RIP... Danny Ongais ....

[Chuck Miller]

The passing of Danny On'the'gas....

Once being a SoCal drag race kid I watched Ongais's former racing exploits for years before he started intentionally moving the steering wheel...

https://vintagemotorsport.com/2022/0...ais-1942-2022/

RIP....

[john rice]

I agree., tho keeping a straight line machine like that in line required a fair amount of steering! I didn't realize until recently that he didn't start out racing with money and was one of the few that actually made it on his determination and a lot of talent. Anyone who watched him in the Danny-On-The-Gas mode in those 935s had to be impressed tho he was quite something in an Indy Car. Yes- R.I.P.

[LongRanger]

. . . Think it must've been the early '80s? I was cruising South on The 5 heading to San Diego, to Exposition Park, down by the zoo, there

Anyway, nice day, Springish, sunny, not hot. Traffic was kinda poking along on the stretch that I was on, so I was just easing my way through . . . signal-left + signal-right + speed-up on the open stretches, slowing down when I came up on anybody . . . having fun + making pretty good progress

At some point, I check the rear-views and see this Porsche --- coming up, moving through traffic just like me . . . signal-left + signal-right + etc, except . . . a whole lot faster on the open stretches. BIG flairs and I know: Turbo

Well, as long as he's faster, I just eased over, waited for him to pass, then formed-up behind him, on his right --- staying clear of his blind-spot . . . and let him take us through traffic

We cruise along, and for a good while, too --- Turbo up front, me behind . . .

So, at some point we get caught-up in a cluster of slower-moving cars, and I end up along-side of the Turbo . . . glance over


Big shoulders. Long black-super-wavy hair, combed straight back. White T-shirt. Left arm draped over the wheel, right arm down low, at the console

Then the Guy looks over, smiles . . . cruises-off . . .


Hey! --- I know tha- . . . .



It's Danny Ongais. Interscope Racing. The 'Flyin' Hawaiian' back when he was drag racing

Thanks for the tow . . .

Drag racing, GT cars, Formula 1, and Indy cars . . .


. . . and I remember his awful Indy crash in '81


Then came back and raced the next year



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