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Post by Calvin on Jan 17, 2015 21:02:20 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 6:10:03 GMT -5
Outstanding research. A very quality post!
who wrote the early captions? Someone at the Ford Foundation?
many, many photographs of Gregory's crashed car are substituted for the McDonald wreck.
In my life I have spent some time researching this. My main sources of info were Wayne Leary and a guy in Burbank California who was on the crew, Dave Chapparo. Dave ran a used book store (and I think he is retired) but is in several of the photographs above. They SLAVED away on these cars. Lots of ideas, not much science. Hindsight really is 20/20.
Black Sunday was an excellent book no doubt. It was also for the casual reader. This is not a critique, as it had to be done to sell books. Mr. Art Garner did an great job as the book was entertaining and readable.
This research however, is outstanding
Bravo, and thanks for the post.
Hubie
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Post by billj on Jan 18, 2015 13:21:26 GMT -5
That excellent site is run by the Dave MacDonald family, mainly his son. I agree, very well done and informative.
It is relatively easy to look at that car and see the aerodynamic flaws with the body design. Today our understanding of automotive aerodynamics is much different and much was learned from hard lessons.
Not only will that Thompson car lift at speed, it will also have much less traction when travelling sideways, as in MacDonald's spin at speed. The shape of the sides of the car would surely funnel air beneath and provide a lot of lift which in turn would keep the tires from making good grip.
I always liked the look of those Thompson cars, purely from a "it's different" standpoint. The 1964 race was a very sad day to me, one I will never forget.
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Post by clm1545 on Jan 18, 2015 15:17:55 GMT -5
I was listening that day. A black day for motorsports. 1964 Indy was a "perfect storm". The classic example of what can happen when nobody (Thompson, USAC, MacDonald, and to some extent, Ford) really knows what they are doing.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 18:46:48 GMT -5
Hello, I’m Dave MacDonald’s son Rich and yes I maintain my father’s tribute site. I by no means claim to be expert on the ’64 Indy 500 but the site is a fairly detailed account of the '64 race as well my dad’s racing career as a whole. I know of zero photos anywhere on the site that have mislabeled Masten Gregory’s crashed racer for my father’s car, in fact I believe only one very distant (aerial) photo of the aftermath exists on the site. Please kindly direct me to the photos you’re referring to I will have them corrected. Thank you
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Post by Calvin on Jan 22, 2015 19:24:55 GMT -5
Welcome Rich! Your site is incredible! You put a lot of work into it. There is a lot of folks on here that are very interested in the story of 1964.
Once again glad you can join us here.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 21:35:14 GMT -5
I agree and would welcome you! Thanks for the info Rich.
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Post by IndyCarModels on Jan 22, 2015 21:55:43 GMT -5
I was there that day and I have never forgotten it!!!!
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Post by indycals on Jan 22, 2015 22:10:32 GMT -5
Welcome Rich - and thank you for the website.
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Post by indy on Jan 22, 2015 22:33:45 GMT -5
Welcome Rich - and thank you for the website. Yes, it is great to have you here. Jordan |
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Post by johnwebster on Jan 23, 2015 23:43:19 GMT -5
Rich, thank you very much for the time and effort you have put into that site.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 7:26:32 GMT -5
many, many photographs of Gregory's crashed car are substituted for the McDonald wreck.
Rich
I was not referring to your excellent webpage, but of the local Indy papers and other related racing publications through out the years.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 18:33:55 GMT -5
Oh, got it Hubie. And thank you all for the comments about my dad’s site .. a labor of love. I’ve uploaded over 1500 vintage photos, news clippings and mag articles, some truly historic documents too, all in an effort to bring some awareness to my father’s contributions and accomplishments in motorsports history. I’m very grateful that traffic to the site has soared in recent years – more than quadrupling from ’13 to ’14 alone. Thx
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Post by indycals on Jan 25, 2015 2:53:44 GMT -5
I was just looking through some of your family pics - you really look like your dad in some of those photos.
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Post by Art Laski on Jan 26, 2015 15:14:06 GMT -5
Hi Rich,
I read your site with great interest, and thoroughly enjoyed it. You did a wonderful job. My stepmom is the daughter of Ted Halibrand, who built and entered Eddie Sach's car, so that day has obiously been a big part of the lives of those on that side of my family.
-Art
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Post by indycals on Jun 2, 2016 22:36:15 GMT -5
I had the good fortune to run into Rich and his mom Sherry at the start finish line on race day. Wonderful people and I think this trip was good for them. Rich had never been to Indy and Sherry hadn't been to the 500 since that fateful day (although she had been back to the speedway once I believe). They posed for a photo with me and then asked me to take some photos of them kissing the bricks. On Thursday, they, Eddie Sachs Jr. and Angela Savage "the club none of us asked to be in" as Angela put it, visited the spot in turn four where they all lost their loved ones. On race day, they and Eddie posed for this photo which Rich posted with the caption: "The next time you hear the names MacDonald and Sachs, think of this image"  |
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Post by 2lapsdown on Jun 2, 2016 23:13:13 GMT -5
Great race day story and wonderful photo.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2016 2:59:52 GMT -5
Thanks for posting. Good stuff !
Tom T.
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Post by racerbrown on Jun 3, 2016 6:31:26 GMT -5
great story michael!
it's difficult to fathom what these people have been through.
duane
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