Photo courtesy The Henry Ford.
It might not be president, but Dan Gurney still won some recognition recently from the annual International Historic Motoring Awards, which presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday.
Gurney, 84, has quite the resume to back up that award. His record includes 51 wins and 47 podium finishes out of his 312 races and became the first driver to notch wins in Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR and Sports Car racing. He’s won Le Mans, and perhaps just as monumental, he’s also the only American to race and win a Grand Prix event in a car of his own making.
And as if his record as a driver weren’t enough to qualify him for many a lifetime achievement award, his All-American Racers continues to this day to turn out plenty of race- and championship-winning cars and has lately taken on monumental restoration and preservation efforts on some of the more noteworthy cars from its history.
Dan Gurney in car 74 at Indy, 1967. Photo courtesy AAR.
Sir Stirling Moss, at one point a teammate of Gurney’s, accepted the award on the behalf of Gurney, who could not attend the November 19 ceremony in London.
Other winners from this year’s awards include McPherson College’s Automotive Restoration program for Industry Supporter of the Year, the “Beast of Turin” Fiat S76 for Car of the Year, the Rennsport Reunion for Motorsport Event of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz Museum for Museum of the Year, and the Chantilly Arts and Elegance for Motoring Event of the Year.
Previous IHMA Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Willy Cave, Murray Walker, Lord Montagu, and Moss. Gurney has previously been honored with induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame and with The Henry Ford’s distinguished Edison-Ford Medal.
For the complete list of winners, visit HistoricMotoringAwards.com.
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