A bus, the Bog and racing.(Revs)

Byline: LINDSAY BROOKE

When the 1974 U.S. Grand Prix is remembered, the ride most likely talked about isn't Carlos Reutemann's winning BT44 Brabham-Ford. Nor is it the 312B3 Ferraris Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni drove, or the Surtees TS16 of Austrian rookie Helmuth Koinigg, who would die in a crash on lap nine in the race. For those at Watkins Glen 30 years ago, one vehicle is remembered above all: a Greyhound bus.

The chartered Greyhound carried Brazilian fans to the upstate New York circuit to cheer Emerson Fittipaldi that October race weekend. Fittipaldi was entering F1's Glen round tied for first in points with Regazzoni. A high finish for Fittipaldi could potentially result in his second championship in three years, and clinch McLaren's first constructors' title.

On the Saturday before race day the Greyhound delivered the Brazilians to the main paddock area. Reportedly its driver escorted his passengers to their grandstand seats, leaving the unattended coach unlocked. The bus was then stolen, demolished, and quickly burned by a mob of mostly drunken spectators. At least 12 other vehicles, four of them reportedly stolen from race fans camping nearby, were similarly destroyed. All met their fate in the Glen's Bog, that infamous mud bowl outside the tunnel leading to the start-finish line.

The Bog had been mayhem central since the 1960s. Not only the Grand Prix event, but Can-Am, F5000 and other series annually attracted the Bogladytes, who paid $15 general admission to ...