Sam hanks racing driver

He was perhaps the last link to the golden era of midget auto racing in southern california, a time before air. Sams retirement from driving brought him into usac to serve as the director of competition at the indianapolis motor speedway from 1958 through 1979. Get the latest stats, news, and much more exclusive content from the sprint car community. Dan wheldon 2011 indy 500 champ gone too soon, a few months later. He announced his retirement from racing while still in. Duray, leon, 18941956 hanks, sam, 19141994 automobile repair shops automobiles, racing automobile racing drivers automobile mechanics further information on this record can be found at its source.

Here is a photo of hanks taken by my dad, al blixt, sr. Indy car racing indy cars dan wheldon indianapolis motor speedway vintage race car car and driver formula one race cars indie. Sam hanks born july, 1914 in columbus, ohio, united states died june 27, 1994 in pacific palisades, california, united states was a racing driver from the united states, who competed in the indianapolis 500 during the 1940s and the 1950s. He was a barnstormer, and raced midget and championship cars. Roy hanks retires from road racing road racing news. The 41st international 500mile sweepstakes was held at the indianapolis motor speedway on thursday, may 30, 1957. Ladow in 1938, at the age of 15, ray nichels, went on the road as a midget car crew chief, racing at tracks across america. The 1957 indianapolis 500 a sideways step into the. Jun 29, 1994 sam hanks, who drove the winning car in the 1957 indianapolis 500, died on monday at his home in suburban pacific palisades. Esports fantasy daily fantasy f1 play f1 2020 f1 mobile racing f1 manager. Apr 19, 2018 popular driver sam hanks headed into 1957 with 12 indianapolis 500 starts under his belts but no victories, finishing second in 1956 and third in 1952 and 1953. In fact, he was a lifelong friend of driver sam hanks, and their friendship went back two decades to the prewar california racing scene, where the two built dry lake race cars together. Browse hundreds of tracks for news, events, photos, and more. Popular driver sam hanks headed into 1957 with 12 indianapolis 500 starts under his belts but no victories, finishing second in 1956 and third in 1952 and 1953.

He won the 1957 indianapolis 500, giving him one world championship win. Creative commons byncnd collection finding aid in pdf format. Contrary to popular belief, hanks did not completely retire from racing until the end of the year. Sam hanks was an outstanding driver in three divisions of racing over a period of many years. Sam hanks was a pioneering ovaltrack racer who started driving midgets in the 30s and capped his career with a win at the 1957 indy 500. He was director of racing from 1958 to 1979 and drove the pace car for six. During his 1953 championship season, he started in 11 races, won. When the founders of the indianapolis motor speedway drew up the plans for the indianapolis motor speedway, the indianapolis star was there and we. Sam hanks won the indianapolis 500 in his thirteenth attempt the most such by any 500 winner.

Sep 01, 2011 sam hanks was a pioneering ovaltrack racer who started driving midgets in the 30s and capped his career with a win at the 1957 indy 500. Although he retired as a driver, hanks remained a fixture at the indianapolis motor speedway for more than 20 years. He drove in the race for the last time in 1963 at the age of 50. Sam hanks sam hanks was an outstanding driver in three divisions of racing over a period of many years. In a roads career spanning in excess of 50 years, the mountain course stalwart has enjoyed a significant amount of iconic moments at the isle of man tt. The event was part of the 1957 usac national championship trail and it was race 3 of 8 in the 1957 world championship of drivers sam hanks won the indianapolis 500 in his thirteenth attempt the most such by any 500 winner. Sam s retirement from driving brought him into usac to serve as the director of competition at the indianapolis motor speedway from 1958 through 1979. Sam hanks sprint car racing news, schedules, results. Mar 11, 2019 driver sam hanks in 1943, looking handsome in uniform. Click on the site to see sam hankss career results at that track glossary. Driver sam hanks 1957 usac champ car series results racing. Apr 01, 2016 sam hanks wins 1957 indy 500 at remodeled track. W previous winner of the race r race rookie the full qualifying results for the 1957 indianapolis 500 are outlined below.

Sam hanks was an american racecar driver who won the 1957 indianapolis 500. Brickyard vintage racing invitational the pedigree of the brickyard vintage racing invitational june 2021 at the indianapolis motor speedway is elite, for both machines and drivers. More than 300 of the worlds most exceptional vintage race cars will compete in 12 different sportscar vintage racing association svra classes on the 14turn. Bob russo, a family friend and auto racing historian, said. Indy car racing indy cars indianapolis motor speedway classic race cars vintage race car national championship car and driver grand prix f1 collection. News, photos, results, and more from dozens of associations. Duray, leon, 18941956 hanks, sam, 19141994 automobile repair shops automobiles, racing automobile racing drivers automobile mechanics further information on. Essentially a ski boat with a monster fuel motor it took a very special breed of driver to tackle one of these beasts and here is one of the best. He also worked as the indianapolis motor speedways director of racing competition.

