Found this picture the other day, the year I believe is 1975. It was taken at the Good Year Tower at Daytona after the 500.

How times have changed, I was 14 at the time, you had to be 18 to be in the Tower, my whole family watched the race from the tower and I spend the race wandering by myself around the infield and pits. Completely unsupervised. Only reason they let me up was because the race was over and the bar was closed (See AJ with his drink)

Back then, all the drivers would come up to the tower if they DNF to get food and drinks. Back then I had met Richard Petty, Buddy Baker and Cale Yarborough to name a few.

That year Foyt was driving the #28 Laguna Chevy sponsored by Gilmore Racing.

Thanks for sharing, very cool.

HK Ag

Given the furniture and the attire, yeah...I'd say '75 is about right.

I had a pair of paints just like that only red. Heheh.

Awesome pic. One of his cars visited my home town around '76-'77. I was so excited as he was my favorite. Unfortunately he wasn't there, just the car. Somewhere there is a pic. All these years later I still remember that day.

Great picture ~ thanks for sharing.
AJ ~ a great HOUSTON guy.

I miss the 70s. Thanks for posting this pic.

It's good for BB61 that the statute of limitations has run out on his admitting to a felony.

Very cool. Dude, love those pants

I read his autobiography when I was about 10 or 12. Been a fan ever since.

In a related note Joe Leonard passed away recently. Another guy that raced everything and had mad respect from the big names Foyt, Unser etc.

Very cool. I always liked Foyt. He raced every kind of car there is.

I was just thinking ~ it is the little things like this that celebs do that make for a lifetime of support and memories for the fan.
I wish some of the young athletes, stars would remember this.
It takes so little effort and can mean so much.
Love seeing moments like this.

AJ is one of my driving heroes. He was one that it didn't matter what it was, if it had wheels and a motor he'd be competitive. I don't think there's any other driver who has won at Indianapolis, Daytona and LeMans.

The gold standard. Foyt, Unser & Andretti

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
The gold standard. Foyt, Unser & Andretti

So many from that era, Mark Donohue comes to mind. But in the 60's into the early 80's those guys drove everything, SCCA, Can Am, Trans Am, NASCAR, F1, La Mans/Sebring, USAC, USAC Stock Car, every week they were in something! And they had to win to make money, not $$$$ for just wearing sunglasses.

Even when AJ was famous and successful he still raced at our State Fair..back in the day the Indy 500 was THE biggest event of the year on TV.

Back in the day:


In January 1965, Foyt qualified and ran in the front of the pack most of the day with Dan Gurney and Parnelli Jones in the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside. Parnelli retired with mechanical issues, leaving Gurney and Foyt to contest the lead. Late in the race, dueling with Gurney, Foyt spun. His car refired, and he charged through the field in an attempt to regain lost positions. After running hard to catch leader Gurney, Foyt's brakes failed entering turn nine at the end of Riverside's mile-long, downhill back straight. Foyt turned the car into the infield at more than 100 mph, and the car tumbled violently end-over-end several times. The track doctor at Riverside International Raceway pronounced Foyt dead at the scene of the severe crash, but fellow driver Parnelli Jones revived him after seeing movement. Foyt suffered severe chest injuries, a broken back, and a fractured ankle. Footage of his flipping No. 00 Ford, owned by Holman Moody, is featured in the final scene of the movie Redline 7000.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._J._Foyt

Cool picture!!!

My mother and AJ went to junior high and high school together, and he even asked her out. She told me that she told him "no", but I just can't remember now why. I think it was his reputation with the ladies or something like that.

I've seen him here and there while growing up in Houston, but no pictures to show.

Good pic,, thanks for sharing.

I have a pic of me with Ronnie Sox... of Sox and Martin racing. He was THE driver.

quote:

Originally posted by SummersAtTheLake:
Back in the day:


In January 1965, Foyt qualified and ran in the front of the pack most of the day with Dan Gurney and Parnelli Jones in the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside...Foyt turned the car into the infield at more than 100 mph, and the car tumbled violently end-over-end several times.