1962-1963 USAC Championship Car Seasons (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1962-1963)

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1963trenton1001.jpg

Program for the 1963 Trenton 100.

Status: Partially Found

The 1962 and 1963 USAC Championship Car Seasons were respectively the seventh and eighth seasons of USAC's top-level open-wheel championship. The 1962 edition saw Roger Ward claim the title, only for him to be edged out by A.J. Foyt for the 1963 crown. The 1962 Trenton 100 was the first USAC race to be televised, with the 1963 edition and both the 1962 and 1963 Trenton 200 races also receiving some coverage.

1962 Races

1962 Trenton 100

The 1962 Trenton 100 was the opening race of the 1962 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 8th April at the Trenton Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by A.J. Foyt in a Meskowski-Offenhauser, setting an average track speed record in the process. The race was also the first USAC event to be televised.

It was the fifth running of the event, with the annual race lasting 100 miles.[1] It was one of three 1962 USAC Championship Car Season races to commence at Trenton Speedway;[2] the Trenton 150 occurred on 22nd July and was won by Roger Ward in a Watson-Offenhauser,[3] while the Trenton 200 shall be discussed later in this article. Trenton would continue hosting IndyCar races until 1979 before it was dropped from the schedule and demolished in 1980.[4]

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Don Davis winning the pole position in a Turner-Offenhauser with a record speed of 106.038 mph.[5][1] Directly behind him was Foyt,[1] who was looking to achieve his first Trenton victory in six attempts.[5] Meanwhile, Parnelli Jones lined up third out of 22 competitors in a Lesovsky-Offenhauser, being deemed one of the favourites to win heading in.[6][1] The race was to have commenced on 1st April, but was ultimately delayed by a week.[6][5][1]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1962 Trenton 100 commenced on 8th April.[1] Davis maintained his lead from the start, holding onto it before dropping it to Jones on lap 7.[1] After a duel led to him briefly leading early in the race, Foyt would regain the first position from Jones on lap 27.[5][1] He never relinquished it for the remainder of the 100-lap race, and set about not only winning the event for the first time, but also breaking the track speed record.[5][1] Although spinning vehicles resulted in four caution periods, Foyt was able to ultimately achieve victory with a record average speed at Trenton of 101.101 mph, while also claiming $4,500 in prize money.[5][1] Jones finished second, while Watson-Offenhauser driver Roger Ward took third.[1][5]

1962 Trenton 200

The 1962 Trenton 200 was the 11th race of the 1962 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 8th April at the Trenton Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Don Branson in a Watson-Offenhauser, in an event deemed "spectacular" by The New York Times.

As part of the 75th New Jersey State Fair, the 1962 Trenton 200 lasted 200 miles.[7] Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Foyt winning the pole position with a speed of 105.758 mph.[8][7] Directly behind him was Troy Ruttman in an Elder-Offenhauser, with Ward lining up third.[7] Don Branson qualified fourth out of 24 competitors.[7][8]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1962 Trenton 200 commenced on 23rd September.[7] Foyt maintained the lead on the opening lap, holding it until Ruttman overtook him on lap 19.[7][8] He defended it for eight laps, only for Ward to assume the lead on lap 27.[8][7] Aside from a brief challenge between the 43rd-44th lap according to The New York Times, Ward dominated for the next 105 laps.[8][7] However, his chances of winning ended when he crashed into a guardrail near Turn 4, dropping him down to eighth.[8] Ward would recover to finish fourth, though was ultimately classified fifth due to receiving assistance when restarting his car following the crash.[8][7] Foyt also dropped out contention when he was forced to suddenly pit for a new tyre.[8]

After Ward's crash, Ruttman re-inherited the lead.[8][7] He held onto it for another 35 laps, before dropping it to Branson.[8][7] From there, Branson maintained the lead for the remaining 34 laps, as Ruttman retired after 189 laps following a fuel pump failure.[8][7] Ruttman's main competition was fellow Watson-Offenhauser driver Len Sutton, but he was able to cross the line with a 9-second margin over his opponent.[8] He therefore claimed victory and $5,565 in prize money.[7][8] Sutton finished second, being the only other driver on the lead lap, while Bobby Marshman finished a lap down in third, driving a Meskowski-Offenhauser.[8][7] The New York Times praised the event in its report, stating "It was the longest and one of the most exciting contests ever seen in the East for this type of car."[8]

1963 Races

1963 Trenton 100

The 1963 Trenton 100 was the opening race of the 1963 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 21st April at the Trenton Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by A.J. Foyt in a Meskowski-Offenhauser, breaking several track records in the process.

