Robin Miller article on the 1971 Indycar season opener in Argentina:
https://racer.com/2021/02/28/retro-when ... argentina/
And if you ever feel sorry for what has become of USAC, don't.
When IndyCar opened its season in Argentina
- MonteCristo
- Moderator
- Posts: 10747
- Joined: 8 years ago
- Favourite Motorsport: Openwheel
- Favourite Racing Car: Tyrrell P34/Protos
- Favourite Driver: JV
- Favourite Circuit: Road America
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
When IndyCar opened its season in Argentina
Oscar Piastri in F1! Catch the fever! Vettel Hate Club. Life membership.
2012 GTP Non-Championship Champion | 2012 Guess the Kai-Star Half Marathon Time Champion | 2018 GTP Champion | 2019 GTP Champion
2012 GTP Non-Championship Champion | 2012 Guess the Kai-Star Half Marathon Time Champion | 2018 GTP Champion | 2019 GTP Champion
- Michael Ferner
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3533
- Joined: 7 years ago
- Real Name: Michael Ferner
- Favourite Racing Car: Miller '122', McLaren M23
- Favourite Driver: Billy Winn, Bruce McLaren
- Car(s) Currently Owned: None
- Location: Bitburg, Germany
Why?
2023 'Guess The Pole' Points & Accuracy Champion
If you don't vote now against fascism, you may never have that chance again...
If you don't vote now against fascism, you may never have that chance again...
Ceterum censeo interruptiones essent delendam.
- MonteCristo
- Moderator
- Posts: 10747
- Joined: 8 years ago
- Favourite Motorsport: Openwheel
- Favourite Racing Car: Tyrrell P34/Protos
- Favourite Driver: JV
- Favourite Circuit: Road America
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
Mechanic Al Freedman asked all the USAC officials sitting in first class if anyone would like to give up their seat for the injured driver and nobody responded.
Oscar Piastri in F1! Catch the fever! Vettel Hate Club. Life membership.
2012 GTP Non-Championship Champion | 2012 Guess the Kai-Star Half Marathon Time Champion | 2018 GTP Champion | 2019 GTP Champion
2012 GTP Non-Championship Champion | 2012 Guess the Kai-Star Half Marathon Time Champion | 2018 GTP Champion | 2019 GTP Champion
- Michael Ferner
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3533
- Joined: 7 years ago
- Real Name: Michael Ferner
- Favourite Racing Car: Miller '122', McLaren M23
- Favourite Driver: Billy Winn, Bruce McLaren
- Car(s) Currently Owned: None
- Location: Bitburg, Germany
Do you really believe that? In my opinion, it's anecdotal BS that gets routinely repeated about 'generic' USAC (or other) officials. Fact is, most of the USAC officials were former drivers, mechanics and owners who are revered as a rule, and whenever you ask about specific persons the BS stops. It's a plebs v. blazer thing, and it's old hat. People with low self esteem do that to feel better.
Red flag should be the part about flying first class.
Red flag should be the part about flying first class.
2023 'Guess The Pole' Points & Accuracy Champion
If you don't vote now against fascism, you may never have that chance again...
If you don't vote now against fascism, you may never have that chance again...
Ceterum censeo interruptiones essent delendam.
- MonteCristo
- Moderator
- Posts: 10747
- Joined: 8 years ago
- Favourite Motorsport: Openwheel
- Favourite Racing Car: Tyrrell P34/Protos
- Favourite Driver: JV
- Favourite Circuit: Road America
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
Yep I do. And Miller believes it enough to run it in a story.Michael Ferner wrote: ↑3 years ago Do you really believe that? In my opinion, it's anecdotal BS that gets routinely repeated about 'generic' USAC (or other) officials. Fact is, most of the USAC officials were former drivers, mechanics and owners who are revered as a rule, and whenever you ask about specific persons the BS stops. It's a plebs v. blazer thing, and it's old hat. People with low self esteem do that to feel better.
Red flag should be the part about flying first class.
I can see how they - USAC - would have chartered an entire plane for the circus, and because they paid for it they'd put their big wigs at the pointy end.
And "first class" in the USA is usually what is referred to as business class elsewhere.
Oscar Piastri in F1! Catch the fever! Vettel Hate Club. Life membership.
