THE LOBBY A gathering place. Introductions, sports, showin' off your ride, birthday-anniversary-milestone, achievements, family oriented humor.

          
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-12-2020, 11:47 PM
Terry M. Hunt Terry M. Hunt is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Way over yonder
Posts: 908
Default Delorean and Smokey Yunick

I recall these two did a Q and A session at a POCI convention(Denver in 2008?) Does any video exist of this event? Where can I find it?

__________________
Terry Hunt
"He'd need 5 years in the fifth grade just to get an idiot certificate" Smokey Yunick re: Bill France Jr.
  #2  
Old 01-13-2020, 12:02 AM
Stuart's Avatar
Stuart Stuart is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,938
Default

Smokey died in 2001 so it wasn't the Denver convention. He was scheduled to appear at the 2001 convention in Red Wing, MN but died a couple months beforehand.

  #3  
Old 01-13-2020, 12:27 AM
Terry M. Hunt Terry M. Hunt is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Way over yonder
Posts: 908
Default Delorean and Smokey Yunick

2008 was just a guess. I do know that they both did this Q and A at a POCI convention years ago so just wondering if any video exists. Seems like I recall one of the chapters selling a video of this at one time, but not positive. Sure would like to see whatever exists.

__________________
Terry Hunt
"He'd need 5 years in the fifth grade just to get an idiot certificate" Smokey Yunick re: Bill France Jr.
  #4  
Old 01-13-2020, 10:28 AM
Bermuda Blue Bermuda Blue is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 481
Default

Delorean died in March of 2005

  #5  
Old 01-13-2020, 11:09 AM
Rocky Rotella's Avatar
Rocky Rotella Rocky Rotella is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 2,686
Default

I believe it was the POCI Convention in 1997 that was held in Denver where they both attended. I wish I would have been there for that one. I, too, would love to see a video if anyone has it!

  #6  
Old 01-13-2020, 12:03 PM
gtohurstjudge's Avatar
gtohurstjudge gtohurstjudge is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: plano,tx.
Posts: 1,923
Default

Yes it was the 1997 convention in Denver......I was there for his presentation
and also got John Delorean and Smokey Yunick to sign the inside of my glovebox door on my GTO. The local chapter in Denver was selling a tape of his
talk right after the convention was over. I would contact them to see if there
is a copy they can send you. When Delorean walked into the room it was sort
of like Steve McQueen or John Wayne walking into the room.....all of the sudden
the Oxygen level in the room dropped by 50 percent. The best part of the talk was the Q and A after it was over. Somebody asked him about his relationship with Jim Wangers and all he would say about him was that yes he knew him
and he worked for Pontiac's ad agency....that was it! One of my friends spotted him having breakfast in the host hotel all by himself and with balls bigger than basketballs he sat down at the same table and had a conversation with him
for about 15 minutes. He stated that he was shocked by how nice all the Pontiacs were at the convention....he was
expecting to see a bunch of worn out, rusted out clapped out Pontiacs, not the flawless specimens on hand that were nicer than when they were brand new. One thing that was funny was that at the Q and A people had to submit
written questions on a piece of paper subject to screening before being handed to him. I assume this was to head
off any cocaine trafficking questions! He stated during his talk that Smokey Yunick had hounded him for quite some time to come to the convention, and he was reluctant to come, but stated he was having a good time and was glad he attended.


Last edited by gtohurstjudge; 01-13-2020 at 12:17 PM.
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to gtohurstjudge For This Useful Post:
  #7  
Old 01-13-2020, 01:23 PM
Terry M. Hunt Terry M. Hunt is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Way over yonder
Posts: 908
Default Delorean and Smokey Yunick

Gtohurstjudge, as usual, you are THE MAN. I will pursue this with the info you provided. Played any socket golf lately?

__________________
Terry Hunt
"He'd need 5 years in the fifth grade just to get an idiot certificate" Smokey Yunick re: Bill France Jr.
  #8  
Old 01-13-2020, 01:39 PM
242177P's Avatar
242177P 242177P is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,709
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge View Post
He stated during his talk that Smokey Yunick had hounded him for quite some time to come to the convention, and he was reluctant to come, but stated he was having a good time and was glad he attended.
When Smokey talked, smart people listened.

