[Book Review] Dan Gurney’s Eagle Racing Cars

Dan Gurney’s Eagle Racing Cars

By John Zimmerman

Dan Gurney had already established himself as one of America’s dominant international racecar drivers when, in 1965, he set out on a path that select few drivers ever pursue—to build and win in a car of his own making. Back in Southern California, Gurney set up his All American Racers shop, and with the help of the likes of Phil Remington set about building the first Eagle—a gorgeous, yet menacing-looking machine that would indeed win the Belgian Grand Prix in 1967. While Gurney would eventually retire from active driving, he and his All American Racers went on to build a total of 157 racing Eagles that would compete and win in Formula One, endurance sports car racing, Formula 5000 and the Indianapolis 500.

In Dan Gurney’s Eagle Racing Cars well-respected motor-sport journalist John Zimmerman examines the technical details and development of each Eagle variant, interlacing commentary from Gurney and many of the engineers and technicians that brought the Eagles to life. Whether reviewing the chapter on the relatively obscure Eagle Formula Ford or the well-known MkIII GTP car, one can’t help but be impressed with the level of information and detail provided for each car. Another great treat in this book is the fact that Zimmerman was given unprecedented access to all of the AAR archives and files, which means that this book is rife with rare photographs of the early development and testing of so many significant Eagle racecars. Certainly this is the most thorough and comprehensive analysis yet of AAR’s Eagle lineage and will be a must-have for anyone interested in Gurney and his Eagles.

Available for US$75.00 directly from the publisher at www.bullpublishing.com or most automotive book vendors.