Benson ford research center, the henry ford rights. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Driver sam hanks in 1943, looking handsome in uniform. Esports fantasy daily fantasy f1 play f1 2019 f1 mobile racing f1 manager. Sam hanks gets goodluck wish from shapely nancy young.

Sam drove the pace car for the indianapolis 500 a record 6 times, 19581963. Jun 16, 2009 winner of the 1957 indy 500 sam hanks and his relieved wife. Sam hanks sprint car racing news, schedules, results, and. The 1957 indianapolis 500 a sideways step into the unknown. Memory lane sam hanks wins 1957 indianapolis 500 youtube. Prior to the war, hanks had primarily been a midget racer although he had appeared in a couple of indy races. Ive been fascinated by sweikert ever since and by many of the daredevil american racecar drivers of that era sam hanks, pat flaherty, jerry hoyt, pat oconnor, jud larson, eddie sachs. Winner of the 1957 indy 500 sam hanks and his relieved wife. Indianapolis motor speedway classic race cars old race cars indy cars auto racing car and driver hot. F1 drivers indy cars auto racing formula one champs race cars indie alice faces. Sam hanks tried 12 times before he won the indianapolis 500, but when he finally did, he pulled his car into victory lane, kissed his wife, alice, took a swig of milk and announced his retirement. They had met at wright field in dayton, ohio, where she was a civilian secretary and he was working on an engine in the power plant. He was third in 1953 as a relief driver for sam hanks.

Thanks for stopping by the most comprehensive sprint car racing website on the planet. Auto racing memories vintage race cars sam hanks, 1957. He is also an acclaimed driver coach, a freelance writer, tv pundit, speaker and consultant to the motorsport and tvfilm industries. The passing of sam hanks last week was more than the death of a great race driver. Details about drag racing drag boat photo blown fuel flat spooky jerry hanks bakersfield 1981. He had also worked as a technical representative for fred offenhauser. He skipped the race of two worlds when his entrant withdrew, but competed in usac stock car events. During the pre war years, sam took his midget to the midwest and picked off a number of championships including the tough chicago board championship. She was dating driver sam hanks, and he asked her to attend. More than 300 of the worlds most exceptional vintage race cars will compete in 12 different sportscar vintage racing association svra classes on the 14turn, 2.

He was a barnstormer, and raced midget and champ cars. Click on the site to see sam hanks s career results at that track. Sam hanks july, 1914, columbus, ohio june 27, 1994, pacific palisades, california was an american racecar driver who won the 1957 indianapolis 500. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. From 19381948, the drivers of the ray nichels prepared midgets campaigned by his father rudy nichels were ted duncan, tony bettenhausen, johnnie parsons, paul russo, mike ohalloran, and ray richards all members of the midget racing hall of. Sam hanks will be remembered as a fair but determined driver and a true sportsman. He won the american automobile association national driving title in 1953 and placed among the top ten in the final driving title standings on four other occasions. Sam hancock is a professional racing driver competing internationally at the highest levels of sports car and gt racing.

Its been confirmed today, that sidecar tt legend roy hanks has decided to call time on his illustrious road racing career. Very popular driver who retired after his 1957 win and then kept up his links with the sport through tv and advertising via raymark and their raybestos brakes. Driver sam hanks 1957 usac champ car series results. Compelling insight from the widow of a great american. Duray, leon, 18941956 hanks, sam, 19141994 automobile repair shops automobiles, racing automobile racing drivers automobile mechanics engines automobiles maintenance and repair signs further information on this record can be found at its source. Sam hanks july, 1914 june 27, 1994 was an american racecar driver who won the 1957 indianapolis 500.

Still spry and engaging at 91 and marking the 71st anniversary of her baptism into racing with a visit to ims last week, alice remembers the details of. When the founders of the indianapolis motor speedway drew up the plans for the indianapolis. May 25, 2017 in fact, he was a lifelong friend of driver sam hanks, and their friendship went back two decades to the prewar california racing scene, where the two built dry lake race cars together. Aug 10, 2015 sam hanks born jul 1914 columbus, ohio. He is the only driver to compete at the indy 500, then serve during world. Indianapolis motor speedway classic race cars old race cars indy cars auto racing car and driver hot rods old school indie. Sam hanks, who drove the winning car in the 1957 indianapolis 500, died on monday at his home in suburban pacific palisades.