Wow! "The Captain" Roger Penske in 1964 taken the movie audience for a one lap tour. Roger hasn't change his style of talking all these decades. Very classic SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) racing autos that makes this historic track way back when look like a vacation site. The drivers of that time and racing teams have that feel of excitement...in a much simpler form of looks and rules. Indianapolis driver in sports car series, Bud Gates. That man had a car dealership back in the 1960's and '70's.
Man, I can barely recognize turn 3 at .49, now THAT is a scenic country drive, the ride along with Roger too. One of my favorite "Glory Days" episodes on ESPN2 with Dave Dispain was the 1965 RA 500. Complete with the flagman smoking on pit lane, and 'Hoss' (from Bonanza) fueling his car with a milk jug.. Anyway, this is just as entertaining, great upload, thanks for sharing.
There's a Ferrari Testa Rossa in the field....what do you figure, it's a 1957/58? I so miss the days when cars weren't immediately obsolete the next year...it allowed normal people (like me) to see cars spanning sometimes a decade in the same starting lineup.
I was one. Back straight (fastest part of course I was told) into a slightly downhill 120 degree left hand slightly uphill turn. Except for actually driving in the race, this was the definition of FUN.
The part @7:17 of the interview with Walt Hansgen: He was the mentor to race driver Mark Donohue; whom was the driver that was there for Roger Penske's early era successes in motorsports.
Just think if those turns were banked at 40 degrees. Unfortunately, racing like this doesn't happen in the U.S any more. Pity. I long for the days of Real Cars and Real Gasoline returning.
Well yeah, there's that in addition to occasional wildlife crossings, keeping you alert. That's part of the reason for the whole damn track now surrounded by ugly chain link.
You had to be a REAL race car driver back then - Chaparrals were passing Volvo P1800's (Rutan?) , Elva Porsches were racing Ferrari 275LM's and there was NO WHINING.
Jeez, as 'recently' as the mid 80's the 500 was still around with the legendary Camel GT series screaming through the woods. Once I dozed off in the carousel back when it was empty - NOTHING to do with adult beverages - got a couple hours in and still had what would be a full race today left to enjoy, hahaha.
Wow! "The Captain" Roger Penske in 1964 taken the movie audience for a one lap tour. Roger hasn't change his style of talking all these decades. Very classic SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) racing autos that makes this historic track way back when look like a vacation site.
The drivers of that time and racing teams have that feel of excitement...in a much simpler form of looks and rules.
Indianapolis driver in sports car series, Bud Gates. That man had a car dealership back in the 1960's and '70's.
Man, I can barely recognize turn 3 at .49, now THAT is a scenic country drive, the ride along with Roger too. One of my favorite "Glory Days" episodes on ESPN2 with Dave Dispain was the 1965 RA 500. Complete with the flagman smoking on pit lane, and 'Hoss' (from Bonanza) fueling his car with a milk jug.. Anyway, this is just as entertaining, great upload, thanks for sharing.
I was there as a 12 y/o kid. This is great to see, like a time machine- thanks so much for posting it!
I love how it looks like just a drive in the country. No Armco, no fences, no rumble strips. True road racing.
Drivers driving two different cars in the same race- wild!
There's a Ferrari Testa Rossa in the field....what do you figure, it's a 1957/58? I so miss the days when cars weren't immediately obsolete the next year...it allowed normal people (like me) to see cars spanning sometimes a decade in the same starting lineup.
Roger Penske is mostly known for his successful racing teams, but he used to be a racing driver too.
I was on the Mecom team that year..
Corner workers got some serious nads.
I was one. Back straight (fastest part of course I was told) into a slightly downhill 120 degree left hand slightly uphill turn. Except for actually driving in the race, this was the definition of FUN.
The part @7:17 of the interview with Walt Hansgen: He was the mentor to race driver Mark Donohue; whom was the driver that was there for Roger Penske's early era successes in motorsports.
Look how bare it was
Just think if those turns were banked at 40 degrees. Unfortunately, racing like this doesn't happen in the U.S any more. Pity. I long for the days of Real Cars and Real Gasoline returning.
At 8.55 a glimpse of the Cheetah, Cro Sal Special with Ralph Salyer. He managed to finish 3rd in that car at Road America 500 in 1965.
The picturesque parts of the course that are tree-lined . . . or they could be looked upon as deadly vegetation when a car plows into them.
Well yeah, there's that in addition to occasional wildlife crossings, keeping you alert. That's part of the reason for the whole damn track now surrounded by ugly chain link.
You had to be a REAL race car driver back then - Chaparrals were passing Volvo P1800's (Rutan?) , Elva Porsches were racing Ferrari 275LM's and there was NO WHINING.
amazing too bad the longest race there now adays is only 2 hrs
Jeez, as 'recently' as the mid 80's the 500 was still around with the legendary Camel GT series screaming through the woods. Once I dozed off in the carousel back when it was empty - NOTHING to do with adult beverages - got a couple hours in and still had what would be a full race today left to enjoy, hahaha.
63 starters!
Racing for an astronomic $10,000
I think Roger may have been over estimating the speeds a tad.
should be 1965 edition, the Cobras are wearing the 1965 paint scheme
I was born next year lol
In 1965, you could buy a new Mustang GT with a HYPO 289 and a 4 speed transmission for $2,800.
Rodgers in the grand sport corvette 005