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Parnelli Jones dead at age 90 years
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Thomas, what a neat photo of a young Parnelli Jones.? ?Thanks for posting it. Bill Blaylock On Tue, Jun 4, 2024 at 10:12?PM Thomas Luce via <toml242001=[email protected]> wrote: Thanks for the memories Parnelli. --
Bill Blaylock Sanbornville NH USA |
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Thomas, Thanks for letting us know the sad news. My fondest memory of PJ was an article in Sports Car Graphic where he had run a Mustang in the '70 Trans-Am race at Riverside. If I remember correctly he had qualified on the pole only for the officials to disqualify that time as his tires were illegal or some such thing. He started from the back of the pack and in not too many laps was leading. A great picture showed PJ in a hard right turn with (I think) the right rear tire slightly in the air and the right side of the car bashed in. I don't remember if he won but he sure as hell let them know who was boss. The best thing about that report was the caption..."When PJ charges, women faint and strong men shudder!" How can you not like and appreciate a driver like that? No wonder he had so much success. We are of an age where are heroes are passing on nearly every day. But, that's life and we're better for having seen drivers like PJ and great races through the years. Bill Barker Fort Leavenworth, KS On Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 08:50:54 PM CDT, Thomas Luce via groups.io <toml242001@...> wrote: Parnelli Jones, 90, winner of the 1963 Indy 500 as a driver and in 1970 and 1971 as a owner, has died on June 4th. -- Thomas Luce Manhattan Beach CA USA -- Bill Barker Fort Leavenworth KS USA |
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Bill,
The race where Parnelli's pole was disallowed was also at Riverside, but in the 1970 Motor Trend 500 NASCAR race. Parnelli (and seven other Western drivers) qualified on Firestones. NASCAR ruled them ineligible as the tires weren't available in enough quantity for the entire field and disallowed the times. Parnelli strongly objected and brought truckloads to the track overnight, but NASCAR would not relent and moved Parnelli and the other Western drivers to the back of the field. Parnelli considered not running, but decided to go ahead. He started 35th. He stormed through the field (in his book, Western NASCAR star Jack McCoy, who started right behind Parnelli, said he saw him make moves he couldn't believe, adding that he tried to stay with him, but only could for so long). On lap 35, Parnelli took the lead. Coming off turn 9, in the lead for the first time, in front of the main grandstand, Parnelli stuck his arm out the window and lofted a single digit towards the press box, where one Bill France was watching. The crowd absolutely erupted. In their race report, Autoweek waggishly remarked that Parnelli let the crowd know exactly what position he was in. Unfortunately, Parnelli's transmission packed it in and he was a DNF. The Trans-Am race, later that year at Riverside, had Jones fall well back after an on-track collision and resulting pit stop. He stormed back through the field to win that too! -- Jim Thurman Lancaster CA USA |
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Thanks, Jim. Old PJ was something else, just a helluva driver. I can imagine he intimidated a LOT of other drivers. It was just fun to watch him...talk about competitive! Bill Barker Fort Leavenworth, KS On Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 02:13:21 PM CDT, Jim Thurman <jim.thurman@...> wrote: Bill, The race where Parnelli's pole was disallowed was also at Riverside, but in the 1970 Motor Trend 500 NASCAR race. Parnelli (and seven other Western drivers) qualified on Firestones. NASCAR ruled them ineligible as the tires weren't available in enough quantity for the entire field and disallowed the times. Parnelli strongly objected and brought truckloads to the track overnight, but NASCAR would not relent and moved Parnelli and the other Western drivers to the back of the field. Parnelli considered not running, but decided to go ahead. He started 35th. He stormed through the field (in his book, Western NASCAR star Jack McCoy, who started right behind Parnelli, said he saw him make moves he couldn't believe, adding that he tried to stay with him, but only could for so long). On lap 35, Parnelli took the lead. Coming off turn 9, in the lead for the first time, in front of the main grandstand, Parnelli stuck his arm out the window and lofted a single digit towards the press box, where one Bill France was watching. The crowd absolutely erupted. In their race report, Autoweek waggishly remarked that Parnelli let the crowd know exactly what position he was in. Unfortunately, Parnelli's transmission packed it in and he was a DNF. The Trans-Am race, later that year at Riverside, had Jones fall well back after an on-track collision and resulting pit stop. He stormed back through the field to win that too! -- Jim Thurman Lancaster CA USA -- Bill Barker Fort Leavenworth KS USA |
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