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| {{NSFL|discussion of a career-ending motor racing accident}}
| | #REDIRECT [[IndyCar (partially found footage of IndyCar races featuring fatal and/or serious accidents; 1916-1996)]] |
| {{InfoboxLost
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| |title=<center>1974 California 500</center>
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| |image=1974california5001.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1974 California 500''''' was the third race of the 1974 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 10th March at the Ontario Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be by won by Bobby Unser, after narrowly edging out brother and fellow Eagle-Offenhauser driver Al Unser by 58‐hundredths of a second. However, the event is also known for the career-ending injuries two-time champion Joe Leonard suffered in an accident on lap 152.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1974 California 500'' was the fifth running of the event, with the annual race lasting 500 miles.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1974_California_500/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref> It was one of three 1974 USAC Championship Car Season races to commence at Ontario Motor Speedway;<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1974/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1974 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref> the others were the Ontario Heats 1 and 2, which both occurred on 3rd March and helped decided the starting order.<ref name="heat1">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1974_Ontario_Heat_1/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1974 Ontario Heat 1.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref><ref name="heat2">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1974_Ontario_Heat_2/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1974 Ontario Heat 2.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref> The track itself was nicknamed the "Indianapolis of the West", and was also part of USAC's Triple Crown alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the Pocono 500.<ref name="circuit">[https://www.circuitsofthepast.com/ontario-motor-speedway-california-usa/ ''Circuits of the Past'' detailing the history of the Ontario Motor Speedway.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref><ref>[https://www.espn.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/9444226/indycar-tony-kanaan-chasing-triple-crown-pocono-raceway ''ESPN'' detailing USAC's Triple Crown.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref> However, the speedway closed in 1980 because of financial issues, and was demolished shortly afterwards.<ref name="circuit"/>
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| Prior to the race, two qualifying races were conducted on 3rd March to decide the order.<ref name="heat1"/><ref name="heat2"/> In race 1, Foyt won the pole position with a speed of 190.617 mph, and also led the entire 40-lap event to claim victory and $9,125 in prize money.<ref name="heat1"/> Bobby Unser took second, while Eagle-Offenhauser's Lloyd Ruby finished third.<ref name="heat1"/> In the second race, Rutherford won the pole position with a speed of 185.989 mph.<ref name="heat2"/> He ultimately won the event and $6,875, with the Eagle-Offenhausers of Jimmy Caruthers and Steve Krisiloff finishing second and third respectively.<ref name="heat2"/> Boasting both a greater pole and average speed compared to Rutherford's, it meant that Foyt qualified on pole position for the main race, with Rutherford second, and Unser lining up third out of 33 competitors.<ref name="results"/><ref name="heat1"/><ref name="heat2"/> Foyt was declared the pre-race favourite heading into the event.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/11/archives/bobby-unser-takes-500-al-is-2d-bob-unser-captures-coast-race.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Unser winning the race.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1974 California 500 commenced on 10th March.<ref name="results"/> Unser shot into the lead on the first lap, but Foyt regained it a lap later.<ref name="results"/> He led 21 laps before retiring following a broken oil line.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Unser regained the lead, holding it for the next 11 laps.<ref name="results"/> However, his brother Al was fast-closing, putting himself into the lead on lap 36.<ref name="results"/> Aside from a few brief leads from other drivers, including most notably Krisiloff, the race centred into a duel between the Unsers after Bobby passed Krisiloff for the first position on lap 93.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> Meanwhile, Joe Leonard crashed his Eagle-Offenhauser into an inside wall on lap 152 when a tyre blew.<ref name="leonard">[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/02/23/archives/leonard-weighs-return-to-racing-for-indianapolis-500-about-motor.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Leonard's accident and his attempt to enter the following California 500.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref><ref name="speed">[https://www.speedsport.com/other-series/racing-history/racer-of-the-day-joe-leonard/ ''Speed Sport'' detailing Leonard's career and his career-ending injury at the event.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> The impact caused the car's front end to collapse, resulting in Leonard suffering a compound fracture of the left leg and a crushed ankle joint.<ref name="nyt"/> The resulting injuries ended his career, he was unable to compete in the following year's California 500 upon failing a physical examination.<ref name="speed"/><ref name="leonard"/> A two-time consecutive USAC champion between 1971-1972, Leonard also experienced success racing motorcycles in the 1950s.<ref name="speed"/><ref name="leonard"/>
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| Leonard's accident forced a caution period that ended after lap 162.<ref name="nyt"/> By this point, Al led Bobby by 7.1 seconds thanks to five lapped cars being between them.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Nevertheless, Bobby persevered, eventually cutting the margin to 1.05 seconds by lap 170.<ref name="nyt"/> A lap later, he passed Al to move into the first position.<ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> Following the final pitstops, Bobby remained in front, with a margin of 1.1 seconds with 17 laps remaining.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> He increased this to 1.8 seconds with two laps to go, but Al attempted one last charge.<ref name="nyt"/> The younger Unser almost succeeded in regaining the lead, as he cut the gap to just 58‐hundredths of a second.<ref name="nyt"/> However, that 58‐hundredths of a second was enough for Bobby to remain in first, thus claiming victory and $88,758.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Eagle-Offenhauser's Jerry Grant finished a lap down in third.<ref name="results"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', the final 90 minutes of the race would be televised live by ABC as part of its ''ABC Championship Auto Racing''.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1974/1974-california-500 ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 15 Jun '22</ref> The broadcast has yet to resurface, although a silent fan recording and photos of the event can be found online.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Video===
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| {{Video|perrow =1
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| |service1 =youtube
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| |id1 =U0KPgv9LJjE
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| |description1 =Silent footage of the race.
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| }}
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1916-1922 Universal Film Trophy Races (lost footage of AAA races; 1916-1922)]]
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| *[[1962 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1962 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 100 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1964 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1965 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1965 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1966 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1966 Trenton 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1967 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1968 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1969 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1970 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rocky Mountain 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1971 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Marlboro 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Michigan 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1972 Best Western Motels 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Michigan 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trenton Times 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1973 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1973 Texas 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1974 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Trentonian 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Bricklin 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1977 American Parts 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Michigan Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Texas Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1978 Coors 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy (partially found CBS and BBC One footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 California 500 (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 Gould Grand Prix (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1980 Miller High Life 150 (partially found footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Primera Copa Mexico 150 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1981 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (lost CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1996 Las Vegas 500K (partially lost footage of IRL Season race; 1996)]]
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| *[[Dan Wheldon (partially lost on-board footage of fatal IndyCar crash; 2011)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Partially found media]]
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