If you’ve ever wondered why California’s former Riverside Raceway is so revered, this video will give you at least the Stock Car portion of the answer (they also raced sports cars, Can Am, and drag cars there, plus off-road races in the infield). And if you’ve ever wonderered what NASCAR looked like when the cars were still very close to stock, this footage from 1965, near the end of the truly stock Stock Cars, will deliver that reality, too. Watch guys like Junior Johnson, Marvin Panch, and Parnelli Jones manhandle these massive race cars and you’ll know how epic these days truly were.
Watch for the jump (seen in the photo) at 2:10.
After the video, keep reading to see the press release about the Legends of Riverside event coming March 27-28. Tickets are still available.
RIVERSIDE RACEWAY “LEGENDS” REUNION
WILL BRING DAN GURNEY & HIS EAGLES
INTO CLOSE PERSONAL FOCUS WITH ATTENDEES
Riverside international Automotive Museum – March 27-28, 2008
Riverside, Calif. – – He’s America’s original “Eagle Scout” and motorsports’ all-time favorite presidential candidate. He’s still racing’s All-American Boy and he’s still got that smile that melts the lady’s hearts and says, “Let’s go have some fun!” to the guys. He’s Daniel Sexton Gurney, world celebrated sports legend and just plain nice guy.
Gurney has been chosen as the chief honoree in a galaxy of stars of the long-gone, world-famous road course that was once the pride of the Moreno Valley. “Dan’s name and the Raceway’s are forever linked in motorsports history,” said event co-organizer Dave Wolin. “His early successes at the Riverside propelled him to international fame, and his later successes at this track in stock cars absolutely solidified his stature as one of America’s true racing legends, and Riverside’s favorite son.”
Restating the man’s full record here, especially to any potential Riverside Raceway reunion celebrants, would be trucking coals to Newcastle big time. In fact, fairly through knowledge of the Eaglemeister is just about a prerequisite for attendance at this event!*
This event?
Well … the Riverside International Automotive Museum has set the weekend of March 27-29, 2009 for a very special Riverside International Raceway 3-day reunion event: “The Legends of Riverside”. And, the aforementioned Mister Gurney will head a stellar list of racing greats who’ll be there to celebrate all that the renown racetrack is so fondly remembered for.
Joining forces with Dave Wolin’s annual “Automotive Film Festival”, the “Legends of Riverside” will drop the green flag with a Friday night buffet dinner at the Museum and car films introduced by a discussion panel of well known racers.
Saturday will bring a feature film in the morning, followed by the Can Am / USRRC / F5000 luncheon, with drivers of that era sharing their experiences along with a showing of some rarely seen racing footage.
Following the luncheon an afternoon screening of a feature film will be followed by the “Memories of RIR” dinner; honoring well known racing celebrities of the early days of Riverside, along with the screening of a feature auto racing related film. Plans are for a number of special awards to be presented to those who contributed so much to our racing heritage.
At the time of this release the committee had positive commitments from the following Riverside veterans:
In addition to camaraderie, tall-tales, racing hand gestures, outright misstatements of the truth, secrets, movies, light debautchery, awards, food, bun-throwing, AND drink; other events include a silent auction of assorted racing memorabilia, an autograph signing of the event poster by racing personalities and a display of historic Can Am, USRRC and Formula 5000 racing cars.
Attendees will also be treated to viewing all of the other spectacular machines on regular display at the Museum. Most importantly, all proceeds from this inaugural event will go to charities including the Parkinson’s Institute and the Lee Iacocca Foundation.
As for the “hardware” scheduled to be on site at the Legends event, a whole clutch of Eagles (Five right now and still counting) will be there along with a number of other very significant Riverside runners. Got one? Please call us! Now would be cool!
For complete information, an updated almost daily list of the special attendees, ticket purchases (they will only sell 150 total), accommodation availability and a complete schedule of events; visit: www.riversideinternationalraceway.com.
The Museum is located in Riverside at:
815 Marlborough Ste 200, Riverside, Calif. 92507 (951) 369-6966
Public Hours: W- F noon – 4pm Sat 10am -4pm (951) 369-6966
