Post by bobjeffreson on Dec 18, 2013 4:56:57 GMT 10
Back when the world was a different place, things like this happened. In 1959 US speedway star Roger Ward, entered the US F1 Grand Prix at Sebring Florida, in a Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser dirt track midget. He was racing against the major F1 factory teams from Europe.
Some video from the race...
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=1959%20us%20gp%20video&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDcQtwIwAg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmyspace.com%2F360745083%2Fvideo%2F1959-u.s.-grand-prix-by-bob-mclean-%2F62103087&ei=m5-wUp2tK_G0iQfO1oDACQ&usg=AFQjCNErvi6Rw-xHNNsyHy9w7TenTIq_VA&sig2=yu3Zeu_NLw6CF6IPsg0w9g
Press report from the race.
One of the entrants was American Rodger Ward, a former Indianapolis 500 winner. With a uniquely American brand of hubris, Ward arrived at the race confident his 1.75-liter speedway midget car would carry him to victory. His car was not exactly cutting edge. For some reason, the disc breaks were lever operated. To further keep his hands off the wheel, he had a two-speed gearbox mated to a twin-speed rear axle, both individually operated by hand levers.[3] By the end of practice, Ward’s confidence would have been absolutely and utterly destroyed. Stirling Moss’ best qualifying lap was 3:00.00.[4] Rodger Ward best lap was a whopping 43 seconds off Moss’ pace
Some video from the race...
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=1959%20us%20gp%20video&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDcQtwIwAg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmyspace.com%2F360745083%2Fvideo%2F1959-u.s.-grand-prix-by-bob-mclean-%2F62103087&ei=m5-wUp2tK_G0iQfO1oDACQ&usg=AFQjCNErvi6Rw-xHNNsyHy9w7TenTIq_VA&sig2=yu3Zeu_NLw6CF6IPsg0w9g
Press report from the race.
One of the entrants was American Rodger Ward, a former Indianapolis 500 winner. With a uniquely American brand of hubris, Ward arrived at the race confident his 1.75-liter speedway midget car would carry him to victory. His car was not exactly cutting edge. For some reason, the disc breaks were lever operated. To further keep his hands off the wheel, he had a two-speed gearbox mated to a twin-speed rear axle, both individually operated by hand levers.[3] By the end of practice, Ward’s confidence would have been absolutely and utterly destroyed. Stirling Moss’ best qualifying lap was 3:00.00.[4] Rodger Ward best lap was a whopping 43 seconds off Moss’ pace