Thursday, January 07, 2021

Dan Gurney 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner


I would like to thank Bill LaMantia who is a reader of Jake's Rolex World for sharing his amazing insight into the history of auto-racing, as well as providing the impetus for this amazing Rolex story...




...Rolex Super Coolness...


Dan Gurney

1967 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner

Stainless Steel Rolex Datejust

1931-2018





Dan Gurney was an American race car driver, race car designer, and team owner. With an amazing career dating back to 1958, he was considered to be one of the living God's of racing. Dan Gurney is pictured below after winning the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

His teammate for the race, A. J. Foyt is standing next to him. This photo is very famous as Dan Gurney did not drink alcohol, so when they won, he shook-up the champagne, and popped the cork and poured it all over the place–a tradition that he started, which continues to this day.




In the photo below, we see a close-up of Dan Gurney's Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet




The Ford GT40 that Dan Guryney and A.J. Foyt won the 24 Hours Of Le Mans in is pictured below. By the way, this is the first and only time an All-American team, driving an American car has ever won the 24 Hours Of Le Mans!!!






Dan Gurney's Le Mans Delta Wing

Dan Gurney remained active in sports car racing, and in 2012, his team was working on racing his experimental GT Class Delta Wing which is pictured below. Dan Gurney passed away on January 14, 2018 and left behind an amazing legacy of achievement.



Here is a Road & Track video that goes behind the scenes with Audi and Toyota drivers, including Tom Kristensen who is a Rolex Ambassador.