. If I was an autograph collector, I might have. Since I'm not, >I >> didn't... He was all about the money, and not about the *fans*... :( >> >> Eldred >> -- >> Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 >> Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc > > >You must understand though, when a racing driver is at a track, he is at >work. Even a retired racing driver<g>. I don't know what you do for a >living, but I'll bet that if a boatload of tourists waddled up to your desk, >armed with cameras and pens and the same inane questions you've heard every >day for 30 years, you'd be a little edgy too. True, there is an element of >celebrity involved and a driver has to play that game to some extent, but it >gets old after a while. These guys are only human and have their good days >as well as their bad, just like the rest of us, which leads me to my Mario >story. I hated the bastard<g> for years because the first time I met him he >had just knocked my favorite F5000 driver, Brian Redman, off the pole at >Ontario Motor Speedway. Of course, like most American race fans, when Mario >went off to F1, I felt he could do no wrong. Watching him win at Long Beach >against Lauda and Scheckter is still one of the highlights of my racing >experience. Later I had a chance to meet Mario away from the track, he used >a photograph of mine in one of his books, and he was a perfect gentleman, >charming and very disarming, but very business like, no bs. Mario has added >a great deal to our sport and gets a great deal of respect in my book. > > >Now you have to go through layers of PR people(scum) and handlers to get to >most racers, but it's a big time professional sport now. Imagine trying to >get to Shaq while he's sitting on the bench during a game, they'd haul your >ass off to the greybar hotel. I'd say we race fans still have it pretty >good, most racers if approached correctly, are pretty tolerant of race fans >and realize how important that reationship is to the future of the sport. > >Sorry for rambling on so...it's just that racers are some of my favorite >people...away from the track. At the race track... well you never know if >you're going to get Jekyl or Hyde, just try to excercise a little common >sense and you will find most drivers very approachable. >

Uh, he was in the Andretti merchandising trailer at the time. Which means he was *supposed* to be greeting the fans at the time. It's not like I caught him in the pits and insisted that he talk to me... All I wanted to do was shake his hand, and tell him how honored I was to meet him. His expression was like "So fucking what?" Scratch one fan... Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

EldredP wrote: > > I met Mario Andretti last year at the Detroit GP. He acted like a dick, > though. He seemed pissed that I didn't buy something just to get his > autograph. If I was an autograph collector, I might have. Since I'm not, I > didn't... He was all about the money, and not about the *fans*... :( > Really? I've seen him the past 2 years there, in the Paddock area. He always came off really nice there. Very friendly & jovial. Did you see him instead at the souvenir truck? Maybe that's the difference... Three & a half more weeks to another Detroit GP!! I'll be at T3. -- Chuck Kandler #70 K&S Racing http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/thepits/195 Your freedom's just a state of mind. --Gene Simmons From the song "War Machine", 1982

I will concur with you. I had dinner with him and his wife at the 92 Indy he is one classy guy! Pete "Tony StewartNo20" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Nicest Racer I met was Scott Goodyear, thats one nice person. :-) Lets seeif

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> he can win the 500. > > ------------------------------------ > | _ | > | o-| |-o | > | |o| | > | 0-|--|-0 | > | | > | | > > http://Swtwok.00game.com

>Nicest Racer I met was Scott Goodyear, thats one nice person. :-) Lets seeif >he can win the 500. I've met Mario (and was too awestruck to say anything). The nicest driver I've ever met was Alessandro Zanardi. My wife (a huge Alex fan) and I went to a Target in-store signing in Houston two years ago (before the inaugural Havoline GP) and I watched my lucid, capable wife turn into a blushing schoolgirl when she met Zanardi. A few days later, she was taking pictures in the paddock area* when Alex was once again signing autographs before the race. He looked over at her and said, "I remember you. You're the pretty lady who blushed and didn't say anything." He invited her to take a picture with him, but she had just run out of film, so he kissed her hand and thanked her for being his fan. That, in my opinion, was class. *the paddock area in Houston is inside the convention center. The $25.00 paddock pass is the best deal of the weekend. Theron Bretz Houston, TX

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>In article <[email hidden]>, >[email hidden] says... >> Uh, he was in the Andretti merchandising trailer at the time. Which means >he >> was *supposed* to be greeting the fans at the time. It's not like I caught >him >> in the pits and insisted that he talk to me... >> All I wanted to do was shake his hand, and tell him how honored I was to >meet >> him. His expression was like "So fucking what?" >> Scratch one fan... > >I met him at E3 and he was a bit like that, although I may have gone the >wrong way by telling him I didn't want his autograph, just to ask a few >questions. Can't see the point of an autograph. > >I suppose 30-40 years of this sort of thing have worn him down. Still, >it's not like anyone forces him to do these events. > >And also, why should we expect racing drivers to be nice people? It's not >a requirement for the job. > >- Michael