2012 GTP Non-Championship Champion | 2012 Guess the Kai-Star Half Marathon Time Champion | 2018 GTP Champion | 2019 GTP Champion
2012 GTP Non-Championship Champion | 2012 Guess the Kai-Star Half Marathon Time Champion | 2018 GTP Champion | 2019 GTP Champion
- Michael Ferner
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3533
- Joined: 7 years ago
- Real Name: Michael Ferner
- Favourite Racing Car: Miller '122', McLaren M23
- Favourite Driver: Billy Winn, Bruce McLaren
- Car(s) Currently Owned: None
- Location: Bitburg, Germany
USAC chartering an entire plane? Where would the money come from? USAC was many things, but not a big corporation with unlimited funds.
As for the statement, it's typical in that it juxtapositions an individual against a faceless entity, that's an old trick and someone like Rob Miller should have been clever enough to see through, but unfortunately wasn't. USAC officials were not faceless entities, they were people like you and me. And like I said, nobody has a word to say against any of them as soon as you put up individual names. Who were these officials? I think I have a complete list at home, and it should even be possible to find out who exactly was there, but here are some likely candidates: Donald Davidson, A. J. Watson, Johnny Rutherford, Roger McCluskey, Frankie del Roy, Henry Banks, Duane Carter, J. C. Agajanian, Herb Porter... what a bunch of evil persons, isn't it?
As for the statement, it's typical in that it juxtapositions an individual against a faceless entity, that's an old trick and someone like Rob Miller should have been clever enough to see through, but unfortunately wasn't. USAC officials were not faceless entities, they were people like you and me. And like I said, nobody has a word to say against any of them as soon as you put up individual names. Who were these officials? I think I have a complete list at home, and it should even be possible to find out who exactly was there, but here are some likely candidates: Donald Davidson, A. J. Watson, Johnny Rutherford, Roger McCluskey, Frankie del Roy, Henry Banks, Duane Carter, J. C. Agajanian, Herb Porter... what a bunch of evil persons, isn't it?
2023 'Guess The Pole' Points & Accuracy Champion
If you don't vote now against fascism, you may never have that chance again...
If you don't vote now against fascism, you may never have that chance again...
Ceterum censeo interruptiones essent delendam.
- MonteCristo
- Moderator
- Posts: 10747
- Joined: 8 years ago
- Favourite Motorsport: Openwheel
- Favourite Racing Car: Tyrrell P34/Protos
- Favourite Driver: JV
- Favourite Circuit: Road America
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
Again, from the article...Michael Ferner wrote: ↑3 years ago USAC chartering an entire plane? Where would the money come from? USAC was many things, but not a big corporation with unlimited funds.
As for the statement, it's typical in that it juxtapositions an individual against a faceless entity, that's an old trick and someone like Rob Miller should have been clever enough to see through, but unfortunately wasn't. USAC officials were not faceless entities, they were people like you and me. And like I said, nobody has a word to say against any of them as soon as you put up individual names. Who were these officials? I think I have a complete list at home, and it should even be possible to find out who exactly was there, but here are some likely candidates: Donald Davidson, A. J. Watson, Johnny Rutherford, Roger McCluskey, Frankie del Roy, Henry Banks, Duane Carter, J. C. Agajanian, Herb Porter... what a bunch of evil persons, isn't it?
As for the money...The charter plane back to Indianapolis
the owner of Autodromo Ciudad de Rafaela — a 3-mile oval located two hours from the nearest big city — reportedly offered USAC $100,000 to stage an exhibition race.
If you take offense to his reporting of the story, I recommend you write in to Robin directly for weekly mailbag via millersmailbag@racer.com and ask him to clarify and to clear the good name of the United States Auto Club.title sponsor (Marlboro)
Oscar Piastri in F1! Catch the fever! Vettel Hate Club. Life membership.
2012 GTP Non-Championship Champion | 2012 Guess the Kai-Star Half Marathon Time Champion | 2018 GTP Champion | 2019 GTP Champion
2012 GTP Non-Championship Champion | 2012 Guess the Kai-Star Half Marathon Time Champion | 2018 GTP Champion | 2019 GTP Champion
- Michael Ferner
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3533
- Joined: 7 years ago
- Real Name: Michael Ferner
- Favourite Racing Car: Miller '122', McLaren M23
- Favourite Driver: Billy Winn, Bruce McLaren
- Car(s) Currently Owned: None
- Location: Bitburg, Germany
I'm actually trying to help you identify bad journalism But that's okay, I know I'm fighting windmills, I'm doing it just for the fun opf it
2023 'Guess The Pole' Points & Accuracy Champion
If you don't vote now against fascism, you may never have that chance again...
If you don't vote now against fascism, you may never have that chance again...
Ceterum censeo interruptiones essent delendam.