1973-74 IROC season

[historyguy67]

And...Mark Donahue didn't win because he was the test driver...he won because he was the best driver in the world...the guy could literally drive and win in anything - stock cars, open wheeled cars, and sports cars.

[historyguy67]

Love this video! The first IROC was awesome (wasn't it great when it really was an "International" Race of "Champions", not just a bunch of NASCAR drivers with a couple of Indy racers thrown in?). Riverside was awesome...I miss that place to this day! Chris Economaki calling the race...great!

[PeterMayer]

wow, what a lineup!

[raiders1967]

Thanks for posting this video.

[UmustBk1dd1ng]

In 1973 Rodger Penske bought 16 (I think) Porsche RSR 3.0 liter race cars, and he created the IROC concept. Al Unser could not compete because he had a contract with Firestone, and these cars ran Goodyear tires. Three races were run at Riverside (which is now the site of a shopping mall), and one race was run at Daytona. ABC covered the four races, which may be where Penske made his money with this endeavor (my conjecture).

[vince065us]

@UmustBk1dd1ng Mark Donahue was the test driver,and having an unfair advbantage,won the series.His win at Daytona was a classic,He retired after that race,only to un-retire late in 1974.Sadly,he died of injuries in Austria in 1975.

[33skoalbandit]

You're such a trolling faggot.

[tallykniffen]

This was great racing back in the day!

[Crisgo3d]

Nice, this is a whos who of racing.

[VooDooRocketry]

I believe the Porsche factory put up a lot of the original cost. Once the replacement costs skyrocketed Budweiser came in to foot much of the bill. They switched to camaros and had a near full time crew headed by Dave Marcis and Jay Signore which had to be paid for along with the cost of replacing the wrecks. All worked well until Budweiser dropped out and it was a continual spiral down with more expensive race cars, higher costs and still a year round crew to pay for.

[VooDooRocketry]

Back in the day these guys had no regard for the cars, some finishes had 4 cars on large racetracks. I think the cost of new Porsches forced them to Camaros. Al Unser was a one man car crusher in the IROC series. If you ever get a chance to see an IROC camaro headed for Lake Lloyd at Daytona.....that's Al.

[OWfan]

What a find! Thanks. :)

[ElQuiocos]

Thanks a lot for this !

[AceWalkerAstronaut]

"I think they are $12,000, imported Corvairs."-Bobby Allison on the Porsche 911.

This is the kind of racing coverage I grew up watching when I was a little kid in the 1970s-tape-delayed highlight reels on "Wide World of Sports."