Gordon's first real job at 17 at Maserati Distributors in Beverly Hills. Max Kelly came in as the new service manager. This type '61 Maserati "Birdcage" was torn apart in a heap over in the corner. Max and Gordon put this thing together on their own time. With Billy Krause driving, they led every race they entered and won every race they finished, some five straight victories in 1962. Max became Gordon's life-long mentor.
Daytona 1965. Shelby American had received the first two Ford GT40s in late 1964. Gordon, who met Jim Travers in Nassau at the famous "Speed Weeks" in 1964, returned to southern California and Jim Travers recommended him as "Teenage Tuner" to Carroll Shelby. In January of 1965, he was assigned to the GT40 program (which consisted of two cars) as a tuner/mechanic. There were two mechanics per car in those days. This was the Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby car that won the race at Daytona. This was the first race that the GT40s ever finished, and it cemented the relationship between Henry Ford and Carroll Shelby as the principle force to bring the Ferraris down.
Road & Track magazine wanted to do a test report on the first Ford GT40 roadster. Team manager Carroll Smith, whom Gordon worked under, and Ken Miles and others, left for Riverside Raceway. There, in the 91 degree heat, they began testing, Miles driving and Gordon tuning the engine. At one point Miles told Gordon to jump in. So, Miles proceeds to go within one second of his fastest lap, no doubt to impress Gordon with his immense talent. Gordon got out of the car with all these miniature hot rubber balls sticking to his bare sweaty chest. Conversations ensued about the tune of the engine. Now at this point Carroll Smith tells Gordon to get in the car, he says "what do you mean?" Carroll then says "don't worry, I'm going with you. You drive." Gordon was nervous, but after some forty years he realized that Carroll was looking for a reason to go around Riverside at speed himself... great memories.
"Nurbergring" 1965. These are the "Flintstones" versions of racing pits of this famous 14 mile long circuit. Ford executive Ray Gettes, a "Fairlaner," next to a very weary Gordon (not having slept in some 40 hours) with Phil Hill. Phil, the first American world driving champion, was a great guy. He was quiet and calm and didn't say much, but then he had fits and spurts where he'd run around all hyper. We qualified second behind John Surtees' Ferrari P2. Phil and Bruce McLaren were driving and, per instructions from Carroll Smith, Gordon counseled Phil not to pop the clutch on the Le Mans start. Phil forgot or didn't listen and came around a few laps later, running in second place, and came in with a broken drive shaft coupling. Surtees' Ferrari won, but we would get our revenge later at Le Mans.
The Autodroma de Monza 1965. A couple officials flank the quartet in the center. To the left (with fake beard) Charlie Agapoo!, currently known as Charlambrose Agapiou, Esquire, now presiding over his own Rolls Royce Beverly Hills establishment. Carroll Shelby in trademark hat, Teen Tuner with epic Pompadour, slightly right Gordon's favorite, Bruce McLaren. We finished third while Bondurant and Allen Grant were cementing the World Championship victory with the Shelby Daytona coupes.
1965 Monza. On Wednesday before race day, Gordon spotted the Commandatore walking in the paddock area with his two bodyguards. Carroll Smith nudged Gordon, who was working on the back of the GT40, and said "there's your hero," gesturing toward Enzo across the courtyard. Gordon dropped his wrenches and proceeded straight for the Commandatore. Dressed in his Shelby shirt, he got within inches of Enzo and handed him this TRACO card. Enzo looked back toward the Ford GT and then to Gordon. Gordon mumbled something about his affection for the Commandatore in very bad broken Italian. Enzo pulled out his pen and signed the card... very fond memories.
This the 1967 Le Mans winning car. Gordon can be seen above the car in sunglasses next to his friend Charlie Agapiou to the left and his good friend Phil Henny to the right. Phil has written several books and helped Gordon write his first book (Raceman). His books can be seen on his web site, www.philhenny.com.
Winning Daytona 1965
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We lost Phil Remington February 9, 2013. Below, a tribute to Phil from Dan Gurney and Kathy Weida, who gave him a home, love, friendship and this bench for forty four years.
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