Eagle race cars were created by All American Racers (AAR), a motor sport outfit founded by Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby back in 1964. Based in Santa Ana, California, AAR entered cars into the world’s most prestigious racing series, including IndyCar, IMSA, Champ Car, Trans-AM and Formula 1 – although the F1 team was based in the UK under Anglo American Racers.

“The Big Eagle – the late Dan Gurney – was sure smiling down on the gathering,” said Vintage Indy founder and president Michael Lashmett. “[It] included the 1975 Indy 500-winning car, 1967 Spa winner, ’72 Indy 500 pole-winning Olsonite Eagle, an IMSA race-winning Toyota GTP car and several IndyCar race winners.”

Fittingly, the Eagles were seen (and heard) screaming around Road America’s undulating 4.0-mile ribbon of asphalt. The cars were steered by skilled and passionate drivers, who were seen mingling with fellow drivers and spectators between their outings on the circuit.

“This is a fantastic event,” enthused former F1 driver and International Challenge grand marshal Brian Redman. “What a thrill to see so many Eagles in one place.” Redman has been coming to Road America almost every year since 1972, and praised the circuit for becoming “the finest road-racing facility in North America”.

The leader of the pack in the photograph at the top of this page (car 36) is the 1967 All American Racers Eagle Gurney Weslake Mk 1 Formula 1 from the collection of Revs Institute in Naples, FL. Click here to watch pro driver Gunnar Jeannette take this legendary car out for a spirited run at Velocity International.