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Post by Calvin on Mar 3, 2010 14:18:55 GMT -5
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Post by herk56 on Mar 3, 2010 15:11:06 GMT -5
Our heroes are getting older (& so are we)! Sounds like he's doing OK, best wishes to Pelican Joe! Where the heck did that name come from, anyway?
Brian
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2010 18:05:44 GMT -5
Calvin and Everyone...
Spoke to his granddaughter, Emily today. Old Pelican Joe is one tough old bugger! He had one "heart attack" while sleeping, and another one shortly after an drove himself to thehospital.....DROVE HIMSELF!?!?!
I have his address if anyone wants to send him a car. I also contacted Dan Gurney and Parnelli Jones to let them know he's doing great after open heart surgery.
One thing I always remember about Joe Leonard...afte the Lotus 56 quit 8 laps from the finish in 1968...Chris Economaki went up to Pelican Joe and said "Tough break Joe."
To which Leonard replied. "Chris, It hurts too much to laugh and I'm too old to cry, but thanks." Leonard is a class act all the way!
Best to you and thanks Calvin for letting us know about Joe.
Russ
Herk56 - I can answer that one! When I interviewed Mr. Leonard for the 1999 Indianapolis 500 program, that was my first question to him....
Leonard: "The King", A.J. stuck that one on me when I was driving for Foyt in 67. A.J said "I would dive after a dollar bill just like a pelican would dive after a fish for dinner."...and it stuck. i would be walking through Gasoline Ally back to the garage and someone would yell, Hey Pelican Joe!"
One would have though Parnelli named him. after all it was Parnelli that hung the name Old Calhoun" on his roadster and it was Parnelli that stuck then rookie Johnny Rutherford with the nick name Johnny "Wreck-a-ford" after he shunt at Daytiona...
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Post by herk56 on Mar 3, 2010 18:48:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the update (and Pelican Joe info), Russ!
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Post by Calvin on Mar 5, 2010 16:50:56 GMT -5
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