1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970): Difference between revisions

From The Lost Media Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Tag: New redirect
 
(5 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{InfoboxLost
#REDIRECT [[1970 USAC Championship Car Season (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1970)]]
|title=<center>1970 Langhorne 150</center>
|image=1970langhorne1501.jpg
|imagecaption=Program for the race.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
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.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1970_Langhorne_150/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 15th May '22</ref> The only 1970 USAC Championship Car Season race to occur at Langhorne Speedway,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1970/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1970 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 15th May '22</ref> this proved to be the event's final running, with a 1971 race being cancelled over safety concerns.<ref name="closure">[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/06/09/archives/langhorne-150miler-canceled-when-drivers-shun-old-track.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on the cancellation of the 1971 race over safety concerns, and the track being converted into a shopping centre.] Retrieved 15th May '22</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/langhorne-speedway.html ''Racing Circuits'' detailing the Langhorne Speedway and its reputation.] Retrieved 15th May '22</ref><ref name="closure"/>
 
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with previous year's winner Bobby Unser winning the pole position with a speed of 129.463 mph.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was Gary Bettenhausen in a Gerhardt-Offenhauser, with Watson-Offenhauser driver Mike Mosley lining up third out of 23 competitors.<ref name="results"/>
 
==The Race==
With the starting order decided, the 1970 Langhorne 150 commenced on 14th June.<ref name="results"/> Unser maintained his lead from the start, holding onto it for the first 55 laps.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1970/06/15/archives/bobby-unser-takes-race-at-langhorne.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Unser winning the race.] Retrieved 15th May '22</ref><ref name="results"/> Meanwhile, Gerhardt-Offenhauser driver Sammy Sessions crashed out after ten laps,<ref name="results"/> slamming into a guardrail near the home stretch.<ref name="sessions">Newspaper clipping reporting on Sessions' crash. Retrieved 15th May '22</ref> The impact was severe enough to rupture the right hand fuel tank, resulting in a fireball.<ref name="sessions"/> 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.<ref name="sessions"/> 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.<ref name="sessions"/>
 
Meanwhile, Unser then faced competition from his younger brother, Al Unser, with him achieving an overtake on lap 56.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> Al defended the lead for the longest uninterrupted duration of 86 laps, before Bobby eventually emerged back in the first position on lap 142.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> 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.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> Mosley finished third, a lap down from the brothers.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/>
 
==Availability==
According to ''IndyCar on TV'', the race would receive live coverage from the TVS Television Network.<ref name="indycar">[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1970/1970-langhorne-150 ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the TVS Television Network broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 15th May '22</ref> 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===
{{Video|perrow  =1
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =IY2TffzYa-0
  |description1 =''nascarman History'''s Top 10 Lost IndyCar Broadcasts detailing TVS Television Network's IndyCar broadcasts (0:20-0:59).
}}
 
===Image===
<gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
1970langhorne1502.jpg|Bobby Unser (3) ahead of Al Unser (2).
1970langhorne1503.jpg|Newspaper clipping reporting on Sessions' crash.
1970langhorne1504.jpg|Darrell Dockery (62) and Gig Stephens (58) crash out on the opening lap.
</gallery>
 
==See Also==
*[[1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
*[[1969 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
*[[1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
*[[1970 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
*[[1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
*[[1972 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
*[[1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
*[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost televised footage of IndyCar race; 1981)]]
*[[Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)]]
*[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]

Latest revision as of 09:38, 30 May 2023