[Fot] Fw: Best spectator vintage event

Thu Apr 2 13:19:19 MDT 2015

Hi Bill.  Might have been Brian Furstenau. He was the engineering brains behind the group, but always in the background.  Died a number of years ago.  In the early 60's he drove a TR-3 (number 33, before Bob Sharp got that number), while Tullius drove the TR-4 (number 44).  I'm thinking that was when the TR-3 and TR-4 were in the same class, briefly, before the TR-4 got moved up.  John Kelly also drove with the group, but that doesn't look like him in the picture.  There was also a guy from Kansas (I think his name was Mike Garrett?) who raced with the group.  That might have been him in the picture.
Also, I was looking through one of my Carroll Shelby books ("Shelby's Wildlife"), and see reference once again to FOTer Dick Stockton competing in the 1970 ARRC in a BP 289 Cobra.  Dick did some dyno work and flow bench work for me back in the early 80's.  Good guy!
Jack

      From: "billdentin at aol.com" <billdentin at aol.com>
 To: jwheeler1947 at yahoo.com 
 Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2015 10:30 AM
 Subject: Re: [Fot] Fw: Best spectator vintage event

From: Jack Wheeler <jwheeler1947 at yahoo.com>
To: Bill Dentinger <BillDentin at aol.com>
Cc: fot <fot at autox.team.net>
Sent: Thu, Apr 2, 2015 7:21 am
Subject: Re: [Fot] Fw: Best spectator vintage event
   I have a great memory of Janet Guthrie.  One of the first races I ever attended was the "Glen 500" at Watkins Glen.  It was The Glen's attempt at something like the Trans Am, before the Trans Am existed.  They lumped all AP, BP, CP and DP cars together in one race, called the Glen 500.  It was held in conjunction with an SCCA National race weekend.  Bob Tullius was there in a TR-4, and Janet Guthrie was driving a Jag XK-140.     I worked at the local radio station in Corning during high school, so I was able to get pit passes.  While I was in the pits, watching the action, Janet Guthrie pulled into the pits.  This was about half way through the race (or more).  One of the crew ran over to the car, and I could hear Janet say, "we don't have any oil pressure", to which the crew man responded, "the oil pressure gauge hasn't worked all day, get back out there!"   I thought Mike Cook's recent post captured Janet's well rounded (you should excuse the expression) character.  For sure she was far more than just a unique racer.
     I thought this was funny, but no dis-respect to Janet.  She was a real pioneer in our sport.  I still have the race program from that race in 1964, and in addition to Janet Guthrie, there were some big names in that race.  Bob Nagel and Ed Lowther in an AC Cobra, Don Yenko and Dick Thompson in a Corvette, Bob Grossman in a Corvette, and Hal Keck in a Cobra.  Bob Tullius did well in the TR-4.  About 2/3 of the way through the race, he was running in the top 3 or 4 with the Corvettes and Cobras, when his engine gave out.  They had replaced the engine the night before the race, so he was running a brand new engine in the race, with no break in time.  I'm going from memory here, and this was over 50 years ago, but I think I am generally correct on this.  Obviously, it had a big impact on me.   Tullius used to give engine prep tips to Mike Belfer from time to time, and often Mike, a true mechanic, would react with, "My goodness!  Will the engine be able to stand for that?"  Tullius would grin and say, "It will for twenty-five minutes."  Bob is to be the Grand Marshall of the Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival at Road America in September.  I won't be racing, but sure hope to be there.
      By the way, one more note.  FOT's own Dick Stockton was in a race earlier in the day for C, D, E and F Modified, called the "Glen Trophy".  Dick drove a Ferrari in F Modified.  Interesting what you can find in these old race programs.Amen to that.  I've raced in sessions with Dick Stockton from time to time down through the years and used to wave at him as he went by.  He went FAST!
     Warmest personal regards,Bill PS  See attached.  It is a shot taken after Tullius had won the TransAm race in the St. Petersburg Grand Prix (1988 I think).  I had raced in the vintage sessions at the event.  I was all loaded and ready to take off.  Bob actually left Victory Circle and came over to visit with me and my TR3.  What a class act to do so. Do you recognize the other guy in the photo.  I can't remember who it was, but assume it was part of the Group 44 Team. 
    Jack  
      From: Bill Dentinger via Fot <fot at autox.team.net>
 To: michael kowalski <sm1ski at dslextreme.com> 
Cc: "fot at autox.team.net" <fot at autox.team.net> 
 Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 8:06 PM
 Subject: Re: [Fot] Fw: Best spectator vintage event

   I'll be damned.  That calendar hangs on the wall behind my desk.  I flipped the new picture up this morning, but did not notice that distinction.  I'll look harder tomorrow morning.   
  Bill Dentinger   

Sent from my iPad   

On Apr 1, 2015, at 6:23 PM, michael kowalski via Fot < fot at autox.team.net> wrote: 

     Has anybody noted that the picture for April in the SCCA calender is .......Janet Guthrie? 

 mike kowalski, 
 old FP spit 

 On 3/31/2015 7:55 AM, Bill Dentinger via Fot wrote: 

          OBTW: if you follow NASCAR, Danica(n't) just tied another woman's record of 5 top 10 finishes. Took her about 120 races to do it with enormous money behind her.   The other woman? Janet Guthrie, who did it in 33 races, without nearly the resources or quality of equipment. Also Ms Guthrie oozes charm, wit, character, class, and personality.    I'm not doing INDY this year, but will be there, maybe helping an old friend with his cars. See you there.   Bill      Bill...      I could not agree more that JANET GUTHRIE is one Class Act!  Had she had decent equipment back in the day, she'd have been a World Beater.      Have you read her book?  I did and it's a good one.  Its name escapes me right now.      She actually attended one of our Wine & Cheese Parties at Road America one time, which was a special treat for us.      Bill Dentinger        

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