July 22, 2025 • 42 mins
Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they look back at the career of Gordon Johncock, and how he achieved racing immortality in the 1973 Indianapolis 500.
In the second half of the show, Jake and Mike continue their conversation about Gordon Johncock, how he nearly won the 1977 Indianapolis 500, his relationship with STP, and how he won his second Indy 500 in 1982.
Then to wrap up another edition of the show, they talk about the end of Gordon Johncock’s career and retirement.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Only the best run here of the Indianapolis five hundred.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Roy, who do you feel we'll have to be this
year's race?
Speaker 3 (00:07):
People like A. J.
Speaker 4 (00:08):
Foyt and Bobby Answer.
Speaker 5 (00:10):
Prices and by the sugar, flatly and incredible Fanny Sullivan's
fun in front of Mario and Freddie Ay jh A hun.
Speaker 6 (00:21):
Hundred.
Speaker 7 (00:22):
Beyond the Bricks with g Query and Mike Thompson, brought
to you by.
Speaker 8 (00:26):
Quality supply and tool.
Speaker 7 (00:28):
Think outside the box store on ninety three five and
one oh seven five the fan.
Speaker 9 (00:39):
Inside the BET three six five command Center Jake Querry
along with Mike Thompson Landon Kuon's putting it all together
for us. It is beyond the bricks, brought to you,
as you heard there by quality supply and tool. Our
look at the history, the names, the features, the folks,
the audio of the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mike, tonight,
we get the pleasure at as we again are in
(01:01):
the week of the Brickyard four hundred of taking a
look at those drivers who tested themselves not just an
Indy car, but in stock car as well. And we're
going to start off tonight by talking about a guy
that I think is one of the more fun personalities
and the guy that no matter what car it was,
he was going to get in it and say, my
right foot is going down to the floor and this
(01:23):
thing is going to go as fast as possible, and
a hard charger.
Speaker 8 (01:26):
Talking about Gordon john.
Speaker 10 (01:28):
Cock, that's right, And he has a bit of a
reputation as being kind of a grumpy old man of
IndyCar racing, and he's really not that.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
He's a very nice guy and he's a.
Speaker 10 (01:39):
He's a fun person to talk to, but you know,
he didn't do a lot of interviews and he didn't
do a lot of talking, so he has kind of this,
I think again reputation of not being approachable. But I've
always thought he's one of the nicer guys and as
you said, absolute hard charger and an incredibly tough competitor.
Speaker 9 (01:58):
I had the pleasure, i will interject, I guess of
meeting Gordon Johncock at his home about three or four
years ago up in Michigan where he works, obviously in
the lumber industry to this day, and I asked him
about the fact that you just don't see him around
as much as some of the other drivers, and to
your point, Mike, I think kind of that stereotype of well,
(02:21):
he's this grumpy old man, that was not the case
at all. He was extremely warm and fun and hospitable.
But he just said to me, you know, look, I'm
very involved in the industry that I'm in now, and
I enjoyed racing, and I enjoyed my competitors, but that
was a job I had, and that was a job
that I no longer have and I'm onto a different
point in my life. I enjoyed it. I have no
(02:43):
ill will about it, but I have other things going
on now. I thought that was a perfectly suitable answer
and explanation, quite frankly on the life of Gordon Johncock.
But of course Gordon Johncock and we did talk about
what we'll get to later in the program is a
two time Indianapolis five hundred winner, and I think that
there is some justice in the fact that he became
(03:04):
a two time winner because the first win that he
had was in a year that just was Mike, Let's
be real, very few people like to go back and
reflect and look back on the nineteen seventy three Indy
five hundred because it was a year that just seemed
star crossed from the very very beginning.
Speaker 10 (03:24):
Oh absolutely, I mean, seventy three was an utter disaster
from the beginning to end, and it was just, you know,
so so many negative things happened, and so it is
gratifying that Gordy was able to win a second five
hundred and win it in the way he did win it,
you know, that was it was such a positive victory,
(03:46):
exciting victory, one of the greatest finishes of all time.
So it went the full five hundred miles, and so,
you know, it was such a nice thing for Gordy
to get a second win.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
That was such a positive victory for him.
Speaker 9 (04:00):
Jordan Khan Gordon Johncock excuse me, was part of the
nineteen sixty five rookie class at the Indianapolis five and
a mile race in nineteen seventy three was a range
shortened race that was marred by all kinds of tragedy
and weather and all kinds of ugly events. But Gordon
John Kock led the race late. Matter of fact, he
was leading on lap one twenty ish. Here's Gordon John
(04:22):
Coock leading the race.
Speaker 11 (04:24):
Now we have one hundred and twenty laps with Gordon
John Kock and car number twenty still holding on the
first place, and number two Bill Vukovich and second. Next
time Gordy comes by, let's follow him around just to
see if our fellows on the turns can have any
observations that might be at all unique about the way
he's driving the race. How much can one describe a
boy a car going vibe?
Speaker 12 (04:44):
Our fellow do a pretty sent say for the job.
Speaker 11 (04:46):
There he is, Mike, Mike, can you pick up Gordy
John Coock number twenty?
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Okay, Siddy just went by here driving very smoothly in
the groove and rattles importing this those twenty some seconds.
I mean he and the number two car, believe Vukovich
and the night he's gotten trafficking between him six or
seven cars, So that could be a difficult fight for
Hukovich to get through through all that.
Speaker 9 (05:08):
As we mentioned, there were all kinds of things that
took place over the course of the nineteen seventy three
Indianapolis five hundred which were not necessarily memorable, But the
race was eventually called with Gordon John Cock in the lead,
meaning that made him the winner. Even Sid Collins, the
voice of the Indianapolis five hundred was glad it was over.
Speaker 12 (05:28):
And uh Andy Grennatelly. It looks like, guys, this couldn't
happen again. I couldn't lose now, could I? As it
happened in the past. To him, I think the race
is called now Yavid Marlin fin the chief stewart says
it is the end of the race. So there's something
else new this time dining and put in the file.
We had the end of the race and no checkered
flag was even waved. No checkered flag was actually waved.
(05:52):
I did see Pat Vdan reach out and take his
black and white checkered umbrella and put it up, but
he just carries that anyway.
Speaker 8 (05:59):
Yes, John and Mike.
Speaker 9 (06:02):
Even though it was a rain shortened race that made
Gordon John Coock a winner for the first time in Indianapolis,
the reality is that John Cock was a deservant winner.
Speaker 10 (06:13):
Oh yeah, absolutely, I mean he was. He was up
there all day and leading and one of the dominant cars,
and so it's not one of those flukey situations where
you know, he happened to be leading at the only
lap he led was the lap that they called the race.
I mean, Gordon Johncock was an absolutely deserving winner to
win the race that year, but I mean it was
(06:33):
it was such a tragedy because obviously his teammate Sweet
Savage was was critically injured and would later pass away
and a member of the Andy Grant Telly team that
you know, he was the Pat Patrick team rather that
he was on and Andy Granat Telly sponsored with STP.
You know, Armando Tehran was fatally injured on pitt Lane
(06:55):
when the Swede Savage accident happened. He was run over
by a fire truck. So it was it was just
tragic all around.
Speaker 9 (07:02):
But Gordon john Cock in terms of that win itself,
did talk about the fact that he was somebody who
earned the victory.
Speaker 6 (07:11):
It didn't really make a lot of difference to me.
I guess it was good to have it over with
because of everything that had happened in all the rain
and the delays, and I guess it was good to
have it over with instead of continuing on. Who knows
how much longer it would have taken to be able
(07:33):
to run the race. I know only one hundred and
thirty three laps or something like that, but I think
we had led seventy some laps out of the race,
out of what had been run, and so you know,
I felt myself that we earned the race. It wasn't
(07:53):
a situation where, you know, we were running tenth, fifteenth
or what and they stopped the race to rain and
they called it, and you win the race. We had
been running up good laps and leading the race.
Speaker 9 (08:14):
Mike had mentioned the fact that there was this kind
of haze over the victory itself. After the race, as
a matter of fact, the team immediately went to Methodist
Hospital to visit the aforementioned Swede Savage, who was critically
injured in the race and would pass away about a
month later. But with all the delays and everything going on,
there was no victory banquet. Speedway historian emeritus Donald Davidson
(08:37):
on the sad circumstances that followed after the race was called.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
His teammate was Sweet Savage, who was very seriously injured and.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Would lady pass away.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
All the team went down to Methodist Hospital to see him,
and then when they came out of there, it was
at night and it was raining again, and they realized,
wait a minute, you know, we haven't eaten today. We're hungry,
and they went it's never really been. The story keeps changing.
But they stopped at a fast food place on sixteenth
(09:08):
Street somewhere, and I'm not sure if that was Burger
Chef at the time or if it was a little
place called Burger and Steak.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
I think is what it might have been.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
But anyway, they did stop and have fast food at night,
and so that and then as the summer wore on
because it was such a horrible year, he basically.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
You know, he got the money, but really not.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Very much credit and he's I remember talking with him
at the time, and then it would be like August
and then they started to get people would call and
they get letters and cards, and it was like three
months later the people started to say, you know what,
you didn't win it.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Your face is on the going to be on the
bog Warner Trophy.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
So you know, it's it's been a while, but congratulations.
Speaker 9 (09:52):
Gordon john Cox says it didn't bother him necessarily to
not have a victory banquet after that seventy three race.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
I never was one that into that making appearances and
all that, and it didn't really bother me because you know,
we didn't have a fixtory band quit and in shelf
like that.
Speaker 9 (10:17):
Mike, as you had mentioned, Sweet Savage unfortunately but ultimately
passed from his injuries. And that really had an impact
I think on Gordon Johncock, did it not, And the
way that john Cock interacted with competitors and teammates.
