RIP Parnelli Jones

[Stef]

We lost one of the greats of motorsports today.
Now will be driving on the lords track in the ever after.
Gone but not forgotten,
RIP Parnelli Jones.

(Great read).

Parnelli Jones, 1933-2024 | RACER

One of the toughest, fastest, most determined and versatile drivers to ever grace motorsport has left us, aged 90. Rufus Parnell Jones, born in Texarkana, Ark., in 1933, died of natural causes on June 4, in Torrance, Calif., the city where he had lived since he was seven years old.How...

racer.com

 

[2112]

Oh man, one of the best.

 

[Apollo]

Really took the wind out of my sails hearing this news. I very much like from the the article:
"How significant a figure was the man we knew as Parnelli Jones? The late, great Robin Miller said it best: U.S. motorsport’s Mount Rushmore would feature A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney and Parnelli. And there’s little point in disputing that because he was right."
What amazes me is how many of these truly great drivers are associated with Ford. It is a good part of the reason I am such a huge Ford nut.
Godspeed Parnelli!

 

[jr66]

I remember watching him race in the 60s. Sad day

 

[digman1]

Here he was driving for Team Cougar. He got beat that day at Green Valley Raceway, near Dallas, by his teammate Dan Gurney. It was the closest margin of victory in Trans Am racing.

Parnelli drove every kind of racecar and track out there, including Pikes Peak.

 

[twobjshelbys]

Oh wow.

 

[Biginch Blake]

One of the greats, from dirt tracks to road racing to desert racing. He was a champion of them all.

 

[TO AWSUM]

I remember him racing in Huron, So Dak in the '60s against Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, etc. in stock cars on a dirt oval track at the state fairgrounds.

 

[ByeEnzo]

I have his signature on the inside of the frunk hood on my 05 FGT. RIP

 

[ByeEnzo]

Parnelli signing stuff at an event honoring Lloyd Ruby back in 2006. Parnelli at right with Unser brothers beside him. Ruby in background wearing cowboy hat. Johnny Rutherford also in background. A few Indy 500 wins there.







Lloyd Ruby and I looking at a book on the original GT40’s. He passed away in 2009.

 

[Stef]

Wow, all the replays are of some great memories and very heartfelt too.

Thanks for sharing you all.