Really? I do not recall working that event in the 80s. The photo is shot from the photo booth on top of the first turn stands. But I now see that Earnhardt Wrangler Thunderbird which he drove in '82 and '83. He drove a Chevy in 1984. But I only know that because I Googled this. I did photos part time in the early 80s, so I must have been on the roof in Atlanta. Damn those two rear end accidents, lost a lot of memory. Or it could be I am getting old........
I do not remember if this is the chicken or the egg, now Gilles in front of Mario: Image Unavailable, Please Login
I put the cart in front of the horse with those other photos, so this is the start of that USGP at Long Beach, Gilles and Carlos, on the front row (Gilles was fast, but then, so was unappreciated Carlos who was on pole): Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
OK, so photos of Mario leading Gilles, Gilles leading Mario, but September is the month of Niki and James. So here is Niki (wish I understood my Photoshop so I could lighten up his face) at Long Beach in the Alfa, and James in the McLaren leading the Renault of Jabouille(?): Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wrangler is actually how I figured out when this pic was taken. in 1984 Wrangler sponsored two cars...Earnhardt's #3 Chevy, and Ricky Rudd's #15 Ford. all the other sponsor/manufacturer/car numbers line up for 1984 in that pic as well.
It's definitely '80s, since those are the downsized cars that I believe were first raced in 1980. I presume that's Cale in the lead, and Bobby Allison was in the #22, but who's in the Valvoline Ford alongside him?
A relaxed Mario on Saturday during USGP at Long Beach practice and qualifying. Next to him is I believe his nephew, and next to him is Mario's teammate, Ronnie Peterson: Image Unavailable, Please Login
I believe Michigan International, and for sure Mario in front of Rutherford: Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great pictures - all of them - if that is Mario's nephew i guess it would be John Andretti to be that old
Time to finish photos from the USGP at Long Beach. Another of Gilles: Image Unavailable, Please Login
Mario has another nephew, forgot his first name, and I believe that is the one in the photos. I remember he did try the short lived USA version of the BTCC, but he was not on the level of John, let alone Michael.
All of the photos you see here on FChat, are the rejects, the ones sent back to me as "unacceptable". But I must admit, I really like this photo, I think it is really good. Oh well. The most important lap, the finish, of the USGP at Long Beach, Carlos wins this one: Image Unavailable, Please Login
