IndyCar History: 1977 AAR Eagle 'Sidehack' Tour

Learn about the odd Indy car nicknamed the 'Sidehack' due to its asymmetrical chassis design that was meant to favor oval racing. Built by Dan Gurney's All American Racers team in 1977 at its shop in Santa Ana, California, the Sidehack was driven by Pancho Carter.
Enjoy the tour provided by my friend Jacques Dresang from Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine Preservation & Restoration, which was filmed in June of 2023 at the Road America IndyCar event.
#racing #indycar #indy500 #dangurney #panchocarter #eagle #aar #roadamerica

[@redbarchetta8782]

I just had the pleasure to meet Gary Wheeler last weekend at the Washington Good Guys car show. What a neat gentleman. He told me some of his stories working for Dan Gurney.

[@davidhyson9910]

Will I ever know all of the Eagle history? I just was thrown back to 77, Pancho was a hero of mine I had seen it over the fence at practice but didn't know a thing about it. Dan was done making cookie cars. How many cars and careers did the mighty USAC sink? Thanks to Jacques for laying it all out. Outstanding description.

[@gregj831]

I was sitting on the main straightaway at Indy on pole day 1977 when Pancho went out for his qualifying run with that car. It was in the heat of the day and beautiful as that car was, I really didn't expect too much but Pancho put down a very consistent 192+ average and I thought that was impressive. I believe this put him 8th on the grid of what might have been one of the most competitive Indy 500 fields of all-times. Tons of records fell that year: fastest single lap, first official 200mph lap, record overall field average, first 4 time winner, first woman in field. Pancho hung with the best of them in the early going but the car was just a tick slower than the top runners. He was headed for a 4th straight top ten when the engine gave out on lap 156. The only other Offies running high up were the Bignotti Wildcats and so I think this put the Eagle in very good company.

[@Cooper1]

Love these short history vids. Thanks, Marshall.

[@monica93304]

I was at Ontario Motor Speedway in 1977. That place was HUGE! That was our Indianapolis Motor Speedway of the West.

[@craigd5519]

This is outstanding 👏

[@oldschoolmotorsickle]

Excellent look back to a time when Giants were on the scene. Mr Dan Gurney ranks among the best and brightest in motor racing.

[@KimiWallrus]

Thanks!

[@CathNcamo2]

More video content like this MP!!!!

[@ATCDave1]

Great video! Thank you MP.

[@Truckergregg]

I went to every California 500. I remember this car and Pancho Carter. Those were the days.

[@Richard.Hybels]

Fascinating story.

[@michaelisola6328]

Love it !

[@jeffreytz]

So cool!

[@boilerbonz]

I had never heard that Dan considered building a FE car?! Wow! Wouldn't that have been something if Dan would have brought a competitive FE car to Indy in the late '70s.

[@DJDouglasWarden]

Very cool! Thank you

[@roberthevern6169]

Look at all those drag inducing rivets! Not enough airplane tech in that Eagle! And I love Mr Gurney, RIP). Looking forward to all your posts coming up about some phenom named Larson! Anxious to see your posts with him!!

[@roberthevern6169]

Great post, MP! I subscribed immediately!

[@johnkling3537]

AAR for the win

[@roberthevern6169]

Yes, MP, please introduce your co host... or did you? Sorry, short term memory issues. And I'm only 69!!

[@mistertheking]

Same Ronnie Hopkins that founded Ronnie Hopkins Engineering? Or just the same name?

[@craigyirush3492]

Never explains the ‘politics’ of the Cosworth engines.

[@matthewmoilanen787]

There were no "politics" as the Cosworth was just a more modern design that every racer would move to because it was simply better. It outperformed the Offy in every way and was actively being produced at the time allowing for replacement parts virtually immediately. I am a huge fan of the Offenhauser engine and the person that had the idea but even more importantly the man who converted those dreams into drawings that could be manufactured. But no there was no conspiracy to get rid of the Offy engine and this guy can't tell the difference between two manufacturers battling over a market to some evil conspiracy! Funny when he's also describing a cutting edge vehicle that Gurney would love to have manufactured in large quantities to finance his racing program.

[@ElliottNest41]

Would like to see a video about the 1978 ARCO Graphite car.