Marrio Andretti
May 12, 2023 04:48:13 #
I have been looking for this photograph in my file for a long time I still have not found the original slide, However I did find a print that I had put into my portfolio a long time ago (1977).
Anyway I was invited as guest to the first Formula One Gran Prix in the streets of Long Beach CA. I was given a complete pit pass to do some photography for my friends who invited me. This was the year of the great battle of the Championship between John Hunt and Niki Lauda. They have made a movie about this battle between these two amazing drivers. Also a race between Ferrari and McLaren motor cars.
However I was always a fan of Mario Andretti and his style of driving. My favorite shot of him sitting ready in his race car waiting for the go ahead to enter the track. These were taken during the qualifying stages to determine what positions the drivers would have on race day. I was very exciting...
I will add a couple of shots of Hunt and Lauda as well as their cars.
Enjoy this blast from the past...
Bob
Anyway I was invited as guest to the first Formula One Gran Prix in the streets of Long Beach CA. I was given a complete pit pass to do some photography for my friends who invited me. This was the year of the great battle of the Championship between John Hunt and Niki Lauda. They have made a movie about this battle between these two amazing drivers. Also a race between Ferrari and McLaren motor cars.
However I was always a fan of Mario Andretti and his style of driving. My favorite shot of him sitting ready in his race car waiting for the go ahead to enter the track. These were taken during the qualifying stages to determine what positions the drivers would have on race day. I was very exciting...
I will add a couple of shots of Hunt and Lauda as well as their cars.
Enjoy this blast from the past...
Bob
May 12, 2023 05:46:52 #
We occasionally spotted James Hunt in our village when we lived close to Silverstone back in the ‘70’s. His friend ‘Bubbles’ Horsley was a neighbour and Hunt would visit. ‘Bubbles’ was the only non-family pall-bearer at Hunt’s funeral. Nicknamed ‘Hunt-the-Shunt’, he died at just 45years of age from a heart attack.
Thanks for a great set of photos.
Thanks for a great set of photos.
May 12, 2023 06:22:58 #
JR69
Loc: Wolverine Michigan
blue-ultra wrote:
I have been looking for this photograph in my file... (show quote)
Bob, Thanks for your effort in finding and posting these Great shots. Pleasant memories!! John
May 12, 2023 06:40:30 #
May 12, 2023 06:58:49 #
blue-ultra wrote:
I have been looking for this photograph in my file... (show quote)
Yes, Mario was quite a racer. His son Michael did well also. As many races as they both won, they never had the success they desired at the Indy 500. Mario won it only one time. They have homes in Nazareth, PA about six miles from where I live. We run across them at times -- once when I was pulling out from a bank near the house there was a long line of traffic and one driver waved me out to get in line. I noticed it was Michael driving his Porsche. Another time I went through a car wash and someone was detailing a white Vette at the end where cars exit the wash. I was going to pull up and ask what they would charge for detailing a car and saw it was Mario! Needless to say, I did not ask how much he would charge -- I just said hello, have a nice day.
Thanks for posting these shots. Nicely done.
May 12, 2023 07:09:36 #
I remember those names and scenes from when I was following racing. Nice shots.
May 12, 2023 07:46:51 #
May 12, 2023 16:14:39 #
blue-ultra wrote:
I have been looking for this photograph in my file... (show quote)
The viewer can feel the air laden with electricity
May 12, 2023 16:32:45 #
May 13, 2023 10:00:24 #
Great photos. Lauda was my favorite driver in that era. Mario was an exceptional driver as well. And his JPS livery was arguably the best looking.
May 13, 2023 11:07:35 #
May 13, 2023 19:23:03 #
Wonderful images, thanks for posting Bob. You must have a some kinda day!
Don
Don
May 13, 2023 22:08:36 #
Effate
Loc: El Dorado Hills, Ca.
Nice shots, can’t believe how crude the full face helmets were back then. In the early 70’s we used to screw a football face guard on a Bell helmet for Moto Cross. Last shot looks like hunt has a Graham Nash looking crew member.
May 16, 2023 12:22:30 #
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