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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
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Big Al gone,
Was a fav of mine and many others. RIP
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12-10-2021, 02:13 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: outta here
Posts: 53,029
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Aww, that sucks.
His heyday was the best era of open wheel racing, I miss it. |
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12-10-2021, 03:13 AM
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Model Citizen
Join Date: May 2007
Location: The Voodoo Lounge
Posts: 18,802
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"I would be a tone-deaf heathen if I didn't call the engine astounding. If it had been invented solely to make noise, there would be shrines to it in Rome" |
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12-10-2021, 03:40 AM
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Control Group
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 RIP Mr Unser, one of the greats I have a shirt that his engine builder wore in the pits at Indy. Well, had, father in law has that, along with the supertanium nuts and bolts off the car.
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She was the kindest person I ever met |
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12-10-2021, 05:13 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
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I have a bit of a story about Big Al
Several years ago my wife and I were at St Petes for an Indy race and we were standing with a small crowd watching the teams heading to the grid when I spotted Mario walking by. Here's my chance, for a great autograph, which I got from Mario then.
When I got back to where my wife was I told her I always wanted his autograph because I had A.J. Foyt's for some time. One of the guys behind us said to me …"Yeah but you still don't have the Holy Trinity" I knew exactly what he meant, still needed a autograph from Big Al. I knew then I wasn't likely to get it unless I went to Albuquerque and sat outside his house. (That would have gotten me shot for sure). PS: It's really hard to spell Albuquerque...…(It's got two Q's in it.) Holy Cow. Same number of letters as Mocking Bird Last edited by yellowperil; 12-10-2021 at 06:24 AM.. |
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12-10-2021, 05:27 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dahlonega , Georgia
Posts: 14,571
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Another racing legend . RIP sir you earned it .
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12-10-2021, 05:28 AM
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Gallatin, Tennessee
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Gallatin,TN
Posts: 654
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I was lucky enough to sit and chat with him at the Long Beach GP race one year. Talked for twenty minutes about anything and everything. A very nice guy. RIP Big Al.
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12-10-2021, 05:43 AM
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Driver
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Wow. One of my racing heroes growing up. RIP, and condolences to the Unser family.
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1987 Venetian Blue (looks like grey) 930 Coupe 1990 Black 964 C2 Targa |
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12-10-2021, 06:20 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 1,035
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He drove my dad's car once.
When I was little, in the early 60's, Al and his brother Bobby and a tune-up car repair shop way out on the West side of Albuquerque. My dad had a 58 Dodge 4 door Custom Royal with a big 4 barrel carb, but probably didn't drive it hard enough. I remember dad came home with a big smile and big wide eyes and said Al did an Italian tune up! It ran just fine after that .
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Scot 78 911SC coupe, sold,, 2019 Macan S "my friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.." |
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12-10-2021, 08:15 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
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Quote:
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12-10-2021, 08:20 AM
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And this is how you know you're getting old - when your childhood heroes pass on.
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Present: 1984 928S/Indischrot, 1994 968/Polar Silver Past: 1979 911SC Targa/Petrol Blue |
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12-10-2021, 08:29 AM
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Ubi bene ibi patria
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Amen
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“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not - both are equally terrifying” ― Arthur C. Clarke "As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom." - Pythagoras |
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12-10-2021, 09:02 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: I be home in CA
Posts: 7,684
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My Mom loved the Unsers, but she was not a big auto racing nut. She worked for the MS Society for about 5 years in the seventies and one of the people she helped was Louie Unser. She met Al, who she loved and many if not all of the family as Louie made regular visits to the facility she worked. I never met the Unsers as Mom said it is not right to infringe on their privacy (Mom had Class).
The First Gen Unsers were my Heros from my youth as were so many of that dangerous era. It is sad to see Al Senior Pass, but life goes on. May he forever RIP (unless there is a track in Heaven, then I hope he just tears it up with all those that have gone before). AND may his family's grief be soon replaced by happy memories. Man was he from a cadre of giants.
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Dan |
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12-10-2021, 09:03 AM
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Motorsport Ninja Monkey
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Al Unser, drove one of the 1st cars I ever worked on at the 1990 Indy 500
Sad day when another one of the best drivers has gone over the finish line for the last time 
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Wer rastet, der rostet He who rests, rusts |
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12-10-2021, 11:26 AM
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Space Coast
Posts: 5,242
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RIP, Al.
A gentleman and a classy racer. |
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12-10-2021, 11:56 AM
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Posts: 5,037
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Quote:
Last edited by yellowperil; 12-10-2021 at 12:33 PM.. |
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12-10-2021, 12:29 PM
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Motorsport Ninja Monkey
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Quote:
All my excitement was back at a grey industrial unit under the flight path to Heathrow airport I love that in the USA you have racing family dynasty's 
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Wer rastet, der rostet He who rests, rusts |
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12-10-2021, 12:37 PM
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A Man of Wealth and Taste
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Out there somewhere beyond the doors of perception
Posts: 51,063
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I was once out at Ontario Motor Speedway..and I saw God pretending to be AJ Foyt..
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Copyright "Some Observer" |
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12-10-2021, 01:04 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
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The Unser family raced everything and anything
including snow mobiles, and Big Al was a master at Pikes Peak, a different kind of crazy not seen anywhere else
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12-10-2021, 01:40 PM
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Space Coast
Posts: 5,242
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Quote:
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Paul 82 911SC - 3 yrs of fun (traded-in) 06 MINI Cooper S - 19 yrs of fun (sold) 2011 Cayman (she purrs, loudly) |
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12-10-2021, 01:54 PM
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2004 Mazda Miata
Ducati
1987 Porsche 930 3.3T
Porsche 911
Porsche 928