Speaker 10 (10:30):
Moving forward, well, it's interesting that you mentioned earlier on
about how about Gordon Johncock doesn't come back very often
to the speedway and things like that, is you know,
he didn't get very close to the other drivers. He
wasn't one of those people who, you know, he had
a best friend, you know, Mario Andretti was famous for
having best friends. Bobby Unser was a close friend, Billy
(10:50):
Foster was a close friend, you know, things like that,
And Gordon Johncock really didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Get very close to the other drives.
Speaker 10 (10:55):
In fact, he had a famous feud with Johnny Rutherford
at one point where they were really going at it
pretty heavily. So you know, he didn't really very get
very close to the other drivers.
Speaker 6 (11:06):
I never really got close to the drivers because I
didn't know if something like that, you know, would affect
me and affect my ability to be driving. I just
never got that close. You surely think about it. But
(11:29):
you know, if you're not really close to somebody that
I don't think it bothers you as much as it
would if you were buddy buddies every day and talking,
you know. But it wasn't good.
Speaker 9 (11:46):
Ultimately, victory would come again for Gordon john Cock. But
there were also years where he was part of a
duel that led to another famous victory. We'll get into
all of that as we continue to look back on
his career on this episode Beyond the Bricks.
Speaker 7 (12:05):
This is Beyond the Bricks brought to you by Quality
Supply into Think outside the Box Store on ninety three
to five and one oh seven five the.
Speaker 13 (12:14):
Fans, different races, different cars, different drivers, but the same
results victory as Gordon john Cock and Richard Petty win
back to back of Indian and TAYTONA. Both fought friction
and ware with SDV oil priests both for harmful sludge
(12:36):
and of races with the SDV double oil filter. And
that's a winning combination in anybody's engine, including yours.
Speaker 9 (12:47):
That commercial from nineteen seventy three STP. Richard Petty and
the man that we're talking about tonight, Gordon john Cox,
Jake Querry Mike Thompson here landing Kuon's putting it all
together for us. On this episode of Beyond the Bricks, Mike,
we talked about the fact that Gordon Johncock won that
race back in nineteen seventy three, but four years later
in nineteen seventy seven, the second five hundred win for
(13:09):
Gordon Johncock was within his grasp. We will always remember
that race for the fact that aj Foyt would become
the guy to win his fourth Indy five hundred, but
Gordon Johncock had it within contention for the better part
of that race.
Speaker 10 (13:24):
Oh absolutely, I mean, Gordon Johncock was the guy to
beat I think that day, you know, and then circumstances
took it away from him. And one of the unfortunate
things Gordon Johncock was really overcome by heat in the
second half of that race. His crew is actually taking
buckets of water and just dumping it on him in
the cockpit and pouring it on him. And actually when
(13:46):
Gordon drops out of the race, you know, he went
down into the creek to try to cool off a
little bit, because that's that's how much the heat was
really kind of affecting Gordon Johncock in the second half
of the seventy seven race.
Speaker 8 (13:58):
Here's how it sounded.
Speaker 9 (13:58):
But Gordon Johncock rowed out of that race in nineteen
seventy seven.
Speaker 8 (14:02):
So the chase is on.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
But Gordon john Cock has pulled over to the left
side of the straightaway.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
He appears to be slowing.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
He has cut his car in off of the apron
at the south end of the main straightaway. AJ Foyt
is now our leader. There is apparently something wrong in
Gordon Johncock's car.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
We see the We see.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
Gordon Johncock climbing out of his machine at the moment
on the grass that used to be of victory lane
here at Indianapolis. It is not victory lane for Gordon Johncock.
Speaker 9 (14:36):
As we mentioned, AJ Foyt would go on to win
the nineteen seventy seven Indy five hundred, his fourth victory
that would make him the first four time winner. He
did a couple of things after winning that race. First,
of course, famously, he took the victory lap in the
pace car with Tony Holman. Another that he did afterwards
was talking about chasing down Gordon john Cock.
Speaker 14 (14:54):
You know, in seventy five we should have won seventy six,
but we've run out of field twenty seventy seven. We
run a few and we got thirty two seconds down,
and we knew we were faster than Mgnaughty. And my
chief mechanic, Jack Strange, which he still works for him
in Houston. He says, I said, they'll let us get
within ten seconds and then they'll turn the boost up,
(15:15):
and I'll turn my boost up.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
That time.
Speaker 14 (15:17):
You could run whatever boot, but I didn't want to
take a chance of breaking the motor.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Before I got close to him.
Speaker 14 (15:22):
It went ten eight nine, you know, I was catching
him on a two second. Jack said, if you turn
the boost up, I said no, I said, they got
to be in trouble. And then he blew up. Because
I knew Big Naughty, knowing the way I RaSE, he
wasn't going to let me get within ten seconds of him,
and because I kind of knew how he operated before.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
When I'll be.
Speaker 14 (15:41):
Wet and lead, he said, back all, back off, and
then start picking it up. And that's where we worked
good together. And that tree and I said to Jack,
which catch him pretty quick? I said, And they let
me give him about ten seconds. Then he'll send guard. Well,
I guess he was in trouble. Before that, I did
not know that, and Jack then thought I turned the boot.
I said, no, I'm still running the same boot.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I said.
Speaker 14 (16:02):
They got to be in trouble, you know, and then
they come apart to motor it.
Speaker 8 (16:08):
You know.
Speaker 9 (16:08):
Another common thread, Mike, between aj Foyd and Gordon john
Cock is both of them had the pleasure and the
benefit of working with a guy that was as good
at any when it came to working as a mechanic
on those cars and that era of the Indy five hundred.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
That's right.
Speaker 10 (16:24):
Both of them had considerable success working with the great
George McNaughty. I mean, the you know George McNaughty I
think sometimes gets overlooked, as weird as that might sound,
of how great he was.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
And so I had.
Speaker 10 (16:37):
The opportunity actually to talk to aj Foyd in that
last clip about you know, his chasing down Gordon John
Coock in nineteen seventy seven, and I had a chance
to talk to Gordon Johncock about working with George mgnanti.
Speaker 8 (16:51):
Gordon John Coock on that exact topic.
Speaker 6 (16:54):
Yeah, we had a good relationship, you know. I I
wasn't one to tell the mechanics what to do to
the car. I would tell them what the car, how
the car was performing, uh and you know, pushing loose
(17:14):
or whatever. I would tell them and they would make
the adjustments, and you know, kind of in that way,
you didn't have no arguments back and forth what to do.
They knew the adjustments to make, and I drove the car.
And I think that it's a lot better relationships than
(17:35):
somebody that really a driver that really knows how or
tries to tell them what to put in the car,
what haf springs or shocks or something.
Speaker 9 (17:49):
You had mentioned any granted Telly earlier, Mike, and of
course Andy Granta Telly is so synonymous with STP. Same
can be said, would you agree, Mike. For Gordon john Cock.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Oh absolutely know.
Speaker 10 (18:00):
He won both of his Indianapolis five hundreds driving for SDP.
He had a great relationship with that company. And one
thing that we might overlook a little bit is, you know,
he had several starts in NASCAR and he drove a
car actually sponsored by Pylon Wiper Blade, which was a
division of STP at the time. And in the nineteen
seventy three Firecracker four hundred, Gordon Jahnkawk finished fourth and
(18:24):
the top four finishers were David Pearson, Richard Petty, Buddy Baker,
Gordon Johncock. I mean that's some heavy hitter names at
the top of that order. So Gordon Jackkack had a
great relationship with SDP.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Yes, you know, I had a good relationship with STP.
You know, they were a good sponsor and treated me well.
And I guess one thing I liked about it, I
didn't have to make a lot of appearances. Richard Petty
(18:59):
was all so sponsored by FTP and they had him
do most of that. He was well known, better so
than me, and they had Richard Petty doing a lot
of the appearances, and I didn't really have to do
that kind of stuff. I like to run the race,
(19:20):
get in my car and drive home or fly one
or the other. I had other businesses and go to
work at home.
Speaker 9 (19:29):
Mike, we talked about the fact that, and I have
talked with Gordon John Cock. I know you have as
well about the fact that it was only fitting that
he eventually would get that second win, partially just so
that the nineteen seventy three win was not the one,
you know, for a guy that was such a great
driver to have just that race that so many people
would want to forget as your only win.
Speaker 8 (19:50):
Almost seems like it.
Speaker 9 (19:51):
Would have been unjust and that took care of itself,
as the racing gods often do. When the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway selected Gordon Johncock as her winner in nineteen eighty two,
and I believe, Mike, it is my belief. Now nineteen
ninety two comes into play as well, but I personally
believe that the eighty two finished was probably the greatest
lap shootout finish in the history of the radio network
(20:12):
announcing the Indianapolis five hundred.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Oh, I agree one hundred percent.
Speaker 10 (20:16):
I think eighty two is the greatest finish, and I
also think eighty two is the greatest radio call, and
ninety two is a great radio call as well, So
I mean they're very, very close, but eighty two is
a great, great radio call.
Speaker 9 (20:30):
Radio television. No matter what it was, it was a
fabulous finish. The nineteen eighty two Indianapolis five hundred and
Mayors is right there.
Speaker 8 (20:36):
The white flag. It's a truck race.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
They're side by side, Johncock and Beirs Bears on the inside,
John Cock Beer's force downing on.
Speaker 9 (20:44):
The line run Judge Cock cuts him off Hey, what
this looks like the start of this race?
Speaker 8 (20:49):
Doc Cock gunn bears down turn two. Now Gordy pulls.