It was the sixth running of the event, with the annual race again lasting 100 miles.[9] It was one of three 1963 USAC Championship Car Season races to commence at Trenton Speedway;[10] the Trenton 150 occurred on 28th July,[11] while the Trenton 200 shall be discussed later in this article.

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Lloyd Ruby winning the pole position in a Lotus-Climax with a record speed of 106.414 mph.[12][9] This would be the first time that the Formula One-spec Lotus would compete in this race type in America.[12] Directly behind him was Foyt, with Meskowski-Offenhauser driver Parnelli Jones lining up third out of 22 competitors.[9]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1963 Trenton 100 commenced on 21st April.[9] Foyt shot into the lead on the first lap, defending the first position for 21 laps.[12][9] However, Ruby fought back, taking the lead back on lap 22, although Foyt repassed him on lap 31.[12][9] The race then centred around Foyt, Ruby, and Watson-Offenhauser driver Eddie Sachs.[12] While the Offenhauser cars had superior straight-line speed, Ruby remained in contention as his Lotus was better in the corners.[12] However, Ruby would retire after 40 laps following a gearbox failure.[12][9] While Sachs carried on, he too would not complete the race, retiring after 74 laps when a rings issue occurred.[12][9]

This allowed Foyt to control the remainder laps, while also breaking the 20, 40, and 50 mile track records with an average speed of over 103 mph.[12] He therefore claimed victory and $4,442 in prize money, also setting an overall average speed record of 102.491 mph.[12][9] Jones would finish seven seconds behind Foyt in second, while Jim Hurtubise took third in a Kuzma-Offenhauser, him and Jones the only other drivers on the lead lap.[9][12]

1963 Trenton 200

The 1963 Trenton 200 was the tenth race of the 1963 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 22nd September at the Trenton Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by A.J. Foyt in a Meskowski-Offenhauser, capitalising when the Lotus-Fords of Jim Clark and Dan Gurney suffered reliability issues. The race also helped Foyt secure his third USAC Championship.

As part of the 76th New Jersey State Fair, the 1963 Trenton 200 also lasted 200 miles.[13] By winning the aforementioned Trenton 100 and 150, Foyt was seeking a clean sweep by winning the Trenton 200.[14] He also had the opportunity to earn his third USAC Championship at the event.[14] However, most eyes were centred on Team Lotus' appearance at the event, with the British Formula One team entering Lotus-Fords for Dan Gurney and 1963 Formula One World Champion Jim Clark.[15][14] The performance from the Lotus throughout the Season led to Clark and Gurney being deemed the favourites to win the event.[16][15] Nevertheless, the cars had to be modified so that their exhausts were angled upwards, directing fumes away so as not to impact the traditional front-engine machines.[15] Despite the hastily-done modification, it actually enhanced the Lotus' performance further.[15]

For qualifying, Clark won the pole position with a record speed of 109.356 mph.[15][14][13] Gurney qualified second, while Roger McCluskey lined up third in a Kuzma-Offenhauser.[15][13] Foyt qualified seventh out of 26 competitors.[15][13]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1963 Trenton 200 commenced on 22nd September.[13] Clark maintained his lead from the start, and he and Gurney began to pull away from the other competitors.[15] Indeed, it appeared that nobody could contend with the Lotuses, with Clark successfully lapping everyone bar Gurney and Foyt by lap 49, while also maintaining a 12-second lead.[15][14][13] Elsewhere, Watson-Offenhauser's Roger Ward saw his title hopes end when he retired after six laps following a fuel leak.[14][15][13] Meanwhile, on lap 50, Clark made an unexpected pitstop.[15][14] He was forced to retire because of a ruptured four-inch oil hose.[15][14][13]

