October 7, 1962 Grand Prix Race at Watkins Glen

The 1962 Grand Prix Race at Watkins Glen was historic as the year Ford Motor Company intruduced its Ford Mustang 1. Present for the event was its designer, Roy Lunn. The 1962 racing season was also memorable for the sudden retirement of racing great, Sir Stirling Moss, after his tragic accident at the Goodwood, England non-championship Formula One race on April 23rd.

Accompanied by WHAM’s John Clark, Walter Dixon brought the race to WHAM’s listening audience. Although he was not allowed to cover the race in its entirety (CBS had exclusive rights), listeners did get to hear the exciting start and finish with a host of memorable at-the-track conversations in between.

Actual Formula One Race 10.07.62 to Complete audio recorded before, during and after the race.

Track 1 A. Listen to Walter and John at the start of the race as they discuss a few of the drivers.

Track 1 B. It’s all about Michelin tires. They were selling at 334 East Avenue for $19.10 per tire! See today’s prices on the photos below!

Track 2 A. A Conversation with Rochester fan and local master mechanic, Gene Tibbels. Gene was a well known local racing enthusiast. Regrettably, we were unable to find a photo of Gene. This track includes mentioning the first driver to complete the first lap.

Track 2 B. Once again, this track is all about Michelin tires, sold at 334 East Avenue.

Track 3. Conversation with Mrs. Graham Hill.

We are fortunate that Walter chose to speak to such an extraordinary woman.

Bette Hill

Mr. and Mrs. Graham Hill

Click on her photo to open the link which reveals her incredible story.

Track 4. Walter has a pre-race conversation with Graham Hill who was in a tight race with Jim Clark for the 1962 championship.

Be sure to check out the Graham Hill hyperlink below which highlights his career within the context of the unique 1960s racing world which offered extraordinary freedom to the racing drivers of those days.

Graham Hill

Track 5. Walter is out on the track for a pre-race conversation with Jim Clark who is warming up his Lotus 8 as they speak. This is followed by the “clear the track” whistle.

Jim Clark

For an in depth look at Jim Clark’s life, click on the photo of Jim Clark above.

Track 6. Walter speaks to Roy Lunn, designer of the the Mustang 1 which is enjoying its October 1962 debute here at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix.

Most people think it was named for our American wild horses called Mustangs. It was not. It was the namesake of the P51 Mustang fighter planes which were pivitol to our victory over Germany and Japan in World War II.

Roy Lunn

Click on Roy Lunn’s photo above for the full story of the birth of the Mustang 1.

Stirling Moss was seen on the track, riding in the Mustang 1.

For a shorter version, open the link on the photo of Moss in the Mustang.

Roy Gurney who drove the Mustang around the circuit

Track 7. Standing next to Maurice Trintignant’s Lotus V8,
Stirling Moss and Walter discuss who might win today’s race.

Maurice Trintingnant

Track 8. After 85 reps around the track, Walter has another conversation with Stirling Moss whose expectations appear to be right on track. All eyes are on Jim Clark and Graham Hill.

The link in the newspaper photo of Graham Hill below leads to an outstanding in depth biography of Graham Hill including the tragic accident which prematurely claimed his life.