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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1978 USAC Championship Car Season (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1978)]] |
| |title=<center>1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone</center>
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| |image=1978dailyexpressindysilverstone1.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone''''' was the 16th race of the 1978 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 1st October at the Silverstone Circuit, the event would mark the first instance of a USAC Championship race overseas. The race would ultimately be won by A.J. Foyt in a Coyote-Foyt, with the event being shortened because of rain.
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| ==Background==
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| By January 1978, it was confirmed that the USAC Championship Car Season would contain races from overseas for the first time in its history.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/09/archives/what-the-road-ahead-looks-like-in-auto-racing-formula-one-racing-in.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on the 1978 USAC Championship Car Season containing races in England.] Retrieved 11 Jun '22</ref><ref name="motorsport">[https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1978/61/usac-in-england-misguided ''MotorSport Magazine'' reviewing the two races in England, and noting the issues both faced.] Retrieved 11 Jun '22</ref><ref name="retro">[https://www.motorsportretro.com/2011/05/indycars-brands-hatch-1978/ ''Motorsport Retro'' detailing the USAC races held in England, and summarising the 1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone] Retrieved 11 Jun '22</ref><ref name="schedule">[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1978/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1978 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 11 Jun '22</ref> Both international races for the 1978 season would be hosted in England, with Silverstone planned for 30th September, and a race at Brands Hatch would occur on 7th October that was ultimately won by Rick Mears in a Penske-Cosworth.<ref name="crash">[https://www.crash.net/indycar/feature/16845/1/when-champcars-came-to-silverstone ''Crash'' detailing the 1978 USAC Championship Car Season races held in England and the Silverstone event.] Retrieved 11 Jun '22</ref><ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1978_Daily_Mail_Indy_Trophy/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy.] Retrieved 11 Jun '22</ref><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="retro"/><ref name="schedule"/> It arose from agreements with the Motor Circuit Developments, who felt that British spectators may have interest in USAC racing, especially considering Formula One's popularity in the country.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="crash"/><ref name="retro"/> While this was not the first time USAC cars visited Europe, with such vehicles racing in Italy in 1957 and 1958, these would be the first overseas to count towards the Championship.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="schedule"/> The fact both races were also to occur on English road circuits would provide unknown qualities and challenges for USAC cars that primarily competed in oval tracks.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="retro"/>
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| A qualifying session in Michigan helped determine the top 16 competitors that would make the overseas trip, with Tom Sneva in a Penske-Cosworth setting the fastest speed at 209.059 mph.<ref name="motorsport"/> However, issues began to emerge once USAC entered Silverstone, as rain caused delays for both practice and qualifying.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="crash"/> When qualifying did occur, Danny Ongais won the pole position in a Parnelli-Cosworth with a speed of 128.429 mph.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1978_Daily_Express_Indy_Silverstone/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 11 Jun '22</ref><ref name="crash"/><ref name="motorsport"/> Earlier in practice, he set a lap time of 1 minute 18.45 seconds, around 2.5 seconds faster than the lap record set by Formula One driver James Hunt in a McLaren-Ford.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="crash"/> Directly behind him was Lola-Cosworth's Al Unser, with Mears lining up third.<ref name="results"/> A.J. Foyt qualified 10th out of 16 competitors.<ref name="results"/>
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| The race was originally scheduled to run on 30th September, but rain forced the start to be delayed until 1st October.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="results"/> Despite a promotion stating "American Invasion – The Indy Cars are Coming.",<ref name="retro"/> the event drew a poor attendance for Silverstone, with only around 6,000 in the stands on 30th September, and just around 4,000 the following day.<ref name="motorsport"/> Nevertheless, the race did bring concepts generally unfamiliar to British fans at the time, including refuelling, the presence of a pace car, and a rare rolling start.<ref name="retro"/><ref name="crash"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone commenced on 1st October.<ref name="results"/> Ongais maintained his lead from the start, and was accelerating away from his competitors.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> Despite a spin from Wildcat-DGS' Gordon Johncock prompting an immediate caution period, Ongais again built up a lead, only to retire after five laps due to a broken half shaft.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="retro"/><ref name="results"/> Unser took over, leading ahead of Mears and Penske-Cosworth's Tom Sneva.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> On lap 17, he pitted for fuel, but almost incurred a lap deduction following accusations that his Coyote had run over a fuel line.<ref name="crash"/> However, officials deduced that Unser had merely nudged it, and thus he escaped punishment.<ref name="crash"/> On lap 22 however, Unser was forced to slow significantly to avoid running out of fuel.<ref name="crash"/> Johncock passed him, but fuel shortages forced him to relinquish the first position to Eagle-Cosworth's Bobby Unser.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/>
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| Once the initial pitstops were complete, Mears had assumed the lead on lap 25, Foyt being his main competition.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> A lap later, Al Unser retired following a broken pinion gear.<ref name="results"/> On lap 27, the race was red flagged following downpour.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="crash"/> It resumed 30 minutes later, with Foyt again making several pass attempts on Mears.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="motorsport"/> Ultimately, he achieved the final lead change on lap 32, accelerating ahead of the opposition.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> The race was again postponed after 38 laps because of rain.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> With the downpour refusing to subside, the race finished 14 laps earlier than expected, Foyt therefore claiming victory and $33,445 in prize money.<ref name="results"/><ref name="crash"/><ref name="retro"/> Mears finished second, with Sneva taking third.<ref name="results"/><ref name="crash"/><ref name="retro"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', 45 minutes of highlights were televised by ABC later that same day as part of its ''Wide World of Sports'', along with the US Gymnastics Trials.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1978/1978-daily-empress-indy-silverstone ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 11 Jun '22</ref> Additionally, Issue 2,864 of ''Radio Times'' stated that the race with its original start date was to be broadcast on BBC One as part of ''Grandstand''.<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/1978-09-30 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues listing the event as part of ''Grandstand''.] Retrieved 11 Jun '22</ref> It remains unclear whether the delayed race ultimately aired on BBC television at a later date. Regardless, no broadcast of the race has resurfaced, with no footage currently being publicly available.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Video===
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| {{Video|perrow =1
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| |service1 =youtube
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| |id1 =GzbeB_aY5E8
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| |description1 =The 1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy on ''CBS Sports Spectacular''.
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| }}
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| ==See Also==
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| ===IndyCar Media===
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| *[[1962 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1962 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 100 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1964 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1965 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1965 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1966 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1966 Trenton 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1967 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1968 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1969 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1970 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rocky Mountain 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1971 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Marlboro 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Michigan 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1972 Best Western Motels 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trenton Times 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1973 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1973 Texas 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1974 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Trentonian 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Bricklin 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1977 American Parts 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Michigan Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Texas Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1978 Coors 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy (partially found CBS and BBC One footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 California 500 (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 Gould Grand Prix (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1980 Miller High Life 150 (partially found footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Primera Copa Mexico 150 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1981 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (lost CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1996 Las Vegas 500K (partially lost footage of IRL Season race; 1996)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]
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| ===Silverstone Media===
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| *[[1953 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One race; 1953)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Completely lost media]]
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| [[Category:Historic]]
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