• The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation has selected motorcycle champion Paul Goldsmith, and veteran car owner Pat Patrick as this year’s class at its Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Goldsmith is better known for his stock car exploits with both USAC and NASCAR, but he also made six starts in the Indy 500 between 1958 and 1963, recording a best finish of 3rd in 1960 with Norm Demler’s Epperly laydown Offy. Patrick’s cars won the Indy 500 in 1973, 1982 and 1989, the first two wins scored by Gordon Johncock (Wildcat-Cosworth), the third by Emerson Fittipaldi (Penske-Chevrolet). Patrick’s teams also won Indycar National Championships with Johncock in 1976 and Fittipaldi in 1989.
• Engine wizard Larry Slutter has died at the age of 73. Larry brought Cosworth officially to the USA after working on the DFV/DFX engines in the mid ’70s at Vel’s Parnelli Jones with Chickie Hirashima. Larry grew up in Pennsylvania around the Andrettis and the dirt track scene, honing his race engine skills. Always looking ahead, he helped many a race team before landing at Parnelli’s shop in Torrance, California. He saw the potential of the V8 Cosworth over the then well-used Offenhauser 4-cylinder, and struck a deal with Keith Duckworth to start a Cosworth supply facility in the USA. He also started Cosworth’s BDP midget engine program and later worked for Maury Kraines’ Kraco operation and TRD. To his wife of 50 years, Alice, and all his many friends in the sport, Vintage Racecar extends its sincerest condolences.
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