Speaker 14 (20:52):
Away a little bit.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
It's Fiers gets a little squirrely and turre number two.
Speaker 8 (20:55):
They're on the backstretch. It's still Gordon.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Judge cut Maars has.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Time, but he's about ten car legs behind.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
As a streak down the five age of a nile
back street to turn tray less than half.
Speaker 7 (21:06):
A lep ago Cody Chockcock by five ti legs.
Speaker 8 (21:08):
I'm a Rick Bears during.
Speaker 9 (21:09):
The north short shoot here like com this is the
final quarter lap, John.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
Cocky dasy lead the voice of the five hundred pulp page.
Speaker 13 (21:17):
Who's gonna last?
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Gordon Johncock off the fourth turn, Mirrors has right behind him.
Johncock bears thys a try Ton Cocks, I lost the
whole him, suck on God?
Speaker 8 (21:30):
John Cock has what he have second five hundred.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Rick Bears humps across at second place Famo side by.
Speaker 8 (21:38):
Side Gordon John Cock.
Speaker 9 (21:40):
His thoughts on winning that race, the nineteen eighty two
Indianapolis five.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
Hundred, Wow, Oh I have okay? When I won the
laugh right eighty two when I beat Rick?
Speaker 8 (21:54):
You know.
Speaker 6 (21:57):
Were you know, experience really took effect. And when I
think when more pressure was put on me when I
was driving, the better I did, and the way I
had to drive that last lap down on the apron,
my car was pushing so bad. If I'd have had
(22:19):
to get out of the throttle coming out of the corners,
Rick would have went by me and I had to
get way down on the bottom and that kind of
helped make the rear end a little bit loose, and
I got so low and turn three I'd never run
down that low before Rick even thought I was going
to lose the car. It got jumped out with me
(22:42):
the back back end, but was able to save it
and go on to win.
Speaker 9 (22:49):
Mike, we talked the other day in starting and resuming
again Beyond the Bricks in anticipation of the Brickyard four hundred,
about the fact that this past may was difficult for
you because you had the race itself, which was a
rain race, and even though it went two hundred laps,
and then you lost your mother shortly after. And the
(23:09):
reality is that for Gordon Johncock, even though there was
a celebration of winning the nineteen eighty two race, it
also was one that once again he had to be
heavy hearted after the fact that he had won that
race in nineteen eighty two.
Speaker 10 (23:23):
That's right, and it's really really sad because you know,
we talked in the last segment about the fact he
didn't get a victory banquet in nineteen seventy three, and
then in eighty two the victory banquet was basically overshadowed
and made it to be basically a somber affair for
Gordon Johncock because he lost his mom and Donald. In
(23:44):
this next clip, it's a very poignant sound bite talking
about how somber.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
The whole situation was. And so you really have to
feel for.
Speaker 10 (23:52):
Gordon Johncock about the fact that, you know, these two triumphs,
you know, which should be two of the greatest days
of his life, you know, they were both really ended
up being both pretty somber affairs for Gordon John Catt.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
There is a downside which most people don't know that
there's this terribly cruel fate. John Cox's mother was very
sick and maybe you don't know this. John Cock's mother
was very sick and after the race he flew on
the Patrick plane. They flew him back up so he
could see his mother, who was very old. And then
(24:27):
they left and came back down. And I don't know
whether they came that night or the next morning, but
they had the day after shots, so they did. The
day after shots. They go to the victory banquet and
he told me, he said, as we walked in the
door to get home after the victory banquet, the phone
(24:49):
was ringing and it was somebody to tell me that
my mother had passed away. And he tears up talking
about it then and now, and I think, what a
cruel twist of fate. And you know, you lose your mother,
but of all times, your greatest moment just got destroyed.
And so you know, paid to throw cold border on
(25:12):
the thing. But that you know, that stayed with me.
There was a downside that most the general public nevenue.
Speaker 9 (25:18):
Gordon john Cock. He would still have great stories that
could be told about him, including how he ventured into
retirement and Donald Davidson's favorite recollection of the man from Michigan.
Speaker 8 (25:30):
We'll talk about that when we come back to Beyond
the Brakes.
Speaker 6 (25:33):
Jesus.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
He's the BET three six' five command.
Speaker 7 (25:37):
Center get your race updates here all month long and
make sure to enter for your chance to win five
hundred dollars by predicting the winner of this year's. Race
On july twenty, seventh two to one oh seven five
defan dot com to. Winter now here's your twenty twenty
five race, update brought you By bet three six.
Speaker 9 (25:54):
Five your race, update we will give you a schedule
update for what is going to be taking place this
weekend at The Indianapolis Motor. Speedway On, saturday gates open
at eleven o'clock in the, morning that is just two
hours before the qualifying gets underway for The expinity cars
in anticipation of.
Speaker 8 (26:12):
The pinzoil two.
Speaker 9 (26:13):
Fifty then at two thirty five THE Nascar cup qualifying takes.
Place that will be a fifty five minute affair concluding
at three point thirty in the.
Speaker 8 (26:22):
Afternoon at four point.
Speaker 9 (26:23):
Thirty On, saturday it is The pinzoil two point, fifty
which Those expinity cars always put on a good show
at sixteenth In georgetown again four point thirty On. Saturday
Then sunday two o'clock it is the running of THE
Nascar Cup brickyard four hundred at The Indianapolis Motor.
Speaker 8 (26:41):
Speedway this is.
Speaker 7 (26:47):
Beyond the bricks brought to you by quality, supply intol
think outside the box store on ninety three five and
one oh seven, five the, Fan.
Speaker 9 (26:57):
Jake querry And Mike thompson Landing huon's putting it all
together for. Us the met three sixty five command center
is where we are for beyond the bricks and of
course quality supply and tool helping make it all. Possible
we appreciate that greatly as we talk about those. Personalities
in The Indianapolis Motor speedway, again you just heard me
Mention saturday eleven o'clock the gates will be. Open it
(27:20):
will be qualifying day AT. Ims one o'clock in the,
afternoon The infinity cars will. Qualify then at two thirty
Five cup cars will qualify before the four point thirty
running of the Pins oil two. Fifty Those exfinity, cars
LIKE i, mentioned always put on a good show AT.
Ims then two o'clock it is On sunday The brickyard
(27:41):
four hundred that will. Run of those drivers in the
history of racing that have run Both cup cars And indye,
Cars Gordon johncock one of them that is the subject
of our discussion, today And. Mike one of the things
THAT i think is interesting when you talk About gordon John,
cock were any of his contemporaries and competitors of that.
Era is the fact that when you think about John, Cock,
(28:04):
rutterford The, Uncers Mario, Emerson, Fittipaldi Rick, meres so many
of those drivers obviously as they were competitors with one,
another their retirements seemingly came within about a five to
seven year window of one, another which led to a
complete changing of the guard of the stars of IndyCar
(28:27):
racing in The indianapolis five. Hundred But Gordon johncock was
one of those that was kind of the first to
start to see that light coming through the tunnel of
the fact that it was time to go on and
advance into another. Career but his retirement came really, when
to use a racing, term seemingly there was still some
fuel in the.
Speaker 10 (28:46):
Tank oh, ABSOLUTELY i mean his first retirement was a
huge shock to everybody when he decided to. Retire the first,
time it was just in the middle of the week
and and right before qualifying and he just, decided you, know,
map that's, It i'm going to. Retire and he was
(29:06):
still basically at the top of his. Game you, know
he had run the full eighty four season and and
all of a sudden in eighty five he retired and
then had second thoughts and decided to come out of.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Retirement but it really.
Speaker 10 (29:18):
Was interesting the fact that he just you, know he
decided in eighty, five you, Know i'm done and that's.
Speaker 8 (29:24):
It you.
Speaker 9 (29:25):
Know one of the THINGS i think that this kind
of shows About John. Cock and it's disingenuous for me
to say THAT i Know Gordon John. Cock, well you,
KNOW i think we always have within our job and
we probably or at LEAST i should clarify for, folks
it is true that we have a unique access to
the drivers both of past and, present of The indianapolis
(29:47):
five hundred or IndyCar racing in, general and it gives
you glimpse in perspective into sometimes what, motivates what drives
pardon the, pun these drivers that we get so much
enjoyment and, Watching but it doesn't mean that we're necessarily
involved in the day to day in seeing who and
what they, are but we get glimpse of. It and
(30:08):
one thing About Gordon johncock THAT i have always respected
and the little glimpses That i've been able to see
behind the curtain mic is he is a guy who
certainly is very confident and comfortable in who he, is
and at the same time is very confident in making
the decisions that are best For Gordon johncock and not
(30:28):
necessarily always falling in line With AND i don't mean
that in a rebellious, sense but somebody who is going
to do what he wants to do as opposed to
conforming to what is always kind of the norm within
the boundaries of his, profession if that makes sense What i'm.
Speaker 8 (30:47):
Saying, no that's.
Speaker 10 (30:48):
RIGHT i Mean Gordon johncock is his own. Man it's
interesting because he during his racing, career at one point
he moved To arizona and he lived In arizona AND
i had a ranch and was kind of doing some
ranching and things like, that and that was kind of
a passion of his for a. While and then he
honestly kind of got tired of it and didn't like
(31:09):
the ranching anymore and decided to move back To, michigan
which is you know where he's. From, originally he's from
from a town In hate Called, Hastings michigan By Cold
water where Also Scottie braden was From Coldwater. Michigan and
it's interesting because then he got so interested in this
in this lumber, mill the saw mill that he, bought
(31:31):
and as you, said he he's still doing the sawmill every.
Speaker 8 (31:35):
Day you.