Gurney inherited the lead, and despite some pressure from Foyt, also seemed set to become victorious.[15][14][13] However, his race ended prematurely after 147 laps when again an oil line ruptured.[15][14][13] Thus, Foyt assumed the first position on lap 147, and controlled proceedings for the remaining 54 laps.[15][13] He therefore claimed victory and prize money around the $12,000 mark.[14][15][13] As a result of his victory and Ward's retirement, Foyt successfully gained his third USAC title.[14] His win also meant he became the first to win three major races in one year at a single major speedway.[14] In second was fellow Trevis-Offenhauser driver Bud Tingelstad, who finished a lap down, while Watson-Offenhauser's Troy Ruttman took third.[14][13]

Availability

According to IndyCar on TV, the 1962 Trenton 100 made television history, as it became the first USAC-sanctioned event to be broadcast.[17] 45 minutes of highlights were shown by ABC on 21st April 1962 as part of its Wide World of Sports, alongside the Grand National Steeplechase.[17] Meanwhile, the 45 minutes of highlights from the 1963 edition were televised by ABC on 4th May 1963, alongside Japanese Judo Championships.[18] Neither broadcast has resurfaced, although a few minutes of fan footage of the 1963 event can be found on YouTube.

As for the Trenton 200, the 1962 edition saw 45 minutes of highlights be televised by ABC on 20th October 1962 as part of its Wide World of Sports alongside a French horse racing championship.[19] The 1963 edition received similar coverage on 5th October 1963, alongside the World High-Diving Championships.[20] No coverage nor other footage of either race has publicly resurfaced. Nevertheless, Photos of the 1963 event, including a batch provided by Ford, can be viewed online.[15]

Gallery

Video

Fan footage of the 1963 Trenton 100.

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Racing-Reference detailing the qualifying and race results of the 1962 Trenton 100. Retrieved 26th May '22
  2. Racing-Reference detailing the 1962 USAC Championship Car Season schedule. Retrieved 26th May '22
  3. Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1962 Trenton 150. Retrieved 26th May '22
  4. Racing Circuits detailing the history of the Trenton Speedway. Retrieved 26th May '22
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 The New York Times reporting on Foyt winning the 1962 Trenton 100. Retrieved 26th May '22
  6. 6.0 6.1 The New York Times reporting on drivers entering the 1962 Trenton 100, and noting the original race date. Retrieved 26th May '22
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 Racing-Reference detailing the qualifying and race results of the 1962 Trenton 200. Retrieved 26th May '22
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 The New York Times reporting on Branson winning the 1962 Trenton 200. Retrieved 26th May '22
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 Racing-Reference detailing the qualifying and race results of the 1963 Trenton 100. Retrieved 26th May '22
  10. Racing-Reference detailing the 1963 USAC Championship Car Season schedule. Retrieved 26th May '22
  11. Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1963 Trenton 150. Retrieved 26th May '22
  12. 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 The New York Times reporting on Foyt winning the 1963 Trenton 100. Retrieved 26th May '22
  13. 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 Racing-Reference detailing the qualifying and race results of the 1963 Trenton 200. Retrieved 26th May '22
  14. 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 The New York Times reporting on Foyt winning the 1963 Trenton 200. Retrieved 26th May '22
  15. 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 Peter Windsor detailing Team Lotus' appearance at the 1963 Trenton 200. Retrieved 26th May '22
  16. The New York Times reporting on the Lotus cars being deemed the favourites to win the 1963 Trenton 200. Retrieved 26th May '22
  17. 17.0 17.1 IndyCar on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the 1962 Trenton 100. Retrieved 26th May '22
  18. IndyCar on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the 1963 Trenton 100. Retrieved 26th May '22
  19. IndyCar on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the 1962 Trenton 200. Retrieved 26th May '22
  20. IndyCar on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the 1963 Trenton 200. Retrieved 26th May '22