Hanford through the lens of a teenager
Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 8:45 PM 
Lloyd Ruby, Jigger Sirous and George Follmer caught in a nice three-car battle during the 1969 Champ Car race at Hanford Motor Speedway.(Photo Copyright ©2011 Ken Durham, www.GearHeadPhotography.com)Reader Ken Durham shared some wonderful photos from the Champ Car races at Hanford Motor Speedway that he shot as a teenage fan.
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Art Pollard's beautiful Gerhardt Offy sits in the infields after retiring halfway through the 1969 Champ Car race at Hanford Motor Speedway. (Photo Copyright ©2011 Ken Durham, www.GearHeadPhotography.com)Durham recalls that he was 15 and 16 years old when he attended the four Champ Car races between November 1967 and April 1969. He had some great access and was able to snag some nice shots using a Yashica D camera.
Durham shared four of those copyrighted photos (©2011 Ken Durham, GearHead Photography).
The top photo comes from the April 1969 200-mile race and shows Jigger Sirous' #14 turbocharged Gerhardt 
Famed car owner Andy Granatelli "builds a sandwich" at Hanford Motor Speedway. (Photo Copyright ©2011 Ken Durham, www.GearHeadPhotography.com)Offy leading George Follmer's #62 Cheetah Chevy and Lloyd Ruby's #25 turbocharged Laycock Offy. Ruby would finish second and Follmer ninth. Sirois would later wreck, finishing 18th. Look how far down on the apron Follmer is, either by choice or not. Note at least one person standing on the other side of the wall.
The second shot shows Art Pollard's bright red STP Oil Treatment turbocharged Gerhardt Offy sitting in the infield. The car caught fire and retired after 67 of 134 laps. The infield doubled as a dragboat lake in earlier years, and you can see some of that uneven dirt amid the weeds.
Durham snagged a few lighter moments, including famous Andy Granatelli "building a sandwich" at the track and a nice moment with Lloyd Ruby in the infield after one of the 1968 races. To the right are fellow drivers Roger McCluskey and Bobby Unser (back to camera).
What wonderful moments. Thanks, Ken and GearHead Photography, for sharing them.
Lloyd Ruby chats with Roger McCluskey and Bobby Unser after one of the 1968 Champ Car races at Hanford Motor Speedway. (Photo Copyright ©2011 Ken Durham, www.GearHeadPhotography.com)
RELATED STORIES: Read more about Marchbanks Speedway and Hanford Motor Speedway in my Marchbanks section, including the regularly updated "History of Marchbanks Speedway, aka Hanford Motor Speedway."
Champ Car, Hanford Motor Speedway, Ken Durham in Marchbanks, Racing 
Reader Comments (1)
It's no secret that many teen boys would love to have their own car, to have the feel of the road and the need for speed being fulfilled. At times, though, seeing it is enough, since, as a spectator, you can still feel the roar and power of the engines of those vehicles meant for racing.