Welcome to the Robin Miller Mailbag as presented by Honda Racing / HPD. You can follow the Santa Clarita, California-based company at: hpd.honda.com and on social media at @HondaRacing_HPD and https://www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD.
Your questions for Robin should continue to be sent to millersmailbag@racer.com We cannot guarantee we’ll publish all your questions and answers, but Robin will reply to you. And if you have a question about the technology side of racing, Robin will pass these on to Marshall Pruett and he will also answer here.
Following the passing of icon Dan Gurney and the outpouring of adulation from his legions of fans, we've decided to run tributes to The Big Eagle in the top half of today's Mailbag, and then continue with the normal Q&A format.
Thanks, Robin Miller.
The racing world – scratch that. the WORLD – has lost a man whose dignity, desire, intelligence, talent and class was above most humans to have driven on this earth. God bless and godspeed, Mr. Gurney!
Skip Ranfone
Just finished your article "Gurney, All-American Treasure". Being a fan that started watching racing in the end of '60s, I missed the F1 and Le Mans wins if they were broadcast, but I do remember watching Dan Gurney in Can-Am, Trans Am and IndyCar, and following his teams throughout the years. The White Paper, written from an owner and driver's perspective, is still a guide for racing today. Thanks for the article and all of the great information and opinions you supply us.
Dino, New Hanover, Pa.
I just learned of the death of All American Racer Dan Gurney. What a giant in our favorite sport. I'm glad you had the chance to interview him on many occasions and were able to share those interviews with us on RACER.
Joe Weiss, Spooner, Wisconsin
I was born long after Dan Gurney achieved his fame and made most of his fortune, so I never truly got to see the man at his peak. Eulogies aside, I'm not sure there's a man whose resume could possibly read like his. Sadly, slowly and surely we're losing the greatest generation of racers and innovators.
Dan W., Ft. Worth, TX
Just logged on RACER.com to find Dan Gurney passed away due to complications from pneumonia. I subsequently read your article on Dan. What a racer, car designer/builder, team owner and gentleman he was. My first Can-Am race as a spectator was the '70 race at Mosport. If I recall correctly, he started first and finished first after battling Jackie Oliver during the second half of the race. I wish more of today's pro racers could experience the thrill of piloting the various types of cars Dan did. Considering how dangerous racing was at that time, his driving ability and seat of the pants intuition/engineering skills were huge assets that helped keep him alive! RIP Big Eagle!
David from Pittsburgh
More will come later, but for now, just four words...
Dan Gurney, heavy heart.
BP, Brewster, N.Y.
I was shocked and greatly saddened when I read tonight that my favorite driver of all time, Dan Gurney, had passed away. I met him once and he couldn't have been nicer. I had a Dan Gurney for President sticker on my car. He got me started with going to the Indy 500 and following IndyCar, F1 and Le Mans. I wish AAR was still in IndyCar, and wish his son, Alex, had gotten a chance. So many memories come back when I think of him. Please tell us a memory or two that you have of him.
Paul, Indianapolis
This is regarding one of the top five American racing greats of all time, Dan Gurney. I know you were friends and I know you must be very sad. My most sincere condolences to his family and friends for one of racing's true good guys.
Doug Ferguson, Debary, Florida
While it's a sad to hear of Dan Gurney's passing, it's certainly amazing to look back at his accomplishments and successes in all forms of motorsports. Just winning an F1 race as an American driver in an American car would be enough to make you a success, but that is just one of many achievements highlighted in your tribute article.
I was fortunate to meet Dan on the 2001 USGP weekend at a silent auction in Union Station. I was there as part of the Grand Prix Tours weekend, and as we were leaving, Dan and his wife were waiting for a car outside and we started chatting. He could not have been nicer to me, especially as a fan/amateur driver. When I mentioned I had driven a Formula Vee Caldwell D13, he immediately started talking about the car and what he knew of the history. There never will be someone like Dan Gurney again. The combination of talented driver, engineer, car builder, team manager as well as visionary just seems too much for a single person. I've watched the documentaries on Bruce McLaren and Frank Williams, and now I wish and hope that someone will do the same for Dan.
Jim Doyle, Hoboken, NJ