1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)

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1970langhorne1501.jpg

Program for the race.

Status: Lost

The 1970 Langhorne 150 was the sixth race of the 1970 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 14th June at the Langhorne Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by polesitter Bobby Unser in an Eagle-Offenhauser, his second consecutive victory at the event. It also marked the final IndyCar race to be held at the circuit.

Background

The 1970 Langhorne 150 was the 15th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting 150 miles.[1] The only 1970 USAC Championship Car Season race to occur at Langhorne Speedway,[2] this proved to be the event's final running, with a 1971 race being cancelled over safety concerns.[3] Following this, the track itself was converted into a shopping centre, with it being considered one of the fastest tracks, but also one of the most dangerous.[4][3]

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with previous year's winner Bobby Unser winning the pole position with a speed of 129.463 mph.[1] Directly behind him was Gary Bettenhausen in a Gerhardt-Offenhauser, with Watson-Offenhauser driver Mike Mosley lining up third out of 23 competitors.[1]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1970 Langhorne 150 commenced on 14th June.[1] Unser maintained his lead from the start, holding onto it for the first 55 laps.[5][1] Meanwhile, Gerhardt-Offenhauser driver Sammy Sessions crashed out after ten laps,[1] slamming into a guardrail near the home stretch.[6] The impact was severe enough to rupture the right hand fuel tank, resulting in a fireball.[6] Sessions' car ultimately grinded to a halt against the pit wall, with the driver being trapped in the car for five minutes as his right foot was stuck in the frame with rescuers needing to tackle the fire first.[6] Sessions, who was wearing a fire retardant driving suit, was hospitalised at the Lower Bucks County Hospital with burnt hands and feet, though was in "satisfactory condition" according to the hospital.[6]

Meanwhile, Unser then faced competition from his younger brother, Al Unser, with him achieving an overtake on lap 56.[1][5] Al defended the lead for the longest uninterrupted duration of 86 laps, before Bobby eventually emerged back in the first position on lap 142.[1][5] A tense duel emerged for the final nine laps, but ultimately, Bobby beat his brother to the line to claim victory and $9,413 in prize money.[1][5] Mosley finished third, a lap down from the brothers.[5][1]

Availability

According to IndyCar on TV, the race would receive live coverage from the TVS Television Network.[7] But of twelve IndyCar races to have been televised by TVS, none are currently publicly available. Nevertheless, a few photos of the race remain viewable, including of Sessions' crash.

Gallery

Video

nascarman History's Top 10 Lost IndyCar Broadcasts detailing TVS Television Network's IndyCar broadcasts (0:20-0:59).

Image

See Also

References