“ CHALLENGE! " 47th ANNUAL / 1963 INDIANAPOLIS 500 w/ FORD LOTUS GRAND PRIX RACE CAR XD95625

[@bertvosburg558]

What a year, I was 5 years old and Kennedy was shot 1/22/63. all the teachers were crying that day and we all went home. Back in the day when the boys and girls lined up separate and the girls went into the school first. I also remember there were no cartoons on that weekend because of the funeral on all three tv channels we were able to pick up back then.

[@tangerinedream7211]

Indy fix, the lead car was dropping oil, Clark held back waiting for it to be black flagged. Officials said it was water, only delayed the inevitable. There's a great book, Lotus the Indianapolis years, well worth a read .

[@jimiverson3085]

Clark really could have won the race 4 times in a row. There was the oil/no black flag in 1963. In 1964, Chapman's decision to use Dunlop tires that weren't up to the stress led to chunking and suspension failure. 195 he won by 2 laps. In 1966, the pit crew thought he was ahead of Hill and had him ease off to ensure finishing.

[@tsf5-productions]

This film of the 1963 Indianapolis "500" brings to me, the first time I have seen in somewhat good detail of the Ford Motor Company's pursuit of making a "comeback to Champ Car racing in America". (Ford Company tried in the 1930's as I recall, and, I think in 1940 or '41 with literally no success) That year, 1963 was my first near full year of following the Indy Car scene. I was 13 years old at that time and was quickly a big fan of the talented, Jimmy Clark of Scotland. The dark green, yellow trim Lotus-Ford was my all-time favorite for that year. My parents and I went to the first day of Time Trials at I.M.S. We sat in the small grandstand between third and fourth turn. (That was my very first time of seeing the Speedway. I was really impressed at everything...especially the sounds) As to the race itself...I didn't go but, listened to most of it at home via Indianapolis's WIBC 1070 AM radio with the late and great Sid Collins and his superb team of track repoters. Also...to me...I personally thought (and, still do) that I.M.S. officials and the auto racing sanctioning agency: U.S.A.C. (United States Auto Club) should have "black flagged" winner, Parnelli Jones for the oil leaking from his side-mounted oil tank on his racer. I believe that oil made race drivers, Eddie Sachs and Rodger McCluskey spin near the end of the 200 lap event. Clark "felt" that oily track and decided to "back off some" and settle for 2nd place. (History in most of the books of the "500"s have said: Jim Clark got to "pay back" Parnelli in the 1965 event by winning two laps over Jones's second place finish. I was there to see that and, of all the Indy cars that have raced, the 1965 Lotus-Ford is still my all-time favorite) But...back to the late, great Parnelli Jones...Yes! He was one of the best in his racing years, no doubt. It was a shame he didn't win the '67 "500" in the STP Pratt & Whitney powered turbine. It would have literally changed the automotive industry, I think.

[@johnevans9751]

Actually, this was Dan Gurney's brainchild, not Ford's. And let's not forget Jack Brabham running a Cooper in 1961's Indy.

[@doric_historic]

The track is so big you require a compass to navigate...

[@tonyelliott7734]

I would love to know the dyno numbers, compression ratio, camshaft specifications, flow numbers on the heads, how many CFM the carburetors flowed and the CID of that all aluminum 4bolt main block, forged steel crank, aluminum headed Windsor engine. That's some serious engineering in that little monster.

[@DennisMerwood-xk8wp]

@tonyelliott7734 I agree with you Tony. Pretty cool. But the engineering facts are that this Windsor engine is limited by its pushrod valve actuation. RPM's = BHP. And a pushrod V8 of this architecture is never going to reliably rev over 10,000rpm. Unlike the DOHC Cosworth and Ilmor's pure racing engines 12,500rpm. Wadda yuh say my man?

[@revvyhevvy]

The direct acting 'OHC' design is proven, the good ol' pushrod design can be made to rev over 10 grand with proper valve springs, roller cams and sodium filled valves. What about those little Buick V6s?

[@tonyelliott7734]

@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp I agree. But I'm not talking about all that. I'm talking about wanting to know the details on this particular engine from 1963.

[@DennisMerwood-xk8wp]

@@revvyhevvy The wonderful Buicks were not "little", Robert. 1-liter bigger in capacity, and with a ton more turbo boost And only running at 9,600RPM in the race. And only once just lasted 500-miles. But in general, they were 50-lap wonders! I still love them though. But with that much boost a Cosworth would have been 1200+BHP!

[@tomlusty8376]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5KYgZx6h82JbbMsi=rKs8VDUwbSXtFfbd The Indy Museum has recently restored Gurney's 1963 No.93 car and has a series of videos here.

[@Nighthawke70]

This is the last year carburetors are used.

[@danieltaylor6489]

very cool 😎 😎