Jim Rathmann’s No. 4 1960 Indianapolis 500 winning Ken-Paul
Special Watson Offenhauser Roadster on display at the IMS Museum. (The Tomaso
collection)
Who’s it gonna be, Gordon Johncock or Rick Mears?
And Johncock takes it by a Nose!
Its old news now that Gordon Johncock died on
Sept 28th at the age of 90. With numerous obituaries and tributes having
already been written and posted, I’ll try going down a slightly different
track.
As I’d agree with The Pit Window’s Mike Silve’s
assessment for what one word would adequately describe Gordie’, being Gritty.
I’ll also agree that for Mwah, the 1973
Indianapolis 500 was it’s worst race of the modern era. With all of the tragedy
and weather delays. Always flashing back to the reminder of Gordon Johncock and
crew simply celebrating at a local Burger shop after visiting teammate Swede
Savage in Hospital.
Ironically, during my Diecast mania Dazes, I
purchased a 1:18 Carousel 1973 Gordon Johncock STP Eagle. Which sits in a
closet with other unboxed Diescast models…
Two other nuggets I wasn’t aware of were that
Johncock had won the 1976 USAC National Championship Trails title. Whilst
ironically could have become the first Four-times Indy 500 winner if only
“Lady-luck” hadn’t soured upon Him in 1966 and 1977!
Gordon
Johncock - Champion of Life
Thanks to Mike Silver’s mention of reading on
social media that only nine IndyCar drivers from the 1960’s remained, naturally
made me curious who they were?
According to Keith Johnson on X: “With the
death of Gordon Johncock, there are now only nine #Indy500 drivers still living
who drove in the race in the decade of the 1960s: Mario Andretti, Larry
Dickson, George Follmer, A.J. Foyt, (only driver from the 1950s) Mel Kenyon,
Johnny Rutherford, George Snider, Jackie Stewart and Bruce Walkup.”
While the name Larry Dixon didn’t ring any
bells for Mwah, Cornfuzing Him with Larry Rice.
Hands up! Who’s ever heard of Bruce Walkup? As
I certainly never had before wanting to know who the nine remaining Indy 500
drivers from the 1960’s were? Although feel somewhat “Smug” recognizing seven names.
Mike Silver also noted that with Gordie’s
passing, there are now only three living Indianapolis 500 winners to have
driven both front and rear engine machinery. With A.J. Foyt leading the way,
followed by Mario Andretti and Lone Star Jr, aka Johnny Rutherford.
But those are just winners. As I spent a fair
chunk ‘O time trying to learn what type of racecar George Snider drove upon his
USAC National Championship Trail series debut in 1964. Where surely, He was
driving a front engine Roadster in the Bobby Ball Memorial at Phoenix
International Raceway that day? Learning indeed “Ziggy,” Snider’s nickname, was
behind the wheel of a 1963 Watson D 5 Offenhauser. So there’s at least four
Championship Car front engine drivers still alive…
Since I swear I
once scribbled somewhere here upon No Fenders about a total of nine front
engine USAC era champ Car drivers being alive
As the Roadster era of 1948-1964 marked the
passing of the torch between Pre-War (WWII) racecars to the advent of the rear
engine racing car. Arguably with the 1960 Indianapolis 500 duel between Jim
Rathmann and Rodger Ward in identical Watson Offenhauser Roadsters being their
zenith.
Not to mention arguably one of the greatest
races ever, with some 20 passes for the lead between the two combatants. Only
broken off by Ward’s needing to slow to prevent blowing his front tyre three
laps from race’s end!
Another
look at the Indy Roadster era
While my two favourite memories of Johncock are
that epic duel against Rick Mears enroute to his second Indianapolis 500 win in
1982. And the Speedway honouring Gordie with a retro Baby Borg trophy on the
50th anniversary of his debutante Indy 500 win. Where the dress code for the
75-80 people gathered was Johncock flannel, in homage to his farm and Lumber-mill
heritage…
Remembering
Gordon Johncock: The unvarnished legend with a Heavy right foot
Photo C/O No Fenders Offical’ Photographer CARPETS’