Speaker 10 (31:36):
KNOW i called up there and spoke to his wife
a couple of, times AND i wanted to speak To
gordy and she, said he's a Sawmill and you're, thinking you,
Know gordon John cook's at the sawmill every day. STILL i,
mean he's he just likes doing it and he enjoys,
it and like you, said this is the passion and
this is what he's interested in doing. Now so he's
(31:57):
the person who he's going to do his own. Thing
and as you, said he's a nonconformist in that he's
going to What Gordon johncock wants to do is what
he's going to.
Speaker 9 (32:06):
Do and in nineteen eighty, five what that was that
he wanted to, do As mike had, mentioned while still
essentially in the middle of his, game the surprising announcement
that he would, retire and of course it would end
up being for the first Time Donald davidson On gordon
John cock's first retirement.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
And he practiced and on the night before or the
day before the first qualifying day he announced that he was.
Retiring and it was kind of stunning really because it
just seemed to come out of. Nowhere but in fact
he actually came on this program that, evening on The
(32:44):
friday evening and to say that he was. Done AND i,
said you, know you might rethink, this and he, said,
No i'm happy with the decision And i'm. Done, well
he soon regretted, it but, anyway so he did not
run in the race and they Hired Don whittington to
qualify the car and Then gordy was a driver expert
(33:06):
along With Roger woods for the. Race, well during the
winter he rethought, it decided he wanted to come, back
but he Assume patrick would take him, back but they, said,
no We're we're not going to be doing it With gordy.
Speaker 9 (33:25):
Anymore John cock would come back and race, again and
as a matter of, fact would do so and in some,
variations in some, spots do so really well and with great.
Speaker 8 (33:39):
Note as a.
Speaker 9 (33:39):
Matter of, Fact Gordon johncock's career would in his return
show the same form that Made gordon John cock not
just a two time winner the eighty five, hundred but
a racing legend in.
Speaker 8 (33:50):
General also in coming.
Speaker 9 (33:51):
Back it led to one of our speedway historian Emeritus
Donald davidson's favorite stories about the two time.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Winner Gordon John, Ky Ron hamilgarn And Jonathan bird were.
Partners Stan fox was the main. Driver they also Had
Buddy lazier in a car and they had this third. Car,
Well Jonathan bird, thought, let's you, know aim for the
top and ninety one was a year that Al ancer
(34:21):
didn't have a ride and he was holding out for something,
special And Jonathan bird took him to dinner and said
drive for. Us, well al didn't really want to do
it because it was A. Carsworth, well they then at
the same, time but they were talking To Johnny.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
Rutherford Johnny rutherford didn't want to take.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
It And Johnny rutherford at that time he wasn't doing
the pace car, thing but he was doing the radio.
Broadcast and SO i, said why wouldn't you take the?
Car he, SAID i don't want to drive.
Speaker 8 (34:47):
It it's A.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Carsworth AND i, said But, johnny you know you had
twenty four starts and now there's been some years when
you didn't make, it AND i know that twenty five
was very important to. You you could make the, step
and he, SAID i don't want to be in it
UNLESS i can. Win so then the next THING i
remember Hearing John.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Cock's going to drive.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
IT i, Said, johncock you know he hasn't run for a. While,
well Ron hemilgern really liked John cock from previous, years
so he called him and John cock was on his
tractor when the phone.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Rang AND i don't know if he knew that the phone,
rang or he had.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
It with, him or the wife went out and got,
him but, anyway so he gets off the tractor and he,
says you, know come down and drive this.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Car so.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Down gordy comes and makes the, show qualifies thirty third
outside the last. Row so then the next thing that
happened was we come to the track on race morning
or was it even the day, before we.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Heard John cock has got the. Flu we don't know
if he can.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
Drive i'm not sure IF i knew that the day
before or when what came in that, morning but, anyway
they they Had Johnny parsons on, standby And parsons was
either going to be a relief driver or even start
the race If johncock couldn't do.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
It so.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
They gave him some. Medication AND i Saw parsons later
and he was, dressed AND i, said what? Happened he, said,
oh he, said he, said go Do you'll be. Okay he,
SAID i didn't even bother to put my uniform on
WHEN i saw. Him well, then so race starts a
lot of. Attrition and during the course of the, RACE
(36:35):
i kept Needling johnny off the air every time because
he's in the in the booth next to, me AND i, said, Hey,
john you're. Sixteenth he would just shrugger to, Hey, john you're.
Thirteenth well in the in the late stages of the,
Race jahcock comes into the top. Ten and this was
the year That mario was running, GULLY i don't, know, third, fourth,
(36:56):
fifth something like, that and he dropped out late and
pulled off into the pits and could have come on,
in but stuck himself in such a position where he
was trying to Help michael who was in a big
battle With Rick.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
Beerce so, anyway be there as it.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
May mario was out of the, race and so his
lap count is going to remain the.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Same AND i spent half.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
The race or more looking at the, monitor And i'm
looking At John cock's lap, count AND i, figured you know,
WHAT i Think, johncock who is now, seventh can get,
sixth and sure.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
Enough late race screen off to, go and.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Then John cock takes the white flag and he's, seventh
and then out comes the checker and everybody's coming, by
And i'm looking and sure, enough but you, Know mario
that was sitting sixth without gets bumped to seventh and
John cock gets Six SO i said To, johnny you finished,
Sixth and for the first time he'd been poopooming all.
(38:01):
Along he looks at it the monitor and he, goes,
hmmm that's the first time that had really dawn on.
Him that could have been. ME i could have been
in my twenty fifth five hundred and finished.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Sixth but.
Speaker 9 (38:14):
Of course that Day Gordon johncock and a couple of
notes from that As Donald davidson reflecting on that nineteen
ninety one. Race that ninety one race had a bevy
of former winners in. It, OBVIOUSLY Aj, Foyt bobby Ray
hall was in that, Race Emerson, Fittipaldi Danny, Sullivan Mario,
Andretti Gordon John, cock Ari A, liondyke And Rick meers
(38:35):
And gordon John cock as we had Mentioned mike earlier
in the. Show the one time THAT i was able
to spend any time at all Around gordon John cock
after his racing career and away from a race. Track
one of the things that was brought up was that
nineteen ninety one. Race and John cock for somebody who
(38:58):
doesn't talk a lot about his career as a race car,
driver and you, know even in his, home there is
very little there that would tell you that he was
a race car. Driver he has his baby borgs displayed
and a fabulous portrait of the eighty two finish displayed
within his, home but it doesn't have the large trophy
cases and photo displays that a lot of people would,
(39:20):
have rightly so to reflect on their. Career but one
of the things in talking To gordon John cock THAT
i could tell was the race that he genuinely enjoyed
talking about WHEN i brought it, up was that nineteen
ninety one race because that had been my senior year high.
SCHOOL i reflect on that race very. Fondly you had
the epic shootout That donald mentioned there Between Michael andretti
(39:41):
And Rick meers late in the, race AND i got
the impression that as much as his two wins At,
indianapolis That Gordon johncock was as happy about that top
ten finish and that nineteen ninety one race almost as
anything that he could be proud about during the course
of his racing.
Speaker 10 (39:57):
CAREER i believe that, especially you, know when you step
away from the game and then you come back and
and you, know he hadn't run the five hundred again
for a couple of, years and you, KNOW i think
that had to have been extremely satisfying to grab that
sixth place finish and you know that was his you,
know next to Last indianapolis five hundred and his next
(40:20):
to last championship, Start so that had to be pretty.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
SATISFYING i think.
Speaker 9 (40:25):
When you look back at your time in watching, Racing,
mike you, know there are a lot of drivers that
you had his, favorites or drivers maybe that you even
saw in, person or drivers that your uncle or your
dad or you, know others have told you about that
was their. Favorite John cox is an interesting one because you,
KNOW i think you meet a lot of people that
they Loved, mario or they Loved alanceer Or Bobby hunts
(40:47):
or whatever it might, be and then they have drivers
that they say why BUT i rooted against that. Guy
you never really hear either of those things About gordon John.
Cock AND i mean that not as a bad, thing
BUT i don't know that anybody necessarily that you meet
says my favorite driver Was gordon John. Cock but at
the same, time you don't really meet anybody who rooted against.
Him he was a very likable.
Speaker 10 (41:07):
Driver, Yeah and it's funny Because i've heard a couple of,
times you, know people really want him to come back
and do one of the you, know the autograph sessions
you know that they have On Legends day or that
we have out at The memoraba.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Show and AND i had heard a couple of.
Speaker 10 (41:22):
Times that that That gordon John cock had said something
to the fact, like, well you, know nobody wants to see.
Me they only want to see you, Know, mario or
they only want to SEE aj or something like. That
and and AND i think that's really not the. CASE
i think people really want to See Gordon johncock BECAUSE
a he hasn't been around in a long, time AND
B i think he's a lot more popular than maybe
(41:43):
he thinks he. Is I'VE i actually at The Memory view,
SHOW i get asked a lot of times For Gordon
John coock. Stuff you have Any Gordon John kyk patches
or any photographs and stuff like. That SO i actually
think he has still to this day a bigger fan
base he than he might think he. HAS i think
he he was a very popular, driver AND i think
part of that is the no. Nonsense you, know he
(42:05):
was a, racers, racer no, nonsense didn't do a you,
know wasn't, flashy just like you said at the beginning
of the, show put his foot down on the, floor
AND i think people respected him and still respect him
to this day for.
