October 8, 1983 - Las Vegas Grand Prix

[Tucson620]

October of 1983, Dad packs up the family and we drive from Phoenix to see the Indy cars at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Dad and I are racing fans and always watch CART come through Phoenix. To make it work, my Dad disguises the trip as a Vegas vacation so my Mom and my sisters won’t be bored. The track is a complete POS built right in the Caesar’s Palace parking lot, 5 turns surrounded by sand and concrete. Favorite Mario Andretti (Newman/Haas car) eventually wins the Indy race at 1:4 odds.

 

But what’s important here is the SCCA Trans-Am cars are in town for the warm-up. Rip-snorting 600hp V8 Camaros, Trans-Ams, Mustangs, Capris (Mustangs), Corvettes, a handful of Porsches, and one… little… Datsun. It’s the Bob Sharp Racing 280ZX Turbo #33 driven by “actor” Paul Newman (Mom perks up, ‘Oh really?”). But this Datsun is rumored to have factory help, and Paul Newman is running a serious season as a driver. And the race is sponsored by Nissan. Yeah the muscle car badges are badass. But as a punk teen into sports cars, I picture myself wailing into high school in my turbo rice burner (first car ended up a busted Plymouth Arrow dammit).

 

Aside from Paul Newman, the field of drivers is pretty interesting:

 

- Willy T. Ribbs – on the pole, top team, never becomes the Tiger Woods of racing as predicted

- David Hobbs – old F1 guy, fast and funny, now F1 commentator

- Bruce Jenner – Olympic gold medal Wheaties guy, pit reporter for the Indy cars, now Kardashian step-dad

- Lyn St. James – tits and wheels true, but a good driver

- Steve Saleen – eventually figures selling fast cars is better business than racing

- George Follmer – legendary Indy, Can-Am, and Trans-Am racer still truckin’

- Roger Penske Jr. – Racing on Daddy’s dime, now a car dealer

 

So Newman qualifies the Datsun 3^rd out of 30 cars. Amazing as he’s giving away maybe 250-300hp. Sounds like nothing else in the field. We’re sitting at turn 1. So they line up for the start, an awesome rumble and roar, rip past the “Nissan” start banner. Coming into the turn right in front of us, Newman ducks inside, out brakes everybody and sails into the lead of the Nissan Caesars Palace Las Vegas Trans Am Grand Prix! HELL YES – THE DATSUN KICKS ASS!!!

 

OK, so the Datsun gets re-passed 2 seconds later. And fades as the race goes on. But that was a moment.

 

I remember Newman gets in a big crash later during a re-start, fiberglass everywhere. He’s stuck in the sand and has to get out, walks in front of us back to the pits, gives a nice wave to the crowd. Towed then re-started and finishes about last of the running cars. Willy T. Ribbs wins the race. Later that afternoon, Newman’s car and Mario Andretti wins the Indy race. Later still, I’m busted by casino security for underage gambling (sheesh, was just those quarter-pushing machine things) and nearly died of boredom on the highway back to Phoenix. The end.

 

Wish I had photos of my own. Car looked like this:

 

With driver (next year I think):

 

Video evidence! Skip to 3:00 for glorious start, 4:00 for glorious replay. Or just soak in the ’83 ESPN vibe, baby.

 

ETA: For you kids out there:

[KELMO]

looks like a 1200 coupe in the background of that first oic...mebbee

[DAT510]

and a 720 i think

[Z chopper]

looks like a 1200 coupe in the background of that first oic...mebbee

 

 

top right corner? looks like a 1200 sedan

[Tedman]

Sweet! I was at Caesars Palace GP '82 and got this pic of John Morton running in the Can Am race,

Add: Ended up +$200 for the weekend at the blackjack tables. Stoked!

[Tedman]

Another one from the '82 Caesars Palace GP. Eventual 'spin 'n win' Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan:

[Tucson620]

Sweet! I was at Caesars Palace GP '82 and got this pic of John Morton running in the Can Am race,

Add: Ended up +$200 for the weekend at the blackjack tables. Stoked!

 

Thanks for sharing pics. Some badass drivers in that series. That's a Frisbee Lola - I think that car is for sale http://www.mclaren69.com/frisbee.html

 

Can't believe they drove those cars on that crappy Caesar's track.

[LV Fratsun]

Anyone else find this... "eh a little romantic"

[datrod]

looks like a 1200 coupe in the background of that first oic...mebbee

Looks more like a corolla to me.