No, it isn't a requirement for the job of race driver. It's just good public relations... Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says... > Uh, he was in the Andretti merchandising trailer at the time. Which means he > was *supposed* to be greeting the fans at the time. It's not like I caught him > in the pits and insisted that he talk to me... > All I wanted to do was shake his hand, and tell him how honored I was to meet > him. His expression was like "So fucking what?" > Scratch one fan... I met him at E3 and he was a bit like that, although I may have gone the wrong way by telling him I didn't want his autograph, just to ask a few questions. Can't see the point of an autograph. I suppose 30-40 years of this sort of thing have worn him down. Still, it's not like anyone forces him to do these events. And also, why should we expect racing drivers to be nice people? It's not a requirement for the job. - Michael

In article <[email hidden]>, Chuck Kandler <[email hidden]> writes:

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>> I met Mario Andretti last year at the Detroit GP. He acted like a dick, >> though. He seemed pissed that I didn't buy something just to get his >> autograph. If I was an autograph collector, I might have. Since I'm not, >I >> didn't... He was all about the money, and not about the *fans*... :( >> > >Really? I've seen him the past 2 years there, in the Paddock area. He >always came off really nice there. Very friendly & jovial. Did you see >him instead at the souvenir truck? Maybe that's the difference... >Three & a half more weeks to another Detroit GP!! I'll be at T3.

Yep, it was at the souvenir truck. I don't think that's any excuse, though. Maybe I'll see you at the track - do you go for the Free Prix Day? I won't be at the race itself. Not at the moment, anyway... Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

I have met Mario many times at CART races and have never seen him be anything but gracious and pleasant. He seems genuinely happy these days....and loves kids, a kid can get anything from him. I have met pretty much all of the CART drivers since 96...nicest? Definitely Alex Z, Jimmy V and Adrian F. Not so nicest? Greg Moore (rookie season, he defiantly relaxed in 98, and Dario. D "Theron Bretz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:uMCW4.1339$[email hidden]... > >Nicest Racer I met was Scott Goodyear, thats one nice person. :-) Letssee > if > >he can win the 500. > > > I've met Mario (and was too awestruck to say anything). The nicest driver > I've ever met was Alessandro Zanardi. My wife (a huge Alex fan) and Iwent > to a Target in-store signing in Houston two years ago (before theinaugural > Havoline GP) and I watched my lucid, capable wife turn into a blushing > schoolgirl when she met Zanardi. A few days later, she was takingpictures > in the paddock area* when Alex was once again signing autographs beforethe > race. He looked over at her and said, "I remember you. You're the pretty > lady who blushed and didn't say anything." He invited her to take apicture

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> with him, but she had just run out of film, so he kissed her hand and > thanked her for being his fan. That, in my opinion, was class. > > *the paddock area in Houston is inside the convention center. The $25.00 > paddock pass is the best deal of the weekend. > > Theron Bretz > Houston, TX > > > >

EldredP wrote:

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> > In article <[email hidden]>, Chuck Kandler <[email hidden]> > writes: > > >> I met Mario Andretti last year at the Detroit GP. He acted like a dick, > >> though. He seemed pissed that I didn't buy something just to get his > >> autograph. If I was an autograph collector, I might have. Since I'm not, > >I > >> didn't... He was all about the money, and not about the *fans*... :( > >> > > > >Really? I've seen him the past 2 years there, in the Paddock area. He > >always came off really nice there. Very friendly & jovial. Did you see > >him instead at the souvenir truck? Maybe that's the difference... > >Three & a half more weeks to another Detroit GP!! I'll be at T3. > > Yep, it was at the souvenir truck. I don't think that's any excuse, though.

No excuse, no. But more likely there. Must have been a bad day, that's not usually him... > > Maybe I'll see you at the track - do you go for the Free Prix Day? I won't be > at the race itself. Not at the moment, anyway... Yep! In fact, I should be there all 3 days for once. Thanx to my teammate!! Look for a couple fat guys... -- Chuck Kandler #70 K&S Racing http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/thepits/195 Your freedom's just a state of mind. --Gene Simmons From the song "War Machine", 1982

Well Mario must have changed over the years. My father and I met him at Road America in 1987 and he was very nice and generous with his time. Dave

Tony StewartNo20 <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Nicest Racer I met was Scott Goodyear, thats one nice person. :-) Lets seeif > he can win the 500. I met Gurney years ago at Bridgehampton, New York, but Mark Donahue was without question the nicest and friendliest driver I've ever had the pleasure to meet. Joel Willstein

In article <[email hidden]>, Chuck Kandler <[email hidden]> writes:

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>> Maybe I'll see you at the track - do you go for the Free Prix Day? I won't >be >> at the race itself. Not at the moment, anyway... > > >Yep! In fact, I should be there all 3 days for once. Thanx to my >teammate!! Look for a couple fat guys... >

Oh, that narrows it down to a few thousand...<g> Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.