Goodwood
Hide TextThe American motor racing legend Dan Gurney was the subject of Goodwood’s annual driver tribute at the 2012 Goodwood Revival (14-16 September), coinciding with the 50th anniversary of his maiden Grand Prix victory.
A daily track parade included a variety of his most famous cars to honour the life and achievements of this incredible man, who achieved success as both a driver and team owner.
Two dozen cars directly associated with Gurney’s racing career paraded the Goodwood motor circuit each day, with the main tribute taking place on Revival Sunday, 16 September. These competition machines included examples of his celebrated Eagle grand prix and Indy racers, as well as Ferraris, Porsches, McLarens, Ford GTs and Cobras campaigned by the great man himself. At 1:20pm on Sunday 16th, Goodwood staged a spectacular tribute to Dan Gurney, full of the fanfare and theatre an all-American hero deserves!
Goodwood also lead a ‘Dan Gurney for President’ campaign with tongue planted firmly in cheek. This recalled the 1964 campaign that took place in the USA - instigated by Car and Driver magazine in its May 1964 edition - seeing this influential American motoring publication issuing bumper stickers to support this activity. Disenchanted with the 1964 US presidential election, the magazine decided to mount its own campaign for Gurney which really took off, with the ‘Dan Gurney for President’ bumper stickers appearing all over the Unites States at the time.
Goodwood ran its own campaign for this popular driver, including huge banners mounted on the pedestrian bridge crossing into the motor circuit from the Over The Road attractions and Revival Car Show. Goodwood Actors Guild (GAG) actors and charity volunteers also roamed the Revival site encouraging visitors to support our campaign by buying a pin badge or bumper sticker, with a £1 donation to charity for each.