1963
DAYTONA 500

     Here's another in a series of historic NASCAR racing DVD from "Rare Sportsfilms" - all the highlights of the 5th annual Daytona 500! "The Winning Ride" and "Won For All" are two vintage race films which have been beautifully restored and combined on this new 35-minute DVD! See practice and qualifications, work in the garage area, pit stops during the race, more than half a dozen spins and crashes, the victory lane celebration, and the great drivers of those days gone by: Joe Weatherly, Fireball Roberts, Bobby Johns, father Lee and son Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Fred Lorenzen, and the USAC contingent of Parnelli Jones, Rodger Ward, Troy Ruttman, Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt. Great shots in and around the garage area show some of the great mechanics and car owners of the day: Smokey Yunick, Bud Moore, John Holman, Ralph Moody, Ray Nichels and Bill Stroppe. Cars shown close up throughout the film include those of drivers Sal Tovella, Tommy Irwin, Floyd Powell, Ted Hairfield, Nelson Stacy, Bubba Farr, Johnny Allen and Bunkie Blackburn.

     This DVD is the remarkable story of Tiny Lund's storybook victory in the '63 Daytona 500. Ten days before, Marvin Panch, driver of the #21 Wood Brothers Ford, was testing a sports car at Daytona when he flipped and caught fire. One of the heros on the scene was Tiny Lund, who helped rescue Panch from the burning car. From his hospital bed, Panch asked that Lund drive his car for him in the upcoming 500. In this tape Lund not only wins his first career Grand National race, he makes it the biggest win of his life - the Daytona 500! Included is great behind-the-scenes coverage of Lund and his car owner Glen Wood. You'll hear Wood explain why Tiny will drive his car in the big race and Tiny's thoughts about driving a Ford.

     After a rainstorm delays the start of the race, the event begins under caution as the cars attempt to dry the track. Pole-winner Fireball Roberts is overtaken after ten laps by Bobby Johns, but A.J. Foyt and Paul Goldsmith are also early leaders. However, Goldsmith blows his engine and hard charger Junior Johnson loses a pushrod, while rookie Johnny Rutherford (winner of the second Twin 100) spins his #13 Smokey Yunick Chevrolet on the backstretch. Dick Goode spins out after 68 laps. Fred Lorenzen, Roberts, Bobby Johns and Lund all battle for the lead, until Johns' car catches fire during a pit stop after the half-way point. Other drivers shown in for service are Fireball Roberts, G.C. Spencer, Rutherford, Lorenzen, Larry Frank, Darel Dieringer, Rex White and Ned Jarrett, shown taking a swig from a 16 oz. Pepsi! During the race, A.J. Foyt loses a wheel on the tri-oval, and Jim McGuirk does two 360's on pit road on his way into his stall!

     After 350 miles, it's Lorenzen and Jarrett 1-2, with Roberts and Lund 3-4. At the 392-mile mark, the leaders all pit - except Tiny! Stretching his gas, Lund comes in three laps later, taking on gas only! Eventually, this gives Lund the race, as Lorenzen must pit with 10 laps to go and Jarrett with only 3 laps left in the race! Lund brings his Ford home on fumes and is shown beaming in victory lane with his wife and the happy Wood Brothers crew. For the first time in history, the entire Daytona 500 has been won on one set of tires! The Autolite film also emphasizes of course, that Fords finished 1-2-3-4-5!

     You can get your own color copy of this historic race now available on DVD only from Rare Sportsfilms! Send only $29.95 + $4.00 shipping & handling (Illinois residents add $2.00 tax).