Nelson Ledges Chaplain Notes...September

"Remembering"

At the Monterey Historic races this year Dan Gurney was the very, very special guest of honor. His impact on the American and worldwide racing scene as a driver and constructor has been enormous. Reading the list of his cars is like a chart of the history of racing in the 1960's through the early 1990's. The 1962 Porsche that Dan drove to the first ever Grand Prix win for the illustrious marque was present. Lotus-Ford came to Indy where it dominated at Gurney’s urging and one was in appearance at Monterey. In 1967, Gurney won Le Mans with AJ Foyt in a stunning Ford MK IV that marked the only All American victory. The Henry Ford Museum in Detroit sent it West. No day remembering Daniel Sexton Gurney’s victories would be complete without the All American Eagle that he drove to the only F1 win for an American driver and constructor and the Gurney Westlake V 12 screamed through the Monterey hills. 

1970 saw the greatest year of the Trans Am series and as Dan moving away from driving the AAR Cuda in all its dark blue nastiness was spawned. It was loud and proud in Cali. In the early 1970’s the Indy Eagle went faster, then faster, then faster still and several graced the peninsula including the light blue Jorgensen Eagle that Bobby Unser drove to Gurney’s team’s 1975 victory at the 500.  The latest Eagles in attendance were the IMSA Toyota Eagles that won 17 straight races in the early 1990's.

But it is the memories of Dan’s races, whether experienced in person, on television or just through stories and pictures in a magazine that really stir the soul. Gurney and his Eagles and other race cars become sign posts pointing to the glory of their times.

God sends us signposts of who he is. From the beauty of a blue, orange, and mauve sunset to the stories of the Passover and the Cross, they point to His, the ultimate Glory. Our God is an Awesome God!

Chaplain Marvin Gray
Chapnlrc@aol.com