By Bernard Kahn
Editor’s Notice: What’s at present the Rolex 24 At Daytona, was first run at Daytona Int’l Speedway in 1962 because the Three Hour Daytona Continental. After two seasons, the occasion was prolonged to 2,000 kilometers in 1964 and first turned a 24-hour check in 1966. Right here’s the Nationwide Velocity Sport Information race report from the 1962 occasion, which was written by legendary sportswriter Bernard Kahn.
Tall Dan Gurney of Costa Mesa, Calif., gained the quickest sports activities automotive race ever run on this nation Sunday — the inaugural Three Hour Daytona Continental — with one of many slowest finishes within the historical past of racing.
Gurney was rushing together with a couple of four-mile lead over his closest pursuer when the engine on his purple Lotus Mark 19 failed within the Easter flip — 1,200 toes from the end line.
The 5 p.m. checkered flag was as a result of fall in a single minute and 40 seconds. Gurney, considering rapidly, coasted and braked to a lifeless cease simply 14 toes from the yellow end line.
He sweated out the clock and on the 5 p.m. sign, he used the starter to leap his crippled race automotive throughout the end line because the winner.
If the 31-year-old had handed the end line even a fraction of a second earlier than 5 p.m., the 1962 Worldwide Sporting Code would have required him to finish one other lap. “I’d by no means have made it,” stated the lipstick smeared, grease stained, windblown Gurney as properly wishers crowded round him in victory circle.
Ricardo Rodriguez of Mexico, aid driving for Phil Hill, blazed over the road in a brand new rear engine two and a half liter Ferrari V-6 simply 46 seconds behind Gurney.
Gurney, driving a Lotus powered by a two and a half liter Coventry Climax engine, lined 312.42 miles in three hours. He accomplished 82 laps on the three.81-mile course at Daytona Speedway and averaged a torrid 104.101 mph.
Jim Corridor, Midland, Texas, in a Chaparral positioned third within the sports activities automotive bracket of the race. He additionally accomplished 82 laps.
True to type, England’s Stirling Moss captured excessive honors within the Grand Touring automotive division of the Continental.
The GT division solely was for factors towards the 1962 FIA World’s Producer’s Champinoship. Moss bagged 9 factors for the Ferrari group in his factorized 1962 three-liter Berlinetta couple.
Moss staged a outstanding efficiency in finishing 80 laps and end fourth total towards the swifter sports activities automotive subject. He lined 304.80 miles in his silver Berlinetta.
Glenn (Fireball) Roberts, the Daytona inventory automotive charger, making his debut in worldwide championship competitors was a stunning second within the GT division. Driving a 1961 Berlinetta manufacturing facility entry, Roberts was three laps behind Moss and a robust 11th total. He bagged six extra factors towards the World Producer’s title for the Ferrari North American Racing group, which Moss additionally represented.
Paradoxically, the 1-2 automobiles in sports activities automotive and GT overcame troubles in scoring. Gurney’s engine failed dramatically within the closing coronary heart throbs of the race.
Hill, the FIA World driving champion from Santa Monica, Calif., and the prerace favourite, missed the primary nook on the course within the 44th lap. Earlier he picked up a sea gull in his radiator. Within the 45th lap, Hill pitted for 68 seconds, refueling, altering a rear proper tire and likewise altering drivers. Ricardo Rodriguez changed Hill for the rest of the race. Rodriguez pitted once more within the 55th lap because the cockpit seemed to be heating up.
Oil sprayed the windshield of Moss’ automotive. He stated: “I couldn’t see a bloody factor on the market.” Within the 20th lap, Joe Weatherly spun out on the infield in entrance of Moss. Bebop Joe Norfolk, of inventory automotive fame, was driving a Lister Corvette. Weatherly nicked Moss within the spin and each automobiles obtained dented fenders.
Roberts pitted within the 48th lap for a routine gasoline cease. Mechanics hurriedly tried to restore a hood latch, and despatched him on his approach. Roberts returned to the pits within the 51st lap and this time waved the crew to take away the hood. He completed up with out a hood.
There have been 34 automobiles nonetheless operating at 5 p.m. and the primary Continental was accomplished with out damage to a single driver.
The worldwide traditional drew 14,000 followers in 58 diploma climate. A stiff northwest wind that blew as much as 22 mph chilled the gang and gave the automobiles a “elevate,” too.
It was a novel race — the primary worldwide sports activities automotive GT championship wherein spectators may watch the complete operation, together with the entire 3.81-mile course and the pit motion.
New York born Gurney, a properly constructed 6-2, 185-pound blond had an eight mile lead at one level within the race. He regarded just like the “Lone Ranger,” sporting a black leather-based masks on his face from goggles down. Gurney stated he used it for the primary time in December. He gained, though, he completed in Nassau with no clutch and his exhaust system hanging by a thread.
“The masks is an enormous assist,” Gurney stated. “I don’t must duck behind the windscreen and drop again once I’m following one other automotive by a nook. It protects me from wind and rocks or anything that is perhaps thrown up off the highway.”