  #9  
Old 01-13-2020, 01:53 PM
gtohurstjudge's Avatar
gtohurstjudge gtohurstjudge is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: plano,tx.
Posts: 1,923
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry M. Hunt View Post
Gtohurstjudge, as usual, you are THE MAN. I will pursue this with the info you provided. Played any socket golf lately?
Yes, Terry........I had a hole in one a few weeks ago!

  #10  
Old 01-13-2020, 09:27 PM
gtokid1968's Avatar
gtokid1968 gtokid1968 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: IN
Posts: 235
Default

Sad that he never realized what he was responsible for!
Sad that if he had, it may have changed his later years of life with some happiness.
JM2C's

  #11  
Old 01-24-2020, 02:02 AM
joegpho joegpho is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 136
Default

I was at that talk! Smokey was asked, "Who was the greatest racer you worked with?" Answer, "The greatest driver I ever worked with was A.J. Foyt. But A.J. Foyt was an ass-hole!"
I wrote a question to JZD about the origins of the 69 Grand Prix. He answered it and that was when he mentioned the name of Ben Harrison, who was the guy who really came up with the idea.
Afterward there was an autograph session. Smokey stated, "I can't hear a damn thing!" That was one reason why questions were in writing. He had just recently wrote an article in Circle Track on various race fuels - I told him a learned quite a bit from that article. He stated "I did too!" Smokey - even later in life - STILL learning!
I asked JZD about working for big (really big) companies versus smaller; he stated that he would rather be at a smaller place than a bigger one. I've always kept that advice in mind and I have been much happier at smaller companies.
I am grateful that I got to meet both!

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to joegpho For This Useful Post:
  #12  
Old 01-26-2020, 10:02 AM
PB's Avatar
PB PB is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 2,717
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge View Post
Yes it was the 1997 convention in Denver......I was there for his presentation
and also got John Delorean and Smokey Yunick to sign the inside of my glovebox door on my GTO. The local chapter in Denver was selling a tape of his
talk right after the convention was over. I would contact them to see if there
is a copy they can send you. When Delorean walked into the room it was sort
of like Steve McQueen or John Wayne walking into the room.....all of the sudden
the Oxygen level in the room dropped by 50 percent. The best part of the talk was the Q and A after it was over. Somebody asked him about his relationship with Jim Wangers and all he would say about him was that yes he knew him
and he worked for Pontiac's ad agency....that was it! One of my friends spotted him having breakfast in the host hotel all by himself and with balls bigger than basketballs he sat down at the same table and had a conversation with him
for about 15 minutes. He stated that he was shocked by how nice all the Pontiacs were at the convention....he was
expecting to see a bunch of worn out, rusted out clapped out Pontiacs, not the flawless specimens on hand that were nicer than when they were brand new. One thing that was funny was that at the Q and A people had to submit
written questions on a piece of paper subject to screening before being handed to him. I assume this was to head
off any cocaine trafficking questions! He stated during his talk that Smokey Yunick had hounded him for quite some time to come to the convention, and he was reluctant to come, but stated he was having a good time and was glad he attended.
I was at this show and can verify the above. I too have asked this question about the tape, but I've never heard one materialize. It was recorded, they had a camera on a tripod if I recall. I wonder if it was because of the way DeLorean sort of snubbed Wangers? I took it as he didn't really know who he was....at least it sounded like the relationship wasn't as Wangers portrayed it to be b/n the two. That always stuck out to me. Seeing him at that convention was so cool and unique. It sounded like he would be back to a future convention, but that never transpired. He did talk about an all ceramic engine he was working on development with a company in Japan iirc. Interested if the tape exists.

__________________
Pat Brown
  #13  
Old 01-27-2020, 03:35 PM
rohrt rohrt is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Posts: 4,125
Default

I would love to hear it as well. Amazing stuff to have two titans like that at the same event.

  #14  
Old 01-27-2020, 04:22 PM
428goat 428goat is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Elkhart In. USA
Posts: 443
Default

I was there and got Smokey’s autograph. Good guy. Didn’t realize it was that long ago.

Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:05 PM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017