Mid-way through a TV interview with visiting commentator Chris Ekonomaki, Johnson broke down. In response, the host broadcasters’ affiliates around the country had their switchboards light up, viewers pledging money to help get his team back for future races. Ekonomaki was not the only American visiting the race; Edsel Ford was there as well, and on the spot, he pledged to match any public donations dollar for dollar.
Johnson was back in business, and Ford was back in Touring Car racing!
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Which would have come as a hell of a shock to those running the Australian arm of the Ford Motor Company.
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What a story!