As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ford Aero Cars from 1969 let’s take a look back at one of the stars from that period but not David or Cale. AJ Foyt is arguably one of the very best, most versatile race car drivers of all time.
The Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario California was built as a twin to the Indianapolis Speedway. Heck, the winner’s circle was even made of brick from the old “Brick Yard” track. When you realize that AJ eventually won 4 Indy 500s (the first to do so) it is no wonder he conquered the Ontario track. This is also one of those “old car” wins. This article was written in May 1971. AJ’s car was one of those old 1969 Mercury Cyclone Short nose cars!
The Ontario track did not last long, it soon was demolished to make room for office buildings, shopping center and hotels. I never was able to attend a race at OMS but lived just outside Ontario for 20+ years and worked just down the road from the old speedway. I even helped design some of the new developments that replaced it. I remember purchasing dirt from the turn one banking to landscape by backyard! That was truly a car guys dream come true.
Times change but the cars we own and drive are full of memories. Not just the ones are cars have generated but also those created by the race cars they resemble as well as the drivers that wheeled them.
This is a great original article about the racing back when there weren’t so many rules, restrictions and the great surge of NASCAR popularity ruined the racing.