Speaker 9 (42:17):
That he certainly is connected to plenty of stories of,
greatness you, know overcoming tragedy and turning it into, triumph
getting the opportunity to take advantage of it and become
a two time. Winner and that seventy three. Race you,
know that's one of the things that he talks, about
as we, heard is that it was just that he
(42:38):
would win that eighty two race after winning in nineteen seventy,
three that race that had so much sadness with. It
we appreciate you listening tonight to beyond The bricks
Only the best run here of the Indianapolis five hundred.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Roy, who do you feel we'll have to be this
year's race?
Speaker 3 (00:07):
People like A. J.
Speaker 4 (00:08):
Foyt and Bobby Answer.
Speaker 5 (00:10):
Prices and by the sugar, flatly and incredible Fanny Sullivan's
fun in front of Mario and Freddie Ay jh A hun.
Speaker 6 (00:21):
Hundred.
Speaker 7 (00:22):
Beyond the Bricks with g Query and Mike Thompson, brought
to you by.
Speaker 8 (00:26):
Quality supply and tool.
Speaker 7 (00:28):
Think outside the box store on ninety three five and
one oh seven five the fan.
Speaker 9 (00:39):
Inside the BET three six five command Center Jake Querry
along with Mike Thompson Landon Kuon's putting it all together
for us. It is beyond the bricks, brought to you,
as you heard there by quality supply and tool. Our
look at the history, the names, the features, the folks,
the audio of the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mike, tonight,
we get the pleasure at as we again are in
(01:01):
the week of the Brickyard four hundred of taking a
look at those drivers who tested themselves not just an
Indy car, but in stock car as well. And we're
going to start off tonight by talking about a guy
that I think is one of the more fun personalities
and the guy that no matter what car it was,
he was going to get in it and say, my
right foot is going down to the floor and this
(01:23):
thing is going to go as fast as possible, and
a hard charger.
Speaker 8 (01:26):
Talking about Gordon john.
Speaker 10 (01:28):
Cock, that's right, And he has a bit of a
reputation as being kind of a grumpy old man of
IndyCar racing, and he's really not that.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
He's a very nice guy and he's a.
Speaker 10 (01:39):
He's a fun person to talk to, but you know,
he didn't do a lot of interviews and he didn't
do a lot of talking, so he has kind of this,
I think again reputation of not being approachable. But I've
always thought he's one of the nicer guys and as
you said, absolute hard charger and an incredibly tough competitor.
Speaker 9 (01:58):
I had the pleasure, i will interject, I guess of
meeting Gordon Johncock at his home about three or four
years ago up in Michigan where he works, obviously in
the lumber industry to this day, and I asked him
about the fact that you just don't see him around
as much as some of the other drivers, and to
your point, Mike, I think kind of that stereotype of well,
(02:21):
he's this grumpy old man, that was not the case
at all. He was extremely warm and fun and hospitable.
But he just said to me, you know, look, I'm
very involved in the industry that I'm in now, and
I enjoyed racing, and I enjoyed my competitors, but that
was a job I had, and that was a job
that I no longer have and I'm onto a different
point in my life. I enjoyed it. I have no
(02:43):
ill will about it, but I have other things going
on now. I thought that was a perfectly suitable answer
and explanation, quite frankly on the life of Gordon Johncock.
But of course Gordon Johncock and we did talk about
what we'll get to later in the program is a
two time Indianapolis five hundred winner, and I think that
there is some justice in the fact that he became
(03:04):
a two time winner because the first win that he
had was in a year that just was Mike, Let's
be real, very few people like to go back and
reflect and look back on the nineteen seventy three Indy
five hundred because it was a year that just seemed
star crossed from the very very beginning.
Speaker 10 (03:24):
Oh absolutely, I mean, seventy three was an utter disaster
from the beginning to end, and it was just, you know,
so so many negative things happened, and so it is
gratifying that Gordy was able to win a second five
hundred and win it in the way he did win it,
you know, that was it was such a positive victory,
(03:46):
exciting victory, one of the greatest finishes of all time.
So it went the full five hundred miles, and so,
you know, it was such a nice thing for Gordy
to get a second win.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
That was such a positive victory for him.
Speaker 9 (04:00):
Jordan Khan Gordon Johncock excuse me, was part of the
nineteen sixty five rookie class at the Indianapolis five and
a mile race in nineteen seventy three was a range
shortened race that was marred by all kinds of tragedy
and weather and all kinds of ugly events. But Gordon
John Kock led the race late. Matter of fact, he
was leading on lap one twenty ish. Here's Gordon John
(04:22):
Coock leading the race.
Speaker 11 (04:24):
Now we have one hundred and twenty laps with Gordon
John Kock and car number twenty still holding on the
first place, and number two Bill Vukovich and second. Next
time Gordy comes by, let's follow him around just to
see if our fellows on the turns can have any
observations that might be at all unique about the way
he's driving the race. How much can one describe a
boy a car going vibe?
Speaker 12 (04:44):
Our fellow do a pretty sent say for the job.
Speaker 11 (04:46):
There he is, Mike, Mike, can you pick up Gordy
John Coock number twenty?
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Okay, Siddy just went by here driving very smoothly in
the groove and rattles importing this those twenty some seconds.
I mean he and the number two car, believe Vukovich
and the night he's gotten trafficking between him six or
seven cars, So that could be a difficult fight for
Hukovich to get through through all that.
Speaker 9 (05:08):
As we mentioned, there were all kinds of things that
took place over the course of the nineteen seventy three
Indianapolis five hundred which were not necessarily memorable, But the
race was eventually called with Gordon John Cock in the lead,
meaning that made him the winner. Even Sid Collins, the
voice of the Indianapolis five hundred was glad it was over.
Speaker 12 (05:28):
And uh Andy Grennatelly. It looks like, guys, this couldn't
happen again. I couldn't lose now, could I? As it
happened in the past. To him, I think the race
is called now Yavid Marlin fin the chief stewart says
it is the end of the race. So there's something
else new this time dining and put in the file.
We had the end of the race and no checkered
flag was even waved. No checkered flag was actually waved.
(05:52):
I did see Pat Vdan reach out and take his
black and white checkered umbrella and put it up, but
he just carries that anyway.
Speaker 8 (05:59):
Yes, John and Mike.
Speaker 9 (06:02):
Even though it was a rain shortened race that made
Gordon John Coock a winner for the first time in Indianapolis,
the reality is that John Cock was a deservant winner.
Speaker 10 (06:13):
Oh yeah, absolutely, I mean he was. He was up
there all day and leading and one of the dominant cars,
and so it's not one of those flukey situations where
you know, he happened to be leading at the only
lap he led was the lap that they called the race.
I mean, Gordon Johncock was an absolutely deserving winner to
win the race that year, but I mean it was
(06:33):
it was such a tragedy because obviously his teammate Sweet
Savage was was critically injured and would later pass away
and a member of the Andy Grant Telly team that
you know, he was the Pat Patrick team rather that
he was on and Andy Granat Telly sponsored with STP.
You know, Armando Tehran was fatally injured on pitt Lane
(06:55):
when the Swede Savage accident happened. He was run over
by a fire truck. So it was it was just
tragic all around.
Speaker 9 (07:02):
But Gordon john Cock in terms of that win itself,
did talk about the fact that he was somebody who
earned the victory.
Speaker 6 (07:11):
It didn't really make a lot of difference to me.
I guess it was good to have it over with
because of everything that had happened in all the rain
and the delays, and I guess it was good to
have it over with instead of continuing on. Who knows
how much longer it would have taken to be able
(07:33):
to run the race. I know only one hundred and
thirty three laps or something like that, but I think
we had led seventy some laps out of the race,
out of what had been run, and so you know,
I felt myself that we earned the race. It wasn't
(07:53):
a situation where, you know, we were running tenth, fifteenth
or what and they stopped the race to rain and
they called it, and you win the race. We had
been running up good laps and leading the race.
Speaker 9 (08:14):
Mike had mentioned the fact that there was this kind
of haze over the victory itself. After the race, as
a matter of fact, the team immediately went to Methodist
Hospital to visit the aforementioned Swede Savage, who was critically
injured in the race and would pass away about a
month later. But with all the delays and everything going on,
there was no victory banquet. Speedway historian emeritus Donald Davidson
(08:37):
on the sad circumstances that followed after the race was called.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
His teammate was Sweet Savage, who was very seriously injured and.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Would lady pass away.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
All the team went down to Methodist Hospital to see him,
and then when they came out of there, it was
at night and it was raining again, and they realized,
wait a minute, you know, we haven't eaten today. We're hungry,
and they went it's never really been. The story keeps changing.
But they stopped at a fast food place on sixteenth
(09:08):
Street somewhere, and I'm not sure if that was Burger
Chef at the time or if it was a little
place called Burger and Steak.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
I think is what it might have been.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
But anyway, they did stop and have fast food at night,
and so that and then as the summer wore on
because it was such a horrible year, he basically.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
You know, he got the money, but really not.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Very much credit and he's I remember talking with him
at the time, and then it would be like August
and then they started to get people would call and
they get letters and cards, and it was like three
months later the people started to say, you know what,
you didn't win it.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Your face is on the going to be on the
bog Warner Trophy.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
So you know, it's it's been a while, but congratulations.
Speaker 9 (09:52):
Gordon john Cox says it didn't bother him necessarily to
not have a victory banquet after that seventy three race.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
I never was one that into that making appearances and
all that, and it didn't really bother me because you know,
we didn't have a fixtory band quit and in shelf
like that.
Speaker 9 (10:17):
Mike, as you had mentioned, Sweet Savage unfortunately but ultimately
passed from his injuries. And that really had an impact
I think on Gordon Johncock, did it not, And the
way that john Cock interacted with competitors and teammates.
Speaker 10 (10:30):
Moving forward, well, it's interesting that you mentioned earlier on
about how about Gordon Johncock doesn't come back very often
to the speedway and things like that, is you know,
he didn't get very close to the other drivers. He
wasn't one of those people who, you know, he had
a best friend, you know, Mario Andretti was famous for
having best friends. Bobby Unser was a close friend, Billy
(10:50):
Foster was a close friend, you know, things like that,
And Gordon Johncock really didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Get very close to the other drives.
Speaker 10 (10:55):
In fact, he had a famous feud with Johnny Rutherford
at one point where they were really going at it
pretty heavily. So you know, he didn't really very get
very close to the other drivers.
Speaker 6 (11:06):
I never really got close to the drivers because I
didn't know if something like that, you know, would affect
me and affect my ability to be driving. I just
never got that close. You surely think about it. But
(11:29):
you know, if you're not really close to somebody that
I don't think it bothers you as much as it
would if you were buddy buddies every day and talking,
you know. But it wasn't good.
Speaker 9 (11:46):
Ultimately, victory would come again for Gordon john Cock. But
there were also years where he was part of a
duel that led to another famous victory. We'll get into
all of that as we continue to look back on
his career on this episode Beyond the Bricks.
Speaker 7 (12:05):
This is Beyond the Bricks brought to you by Quality
Supply into Think outside the Box Store on ninety three
to five and one oh seven five the.
Speaker 13 (12:14):
Fans, different races, different cars, different drivers, but the same
results victory as Gordon john Cock and Richard Petty win
back to back of Indian and TAYTONA. Both fought friction
and ware with SDV oil priests both for harmful sludge
(12:36):
and of races with the SDV double oil filter. And
that's a winning combination in anybody's engine, including yours.
Speaker 9 (12:47):
That commercial from nineteen seventy three STP. Richard Petty and
the man that we're talking about tonight, Gordon john Cox,
Jake Querry Mike Thompson here landing Kuon's putting it all
together for us. On this episode of Beyond the Bricks, Mike,
we talked about the fact that Gordon Johncock won that
race back in nineteen seventy three, but four years later
in nineteen seventy seven, the second five hundred win for
(13:09):
Gordon Johncock was within his grasp. We will always remember
that race for the fact that aj Foyt would become
the guy to win his fourth Indy five hundred, but
Gordon Johncock had it within contention for the better part
of that race.
Speaker 10 (13:24):
Oh absolutely, I mean, Gordon Johncock was the guy to
beat I think that day, you know, and then circumstances
took it away from him. And one of the unfortunate
things Gordon Johncock was really overcome by heat in the
second half of that race. His crew is actually taking
buckets of water and just dumping it on him in
the cockpit and pouring it on him. And actually when
(13:46):
Gordon drops out of the race, you know, he went
down into the creek to try to cool off a
little bit, because that's that's how much the heat was
really kind of affecting Gordon Johncock in the second half
of the seventy seven race.
Speaker 8 (13:58):
Here's how it sounded.
Speaker 9 (13:58):
But Gordon Johncock rowed out of that race in nineteen
seventy seven.
Speaker 8 (14:02):
So the chase is on.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
But Gordon john Cock has pulled over to the left
side of the straightaway.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
He appears to be slowing.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
He has cut his car in off of the apron
at the south end of the main straightaway. AJ Foyt
is now our leader. There is apparently something wrong in
Gordon Johncock's car.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
We see the We see.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
Gordon Johncock climbing out of his machine at the moment
on the grass that used to be of victory lane
here at Indianapolis. It is not victory lane for Gordon Johncock.
Speaker 9 (14:36):
As we mentioned, AJ Foyt would go on to win
the nineteen seventy seven Indy five hundred, his fourth victory
that would make him the first four time winner. He
did a couple of things after winning that race. First,
of course, famously, he took the victory lap in the
pace car with Tony Holman. Another that he did afterwards
was talking about chasing down Gordon john Cock.
Speaker 14 (14:54):
You know, in seventy five we should have won seventy six,
but we've run out of field twenty seventy seven. We
run a few and we got thirty two seconds down,
and we knew we were faster than Mgnaughty. And my
chief mechanic, Jack Strange, which he still works for him
in Houston. He says, I said, they'll let us get
within ten seconds and then they'll turn the boost up,
(15:15):
and I'll turn my boost up.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
That time.
Speaker 14 (15:17):
You could run whatever boot, but I didn't want to
take a chance of breaking the motor.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Before I got close to him.
Speaker 14 (15:22):
It went ten eight nine, you know, I was catching
him on a two second. Jack said, if you turn
the boost up, I said no, I said, they got
to be in trouble. And then he blew up. Because
I knew Big Naughty, knowing the way I RaSE, he
wasn't going to let me get within ten seconds of him,
and because I kind of knew how he operated before.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
When I'll be.
Speaker 14 (15:41):
Wet and lead, he said, back all, back off, and
then start picking it up. And that's where we worked
good together. And that tree and I said to Jack,
which catch him pretty quick? I said, And they let
me give him about ten seconds. Then he'll send guard. Well,
I guess he was in trouble. Before that, I did
not know that, and Jack then thought I turned the boot.
I said, no, I'm still running the same boot.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I said.
Speaker 14 (16:02):
They got to be in trouble, you know, and then
they come apart to motor it.
Speaker 8 (16:08):
You know.
Speaker 9 (16:08):
Another common thread, Mike, between aj Foyd and Gordon john
Cock is both of them had the pleasure and the
benefit of working with a guy that was as good
at any when it came to working as a mechanic
on those cars and that era of the Indy five hundred.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
That's right.
Speaker 10 (16:24):
Both of them had considerable success working with the great
George McNaughty. I mean, the you know George McNaughty I
think sometimes gets overlooked, as weird as that might sound,
of how great he was.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
And so I had.
Speaker 10 (16:37):
The opportunity actually to talk to aj Foyd in that
last clip about you know, his chasing down Gordon John
Coock in nineteen seventy seven, and I had a chance
to talk to Gordon Johncock about working with George mgnanti.
Speaker 8 (16:51):
Gordon John Coock on that exact topic.
Speaker 6 (16:54):
Yeah, we had a good relationship, you know. I I
wasn't one to tell the mechanics what to do to
the car. I would tell them what the car, how
the car was performing, uh and you know, pushing loose
(17:14):
or whatever. I would tell them and they would make
the adjustments, and you know, kind of in that way,
you didn't have no arguments back and forth what to do.
They knew the adjustments to make, and I drove the car.
And I think that it's a lot better relationships than
(17:35):
somebody that really a driver that really knows how or
tries to tell them what to put in the car,
what haf springs or shocks or something.
Speaker 9 (17:49):
You had mentioned any granted Telly earlier, Mike, and of
course Andy Granta Telly is so synonymous with STP. Same
can be said, would you agree, Mike. For Gordon john Cock.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Oh absolutely know.
Speaker 10 (18:00):
He won both of his Indianapolis five hundreds driving for SDP.
He had a great relationship with that company. And one
thing that we might overlook a little bit is, you know,
he had several starts in NASCAR and he drove a
car actually sponsored by Pylon Wiper Blade, which was a
division of STP at the time. And in the nineteen
seventy three Firecracker four hundred, Gordon Jahnkawk finished fourth and
(18:24):
the top four finishers were David Pearson, Richard Petty, Buddy Baker,
Gordon Johncock. I mean that's some heavy hitter names at
the top of that order. So Gordon Jackkack had a
great relationship with SDP.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Yes, you know, I had a good relationship with STP.
You know, they were a good sponsor and treated me well.
And I guess one thing I liked about it, I
didn't have to make a lot of appearances. Richard Petty
(18:59):
was all so sponsored by FTP and they had him
do most of that. He was well known, better so
than me, and they had Richard Petty doing a lot
of the appearances, and I didn't really have to do
that kind of stuff. I like to run the race,
(19:20):
get in my car and drive home or fly one
or the other. I had other businesses and go to
work at home.
Speaker 9 (19:29):
Mike, we talked about the fact that, and I have
talked with Gordon John Cock. I know you have as
well about the fact that it was only fitting that
he eventually would get that second win, partially just so
that the nineteen seventy three win was not the one,
you know, for a guy that was such a great
driver to have just that race that so many people
would want to forget as your only win.
Speaker 8 (19:50):
Almost seems like it.
Speaker 9 (19:51):
Would have been unjust and that took care of itself,
as the racing gods often do. When the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway selected Gordon Johncock as her winner in nineteen eighty two,
and I believe, Mike, it is my belief. Now nineteen
ninety two comes into play as well, but I personally
believe that the eighty two finished was probably the greatest
lap shootout finish in the history of the radio network
(20:12):
announcing the Indianapolis five hundred.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Oh, I agree one hundred percent.
Speaker 10 (20:16):
I think eighty two is the greatest finish, and I
also think eighty two is the greatest radio call, and
ninety two is a great radio call as well, So
I mean they're very, very close, but eighty two is
a great, great radio call.
Speaker 9 (20:30):
Radio television. No matter what it was, it was a
fabulous finish. The nineteen eighty two Indianapolis five hundred and
Mayors is right there.
Speaker 8 (20:36):
The white flag. It's a truck race.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
They're side by side, Johncock and Beirs Bears on the inside,
John Cock Beer's force downing on.
Speaker 9 (20:44):
The line run Judge Cock cuts him off Hey, what
this looks like the start of this race?
Speaker 8 (20:49):
Doc Cock gunn bears down turn two. Now Gordy pulls.
Speaker 14 (20:52):
Away a little bit.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
It's Fiers gets a little squirrely and turre number two.
Speaker 8 (20:55):
They're on the backstretch. It's still Gordon.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Judge cut Maars has.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Time, but he's about ten car legs behind.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
As a streak down the five age of a nile
back street to turn tray less than half.
Speaker 7 (21:06):
A lep ago Cody Chockcock by five ti legs.
Speaker 8 (21:08):
I'm a Rick Bears during.
Speaker 9 (21:09):
The north short shoot here like com this is the
final quarter lap, John.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
Cocky dasy lead the voice of the five hundred pulp page.
Speaker 13 (21:17):
Who's gonna last?
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Gordon Johncock off the fourth turn, Mirrors has right behind him.
Johncock bears thys a try Ton Cocks, I lost the
whole him, suck on God?
Speaker 8 (21:30):
John Cock has what he have second five hundred.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Rick Bears humps across at second place Famo side by.
Speaker 8 (21:38):
Side Gordon John Cock.
Speaker 9 (21:40):
His thoughts on winning that race, the nineteen eighty two
Indianapolis five.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
Hundred, Wow, Oh I have okay? When I won the
laugh right eighty two when I beat Rick?
Speaker 8 (21:54):
You know.
Speaker 6 (21:57):
Were you know, experience really took effect. And when I
think when more pressure was put on me when I
was driving, the better I did, and the way I
had to drive that last lap down on the apron,
my car was pushing so bad. If I'd have had
(22:19):
to get out of the throttle coming out of the corners,
Rick would have went by me and I had to
get way down on the bottom and that kind of
helped make the rear end a little bit loose, and
I got so low and turn three I'd never run
down that low before Rick even thought I was going
to lose the car. It got jumped out with me
(22:42):
the back back end, but was able to save it
and go on to win.
Speaker 9 (22:49):
Mike, we talked the other day in starting and resuming
again Beyond the Bricks in anticipation of the Brickyard four hundred,
about the fact that this past may was difficult for
you because you had the race itself, which was a
rain race, and even though it went two hundred laps,
and then you lost your mother shortly after. And the
(23:09):
reality is that for Gordon Johncock, even though there was
a celebration of winning the nineteen eighty two race, it
also was one that once again he had to be
heavy hearted after the fact that he had won that
race in nineteen eighty two.
Speaker 10 (23:23):
That's right, and it's really really sad because you know,
we talked in the last segment about the fact he
didn't get a victory banquet in nineteen seventy three, and
then in eighty two the victory banquet was basically overshadowed
and made it to be basically a somber affair for
Gordon Johncock because he lost his mom and Donald. In
(23:44):
this next clip, it's a very poignant sound bite talking
about how somber.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
The whole situation was. And so you really have to
feel for.
Speaker 10 (23:52):
Gordon Johncock about the fact that, you know, these two triumphs,
you know, which should be two of the greatest days
of his life, you know, they were both really ended
up being both pretty somber affairs for Gordon John Catt.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
There is a downside which most people don't know that
there's this terribly cruel fate. John Cox's mother was very
sick and maybe you don't know this. John Cock's mother
was very sick and after the race he flew on
the Patrick plane. They flew him back up so he
could see his mother, who was very old. And then
(24:27):
they left and came back down. And I don't know
whether they came that night or the next morning, but
they had the day after shots, so they did. The
day after shots. They go to the victory banquet and
he told me, he said, as we walked in the
door to get home after the victory banquet, the phone
(24:49):
was ringing and it was somebody to tell me that
my mother had passed away. And he tears up talking
about it then and now, and I think, what a
cruel twist of fate. And you know, you lose your mother,
but of all times, your greatest moment just got destroyed.
And so you know, paid to throw cold border on
(25:12):
the thing. But that you know, that stayed with me.
There was a downside that most the general public nevenue.
Speaker 9 (25:18):
Gordon john Cock. He would still have great stories that
could be told about him, including how he ventured into
retirement and Donald Davidson's favorite recollection of the man from Michigan.
Speaker 8 (25:30):
We'll talk about that when we come back to Beyond
the Brakes.
Speaker 6 (25:33):
Jesus.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
He's the BET three six' five command.
Speaker 7 (25:37):
Center get your race updates here all month long and
make sure to enter for your chance to win five
hundred dollars by predicting the winner of this year's. Race
On july twenty, seventh two to one oh seven five
defan dot com to. Winter now here's your twenty twenty
five race, update brought you By bet three six.
Speaker 9 (25:54):
Five your race, update we will give you a schedule
update for what is going to be taking place this
weekend at The Indianapolis Motor. Speedway On, saturday gates open
at eleven o'clock in the, morning that is just two
hours before the qualifying gets underway for The expinity cars
in anticipation of.
Speaker 8 (26:12):
The pinzoil two.
Speaker 9 (26:13):
Fifty then at two thirty five THE Nascar cup qualifying takes.
Place that will be a fifty five minute affair concluding
at three point thirty in the.
Speaker 8 (26:22):
Afternoon at four point.
Speaker 9 (26:23):
Thirty On, saturday it is The pinzoil two point, fifty
which Those expinity cars always put on a good show
at sixteenth In georgetown again four point thirty On. Saturday
Then sunday two o'clock it is the running of THE
Nascar Cup brickyard four hundred at The Indianapolis Motor.
Speaker 8 (26:41):
Speedway this is.
Speaker 7 (26:47):
Beyond the bricks brought to you by quality, supply intol
think outside the box store on ninety three five and
one oh seven, five the, Fan.
Speaker 9 (26:57):
Jake querry And Mike thompson Landing huon's putting it all
together for. Us the met three sixty five command center
is where we are for beyond the bricks and of
course quality supply and tool helping make it all. Possible
we appreciate that greatly as we talk about those. Personalities
in The Indianapolis Motor speedway, again you just heard me
Mention saturday eleven o'clock the gates will be. Open it
(27:20):
will be qualifying day AT. Ims one o'clock in the,
afternoon The infinity cars will. Qualify then at two thirty
Five cup cars will qualify before the four point thirty
running of the Pins oil two. Fifty Those exfinity, cars
LIKE i, mentioned always put on a good show AT.
Ims then two o'clock it is On sunday The brickyard
(27:41):
four hundred that will. Run of those drivers in the
history of racing that have run Both cup cars And indye,
Cars Gordon johncock one of them that is the subject
of our discussion, today And. Mike one of the things
THAT i think is interesting when you talk About gordon John,
cock were any of his contemporaries and competitors of that.
Era is the fact that when you think about John, Cock,
(28:04):
rutterford The, Uncers Mario, Emerson, Fittipaldi Rick, meres so many
of those drivers obviously as they were competitors with one,
another their retirements seemingly came within about a five to
seven year window of one, another which led to a
complete changing of the guard of the stars of IndyCar
(28:27):
racing in The indianapolis five. Hundred But Gordon johncock was
one of those that was kind of the first to
start to see that light coming through the tunnel of
the fact that it was time to go on and
advance into another. Career but his retirement came really, when
to use a racing, term seemingly there was still some
fuel in the.
Speaker 10 (28:46):
Tank oh, ABSOLUTELY i mean his first retirement was a
huge shock to everybody when he decided to. Retire the first,
time it was just in the middle of the week
and and right before qualifying and he just, decided you, know,
map that's, It i'm going to. Retire and he was
(29:06):
still basically at the top of his. Game you, know
he had run the full eighty four season and and
all of a sudden in eighty five he retired and
then had second thoughts and decided to come out of.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Retirement but it really.
Speaker 10 (29:18):
Was interesting the fact that he just you, know he
decided in eighty, five you, Know i'm done and that's.
Speaker 8 (29:24):
It you.
Speaker 9 (29:25):
Know one of the THINGS i think that this kind
of shows About John. Cock and it's disingenuous for me
to say THAT i Know Gordon John. Cock, well you,
KNOW i think we always have within our job and
we probably or at LEAST i should clarify for, folks
it is true that we have a unique access to
the drivers both of past and, present of The indianapolis
(29:47):
five hundred or IndyCar racing in, general and it gives
you glimpse in perspective into sometimes what, motivates what drives
pardon the, pun these drivers that we get so much
enjoyment and, Watching but it doesn't mean that we're necessarily
involved in the day to day in seeing who and
what they, are but we get glimpse of. It and
(30:08):
one thing About Gordon johncock THAT i have always respected
and the little glimpses That i've been able to see
behind the curtain mic is he is a guy who
certainly is very confident and comfortable in who he, is
and at the same time is very confident in making
the decisions that are best For Gordon johncock and not
(30:28):
necessarily always falling in line With AND i don't mean
that in a rebellious, sense but somebody who is going
to do what he wants to do as opposed to
conforming to what is always kind of the norm within
the boundaries of his, profession if that makes sense What i'm.
Speaker 8 (30:47):
Saying, no that's.
Speaker 10 (30:48):
RIGHT i Mean Gordon johncock is his own. Man it's
interesting because he during his racing, career at one point
he moved To arizona and he lived In arizona AND
i had a ranch and was kind of doing some
ranching and things like, that and that was kind of
a passion of his for a. While and then he
honestly kind of got tired of it and didn't like
(31:09):
the ranching anymore and decided to move back To, michigan
which is you know where he's. From, originally he's from
from a town In hate Called, Hastings michigan By Cold
water where Also Scottie braden was From Coldwater. Michigan and
it's interesting because then he got so interested in this
in this lumber, mill the saw mill that he, bought
(31:31):
and as you, said he he's still doing the sawmill every.
Speaker 8 (31:35):
Day you.
Speaker 10 (31:36):
KNOW i called up there and spoke to his wife
a couple of, times AND i wanted to speak To
gordy and she, said he's a Sawmill and you're, thinking you,
Know gordon John cook's at the sawmill every day. STILL i,
mean he's he just likes doing it and he enjoys,
it and like you, said this is the passion and
this is what he's interested in doing. Now so he's
(31:57):
the person who he's going to do his own. Thing
and as you, said he's a nonconformist in that he's
going to What Gordon johncock wants to do is what
he's going to.
Speaker 9 (32:06):
Do and in nineteen eighty, five what that was that
he wanted to, do As mike had, mentioned while still
essentially in the middle of his, game the surprising announcement
that he would, retire and of course it would end
up being for the first Time Donald davidson On gordon
John cock's first retirement.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
And he practiced and on the night before or the
day before the first qualifying day he announced that he was.
Retiring and it was kind of stunning really because it
just seemed to come out of. Nowhere but in fact
he actually came on this program that, evening on The
(32:44):
friday evening and to say that he was. Done AND i,
said you, know you might rethink, this and he, said,
No i'm happy with the decision And i'm. Done, well
he soon regretted, it but, anyway so he did not
run in the race and they Hired Don whittington to
qualify the car and Then gordy was a driver expert
(33:06):
along With Roger woods for the. Race, well during the
winter he rethought, it decided he wanted to come, back
but he Assume patrick would take him, back but they, said,
no We're we're not going to be doing it With gordy.
Speaker 9 (33:25):
Anymore John cock would come back and race, again and
as a matter of, fact would do so and in some,
variations in some, spots do so really well and with great.
Speaker 8 (33:39):
Note as a.
Speaker 9 (33:39):
Matter of, Fact Gordon johncock's career would in his return
show the same form that Made gordon John cock not
just a two time winner the eighty five, hundred but
a racing legend in.
Speaker 8 (33:50):
General also in coming.
Speaker 9 (33:51):
Back it led to one of our speedway historian Emeritus
Donald davidson's favorite stories about the two time.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Winner Gordon John, Ky Ron hamilgarn And Jonathan bird were.
Partners Stan fox was the main. Driver they also Had
Buddy lazier in a car and they had this third. Car,
Well Jonathan bird, thought, let's you, know aim for the
top and ninety one was a year that Al ancer
(34:21):
didn't have a ride and he was holding out for something,
special And Jonathan bird took him to dinner and said
drive for. Us, well al didn't really want to do
it because it was A. Carsworth, well they then at
the same, time but they were talking To Johnny.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
Rutherford Johnny rutherford didn't want to take.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
It And Johnny rutherford at that time he wasn't doing
the pace car, thing but he was doing the radio.
Broadcast and SO i, said why wouldn't you take the?
Car he, SAID i don't want to drive.
Speaker 8 (34:47):
It it's A.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Carsworth AND i, said But, johnny you know you had
twenty four starts and now there's been some years when
you didn't make, it AND i know that twenty five
was very important to. You you could make the, step
and he, SAID i don't want to be in it
UNLESS i can. Win so then the next THING i
remember Hearing John.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Cock's going to drive.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
IT i, Said, johncock you know he hasn't run for a. While,
well Ron hemilgern really liked John cock from previous, years
so he called him and John cock was on his
tractor when the phone.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Rang AND i don't know if he knew that the phone,
rang or he had.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
It with, him or the wife went out and got,
him but, anyway so he gets off the tractor and he,
says you, know come down and drive this.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Car so.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Down gordy comes and makes the, show qualifies thirty third
outside the last. Row so then the next thing that
happened was we come to the track on race morning
or was it even the day, before we.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Heard John cock has got the. Flu we don't know
if he can.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
Drive i'm not sure IF i knew that the day
before or when what came in that, morning but, anyway
they they Had Johnny parsons on, standby And parsons was
either going to be a relief driver or even start
the race If johncock couldn't do.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
It so.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
They gave him some. Medication AND i Saw parsons later
and he was, dressed AND i, said what? Happened he, said,
oh he, said he, said go Do you'll be. Okay he,
SAID i didn't even bother to put my uniform on
WHEN i saw. Him well, then so race starts a
lot of. Attrition and during the course of the, RACE
(36:35):
i kept Needling johnny off the air every time because
he's in the in the booth next to, me AND i, said, Hey,
john you're. Sixteenth he would just shrugger to, Hey, john you're.
Thirteenth well in the in the late stages of the,
Race jahcock comes into the top. Ten and this was
the year That mario was running, GULLY i don't, know, third, fourth,
(36:56):
fifth something like, that and he dropped out late and
pulled off into the pits and could have come on,
in but stuck himself in such a position where he
was trying to Help michael who was in a big
battle With Rick.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
Beerce so, anyway be there as it.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
May mario was out of the, race and so his
lap count is going to remain the.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Same AND i spent half.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
The race or more looking at the, monitor And i'm
looking At John cock's lap, count AND i, figured you know,
WHAT i Think, johncock who is now, seventh can get,
sixth and sure.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
Enough late race screen off to, go and.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Then John cock takes the white flag and he's, seventh
and then out comes the checker and everybody's coming, by
And i'm looking and sure, enough but you, Know mario
that was sitting sixth without gets bumped to seventh and
John cock gets Six SO i said To, johnny you finished,
Sixth and for the first time he'd been poopooming all.
(38:01):
Along he looks at it the monitor and he, goes,
hmmm that's the first time that had really dawn on.
Him that could have been. ME i could have been
in my twenty fifth five hundred and finished.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Sixth but.
Speaker 9 (38:14):
Of course that Day Gordon johncock and a couple of
notes from that As Donald davidson reflecting on that nineteen
ninety one. Race that ninety one race had a bevy
of former winners in. It, OBVIOUSLY Aj, Foyt bobby Ray
hall was in that, Race Emerson, Fittipaldi Danny, Sullivan Mario,
Andretti Gordon John, cock Ari A, liondyke And Rick meers
(38:35):
And gordon John cock as we had Mentioned mike earlier
in the. Show the one time THAT i was able
to spend any time at all Around gordon John cock
after his racing career and away from a race. Track
one of the things that was brought up was that
nineteen ninety one. Race and John cock for somebody who
(38:58):
doesn't talk a lot about his career as a race car,
driver and you, know even in his, home there is
very little there that would tell you that he was
a race car. Driver he has his baby borgs displayed
and a fabulous portrait of the eighty two finish displayed
within his, home but it doesn't have the large trophy
cases and photo displays that a lot of people would,
(39:20):
have rightly so to reflect on their. Career but one
of the things in talking To gordon John cock THAT
i could tell was the race that he genuinely enjoyed
talking about WHEN i brought it, up was that nineteen
ninety one race because that had been my senior year high.
SCHOOL i reflect on that race very. Fondly you had
the epic shootout That donald mentioned there Between Michael andretti
(39:41):
And Rick meers late in the, race AND i got
the impression that as much as his two wins At,
indianapolis That Gordon johncock was as happy about that top
ten finish and that nineteen ninety one race almost as
anything that he could be proud about during the course
of his racing.
Speaker 10 (39:57):
CAREER i believe that, especially you, know when you step
away from the game and then you come back and
and you, know he hadn't run the five hundred again
for a couple of, years and you, KNOW i think
that had to have been extremely satisfying to grab that
sixth place finish and you know that was his you,
know next to Last indianapolis five hundred and his next
(40:20):
to last championship, Start so that had to be pretty.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
SATISFYING i think.
Speaker 9 (40:25):
When you look back at your time in watching, Racing,
mike you, know there are a lot of drivers that
you had his, favorites or drivers maybe that you even
saw in, person or drivers that your uncle or your
dad or you, know others have told you about that
was their. Favorite John cox is an interesting one because you,
KNOW i think you meet a lot of people that
they Loved, mario or they Loved alanceer Or Bobby hunts
(40:47):
or whatever it might, be and then they have drivers
that they say why BUT i rooted against that. Guy
you never really hear either of those things About gordon John.
Cock AND i mean that not as a bad, thing
BUT i don't know that anybody necessarily that you meet
says my favorite driver Was gordon John. Cock but at
the same, time you don't really meet anybody who rooted against.
Him he was a very likable.
Speaker 10 (41:07):
Driver, Yeah and it's funny Because i've heard a couple of,
times you, know people really want him to come back
and do one of the you, know the autograph sessions
you know that they have On Legends day or that
we have out at The memoraba.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Show and AND i had heard a couple of.
Speaker 10 (41:22):
Times that that That gordon John cock had said something
to the fact, like, well you, know nobody wants to see.
Me they only want to see you, Know, mario or
they only want to SEE aj or something like. That
and and AND i think that's really not the. CASE
i think people really want to See Gordon johncock BECAUSE
a he hasn't been around in a long, time AND
B i think he's a lot more popular than maybe
(41:43):
he thinks he. Is I'VE i actually at The Memory view,
SHOW i get asked a lot of times For Gordon
John coock. Stuff you have Any Gordon John kyk patches
or any photographs and stuff like. That SO i actually
think he has still to this day a bigger fan
base he than he might think he. HAS i think
he he was a very popular, driver AND i think
part of that is the no. Nonsense you, know he
(42:05):
was a, racers, racer no, nonsense didn't do a you,
know wasn't, flashy just like you said at the beginning
of the, show put his foot down on the, floor
AND i think people respected him and still respect him
to this day for.
Speaker 9 (42:17):
That he certainly is connected to plenty of stories of,
greatness you, know overcoming tragedy and turning it into, triumph
getting the opportunity to take advantage of it and become
a two time. Winner and that seventy three. Race you,
know that's one of the things that he talks, about
as we, heard is that it was just that he
(42:38):
would win that eighty two race after winning in nineteen seventy,
three that race that had so much sadness with. It
we appreciate you listening tonight to beyond The bricks
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