Gardner, who had raced during an era when safety wasn't a big concern for the drivers and where many of his fellow drivers (including a number of close friends such as World Champion Jim Clark) were killed in racing accidents, had always maintained that he didn't care if he wasn't the fastest driver, he just wanted to be the oldest.
Gardner, que correu durante unha época en que a seguridade non era unha gran preocupación para os pilotos e onde moitos dos seus compañeiros (incluíndo algúns amigos íntimos como o Campión do Mundo Jim Clark) morreron en accidentes de carreiras, sempre mantivo que non lle importaba ser o piloto máis rápido, só quería ser o máis vello.