July 25, 2022
This past month has been incredibly busy for me as a photographer. We had Indy Cars at Road America, Miller's at the Milwaukee Mile and music with Summerfest. It has been alot of photography with alot of editing yet to do. My favorite part was last weekend at Road America!
The WeatherTech International Challenge with Brian Redman was held at Road America. The highlight was having 30 of Dan Gurney's AAR Racing Eagles come together for a reunion. This many Eagles together at one time has never happened! People came from all over the world to see this gathering of iconic cars.
Dan Gurney's 1967 F1 All American Racers Gurney Weslake 12 cylinder Eagle, #36, even came from the Revs Institute in Naples Florida. This is THE car that won the 1967 F1 race in Spa, Belgium. It is also possibly the most beautiful race car ever made. The All American made by Dan Gurney and his AAR crew is still the only American made car and driver to win an F1 race. I saw people with tears in their eyes looking at this beautiful piece of history. It is that special of a car and probably my favorite along with Jim Clark's Indy 500 winning Lotus Indy Car.
Most of the Eagles did not run on track. They were only on display. It was beautiful to see. Even one of Dan Gurney's IMSA Toyota cars was there. Thanks to Justin Gurney for bringing it along with a few other cars.
Sunday morning, we gridded all the Eagles together and did a photograph from a lift about 30 feet up. Turned out to be a very cool photo and hopefully a poster at the Road America Paddock shop soon.
The weekend also had a bunch of other vintage races running and that will be my next blog. This blog is just to enjoy the Eagles.
As we did the grid photograph someone said that an actual bald eagle was flying overhead!! Could it have been Dan checking on us? How cool is that!
Enjoy the Eagles and their beauty.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
November 1, 2021
This blog is going to be short and sweet! There is so much going on around here during retirement! Wait until you all retire and are as busy as me and having as much fun too!
On July 14-17, 2022, the WeatherTech International Challenge with Brian Redman will feature some of the Dan Gurney stable of Eagle race cars!!!!!! Very, very cool idea of Ron Nelson's! Checkout his website www.elkhartlakesracingmuseum.com for more event information. To see a bunch of Eagles together will be awesome thanks to Ron Nelson, Justin Gurney and the Dresang family. Jacque Dresang still runs an awesome Eagle or two and they are beautiful. One is Mark Donohue's.
Dug up a few photos of the old days at Road America and the Milwaukee Mile.
Enjoy, and buy your tickets now for a great weekend at Road America!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Here in Wisconsin, snow is on the ground and it's going to be 6F tomorrow with a crazy windchill!! We should be seeing daffodils and rabbits outside instead of snow, ice and cold.
On February 28th, two of my favorite race car drivers celebrated their birthdays. Mario Andretti turned 79 and still drives the two seat Indy Car. I still want a ride in that car Mario! Sebastien Bourdais turned 40 on the same day!
On March 10th, the Indy Cars have the first race of the season in St. Petersburg, Florida. Sebastien Bourdais has lived in St. Petersburg for a few years and won that race twice I believe.
To get ready for the season let's take a look back at the birthday boys and some of the Indy Cars.
Last year Scott Dixon won the championship and I think he could do it again! Good luck Scott!
Stay warm and get ready to hear the awesome sounds of Indy Car again!
See how many drivers you can recognize here.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
January 22, 2017
Last week we lost another legend in the world of racing with the passing of Dan Gurney at the age of 89.
Dan was a racer like no other. He is the only American to win in Formula 1 with his own car. That very car and Dan were such a big part of my childhood racing memories. He and Jim Clark were and still are my heroes of Indy car and Formula 1.
Did you know that we can thank Dan Gurney for the opening of a champagne bottle after you win a race? He started that tradition with a win long ago.
Here is a look at Dan in 1991 at Road America with his very fast and race winning Toyota Eagles. The other photo is from the Milwaukee Mile and I'm not sure of the year.
Miss you Dan and thank you for all you have done for racing. AAR racing developed some great machines with your wizard ways.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann