Get documents about "december 2012 issue - Racers at Rest
Document Sample
Racers At Rest
The title “Racers at Rest” is copyrighted by author Buzz Rose and
Rose Racing Publications and is used here with their permission.
Volume II, Issue 3 --- December 2012
Under the Auspices of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame - Knoxville, Iowa -
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E : “ COA L O I L” G E T S H I S !
Searching for Cyclone
By Rick Yocum
3 “CYCLONE” MARKER PLACED!
List
Transition List
5
6
T his issue of your Racers at Rest
newsletter brings more good
news about the Racers at Rest
project! We’re continuing to make
steady progress towards ensuring that all
Los Angeles, California. The marker is
now in place at “Coal Oil’s” final rest-
ing place!
William Henry Carlson was a
native of San Diego, the son of a Swed-
the racers who died in open wheel race ish immigrant father (who went on to
Transition List 6
cars have their final resting places prop- become the youngest man ever elected
erly marked. mayor of San Diego) and a popular
James Shorb
7
“Speedy” Lockwood Earlier this summer we placed West Coast racer.
the order for a marker for Billy “Coal Billy came by his nickname
Editor’s Desk 9 Oil” Carlson who has rested for the past
(Continued on page 2)
97 years in Calvary Cemetery in East
Dayton Daily News
10
Greg Billing
Indianapolis Star
15
Phillip Wilson
Racers At Rest is published
four times a year and is
available free of charge as a
digital newsletter.
To subscribe, send an email
request to
racersatrest@gmail.com.
Racers At Rest welcomes
your comments, articles,
and photographs. Send
submittals, questions or
comments to racersa-
trest@gmail.com or by post
to the Editor.
Mike Thompson, Editor
135 Heatherwoode Blvd. Billy “Coal Oil” Carlson (left) and Curtis “Cyclone” Ross finally have markers
Springboro, OH
45066-1579 for their final resting places after waiting 97 years and 63 years respectively.
Happy Holidays from Racers at Rest!
Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2012 Page 2
(Continued from page 1) in 1914, Carlson’s total cost of monster built of wood. Instead of
“Coal Oil” as a result of his debut fuel for the 500 was $1.80, surely having the 2x4 boards placed side
appearance in the 1914 Indianapo- a record that will never be broken. by side on edge, the builders of the
lis 500. That year Carlson was “Coal Oil” Carlson re- Tacoma track had left space be-
part of the Maxwell team, a team turned to Indianapolis in May, tween the boards and into those
that included Eddie Rickenbacker. 1915 after the Maxwell team had spaces they poured a witch’s brew
The Maxwell racers had been de- switched from kerosene to gaso- of tar and gravel. Drivers likened
signed by Ray Harroun, winner of line, and once again Carlson com- racing on the Tacoma boards to
the first 500-mile event, to run on pleted the 200 lap grind to finish driving through a meteor storm of
kerosene, or as it was also known, 9th after six-plus hours behind the stones and splinters.
coal oil. wheel. Carlson made the decision
Carlson started the 1914 Billy Carlson met his end to start the event on worn tires
classic in 5th and managed a 9th just five weeks after the 1915 Indi- believing that they would give him
place finish. Remarkably he made anapolis race during an event at better traction and control.
just one pit stop during the course the Tacoma Speedway near Ta- There’s no record as to whether
of his 500 mile adventure and coma, Washington, July 4, 1915. his riding mechanic Paul Frantzen,
used, according to history, just 30 a young man just getting his start
gallons of kerosene. Given that The Tacoma track was a in the racing game, agreed with
coal oil was about 6 cents a gallon much feared 2-mile high-banked Carlson’s decision, but there’s no
reason to think otherwise.
STILL WAITING... The early stages of the
race were uneventful for Carlson
and Frantzen but late in the event,
with the checkered flag just miles
away, their mighty Maxwell racer
blew a tire. The wheel rim caught
one of the spaces between the
boards, Carlson lost control, and
Carlson, Frantzen, and the Max-
well rocketed off the top of the
track.
Frantzen was killed in-
stantly. Carlson, though rushed to
a hospital, died soon after arrival.
He was just 25 years old.
Now, finally, after 97
years, William Henry “Coal Oil”
Carlson has a marker for his final
resting place thanks to the kind
generosity of the many supporters
Driver Arthur Greiner and riding mechanic Samuel Dickson of the Racers at Rest project.
(just barely visible on the other side of the steering wheel) are ready
to face the 500 mile test that was the 1911 Indianapolis 500, but their
Like so many others on
race would end in an accident just 30 miles into that event. Greiner
our list, we know very little about
was injured in the crash but Sam Dickson was killed instantly. Dick-
the life of Curtis “Cyclone” Ross.
son thus became the Indianapolis 500’s first fatality. Sam’s final
We do know, thanks to census
resting place in Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago remains unmarked af-
ter more than 100 years (Continued on page 3)
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Page 3 Racers at Rest
(Continued from page 2)
SEARCHING FOR records, that Ross was born May 8, 1905 in
THE CYCLONE Hilliard, Ohio, to mother Emma Merchant and
father Loraid Ross.
After over a decade of hoping to place a marker The area around Columbus, Ohio
on the grave of Curtis “Cyclone” Ross, actually seeing seems to have been home base for Ross for
the stone in place is an incredibly moving experience. most of his adult life. We also know that he
spent a considerable period of time in Chicago
I think back to meeting Columbus racing histo- and was likely a part of Andy Granatelli’s Hur-
rian Mike Gerrapy and hearing there was a black race ricane Hot Rod Association. Perhaps his con-
driver buried somewhere in Columbus and sharing his nection to the Hurricane group led to Ross’s
feelings that his grave deserved a marker. That was over nickname, “Cyclone.” We also know that Ross
a decade ago. won at least one feature while running with an
African American racing organization and that
Mike researched it and found the cemetery. he probably drove a midget on more than one
Racers At Rest board member Steve Estes attempted to occasion.
find the grave, but could only narrow it to a small sec-
tion of Wesley Chapel Cemetery on Columbus’ west Sadly, we know much more about the
side. Cyclone’s death than we do his life.
On July 23, 1949 Ross travelled to the
In the meanwhile, with Mike’s help I contacted 1/4-mile Playland Park speedway in Council
libraries in Iowa and chatted with folks at courthouses Bluffs, Iowa across the Missouri River from
and poured over news clippings of the fatal accident… Omaha, Nebraska for a hot rod race.
clippings filled with inaccuracies. And, after a cemetery
On the last lap of the last race of the
visit, I lay in bed one night and realized that there were
day Ross was battling with another driver, Bill
enough headstones in that section that, with enough
Flickham (sometimes reported as “Flinchein”),
spikes, string and patience, I should be able to find Cy-
when a third driver, Bill Pettit, tried to pass the
clone’s grave.
pair by driving between them. The gap, if one
existed, closed and Pettit was the worst for it.
With orange string strung across a wide area of
His car did several quick barrel rolls before
that section Steve had identified, I called a cemetery
landing on its wheels. Pettit, 21 years old, died
worker to the location. Looking at the crude records he
instantly of a broken neck.
had and at my maze of string, he looked at me and said
the words I wanted to hear: “No doubt.” The Playland Park promoter announced
that the following week’s events would be run
By now I knew more about Ross than, probably, as a benefit for the young widow Pettit left be-
any surviving family members know…and there are sur- hind.
vivors. (Continued on page 4)
A grandson now knows the marker is in place. I
suspect there is a nephew in Columbus that doesn’t
know he has a cousin in Chicago, but I do.
But what I definitely know is Curtis “Cyclone”
Ross knows he is buried in a properly-marked grave, and
I know that because I stood beside that stone and told
him.
---Rick Yocum
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2012 Page 4
(Continued from page 3)
We will never know
whether Cyclone Ross returned to
Playland the following week be-
cause he felt sorry for Pettit’s
widow, or because he was in-
volved in the fatal accident and he
felt some sense of guilt for Pettit’s
death, or simply because he had
run well at Playland and, as a
racer, wanted to return to a track
that had been good for him, but
July 30, 1949 found Ross back in
the Playland Park pit area.
Questions remain as to
whether either the July 23 or July
30 events were sanctioned by the
Hurricane Hot Rod Association, (Above) Curtis “Cyclone” Ross works through a corner at Chicago’s
but what is known is that Ross and Soldier Field during one of Andy Granatelli’s Hurricane Hot Rod Asso-
Flickham/Flinchein were once ciation events in 1948. Note the absence of any sort of roll-over protec-
again running together on the track tion in the hot rods of that era.
on July 30, but this time with Ross
trailing by a bit. was more than the community tion of Ross’ grave and therefore
could tolerate and, depending on would not be able to place a
At some point in one of which report you believe, either marker. Thankfully, that issue has
the races held that day, Ross’ car the promoter or government au- been resolved. (See the sidebar on
ran up the back of the car driven thorities canceled all future hot rod Page 3.)
by Flickham/Flinchein and was events at Playland. At least one of
launched into a series of end-over- In the months since Ross’
the reports had the Nebraska At- name was added to the Racers at
end tumbles. Curtis “Cyclone” torney General ordering the can-
Ross died in the accident. He was Rest list and he was mentioned
cellation, a remarkable achieve- several times in this newsletter,
44 years of age. ment if true, since Playland Park Steve Estes, a member of the Rac-
Newspaper accounts re- was in Iowa, beyond the Nebraska ers at Rest committee, was con-
ported that Pettit’s widow received Attorney General’s reach. tacted by Vincent Baker. His fa-
$1,396.75, over $13,500 in today’s Other reports record Ross’ ther, Carl R. Baker, had passed
money, adjusted for inflation. age at death as 32, suggesting that away at 73 in 2012.
Two deaths in two weeks Ross might have lied about his At his father’s services
age. At 44 Ross was likely Vincent spoke with other family
among the oldest drivers com- members and learned that his
peting. grandfather had been a race car
For a very long time we driver who died in a racing acci-
knew little more about Curtis dent. His name: Curtis Ross.
Ross’ life than captured in the A web search brought
preceding paragraphs. We Vincent to the Racers at Rest web-
knew which cemetery held site and he was soon in touch with
(Above) One of Curtis Ross’ twin Ross’ mortal remains, but old Steve Estes.
sons, Chicago police officer Curtis cemetery records made it
unlikely that we would ever be We learned from Vincent
R. Baker, killed in the line of duty
June 2, 1984. able to identify the precise loca- (Continued on page 7)
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Page 5 Racers at Rest
RACERS WITHOUT MARKERS FINAL REST
W ith this issue of the Racers at Rest newsletter we have to add four additional racers to our list. George
Brayen, Howard Dillman, Bobby Hahn, and Chester Villa died in open wheel race cars and have yet
to receive any sort of stone or plaque to mark their final resting places. Curtis “Cyclone” Ross and
Billy “Coal Oil” Carlson have been moved to our Transitional List on page 6.
DRIVER DIED CEMETERY LOCATION
Atwood, Irwin 5/30/1935 Rural Cemetery Oswego, NY
Baker, Oscar "Kenny" 7/28/1935 Mountain View Cemetery Altadena, CA.
Bottorff, Seveica.O. 11/3/1919 Evergreen Almeda Cemetery El Paso, TX.
Brayen, George 9/9/1934 Wallkill Valley Cemetery Walden, NY
Brucks, Sherman 9/9/1928 Greenwood Cemetery Hamilton, OH.
Christensen, George 4/22/1929 Calvary Catholic Cemetery Galveston, TX.
Cipelle, Steven "Dutch" 8/18/1939 Wichita Park Cemetery Wichita, KS.
Clark, Loren "Red" 6/13/1935 Valhalla Memorial Park North Hollywood, Ca
Craft, George "Jimmy" 2/3/1924 Oak Hill Cemetery Belle Plaine, IA.
Crane, Harvey 10/16/1920 Mount Hope Cemetery Logansport, IN.
Delzio, Harold “Hal” 5/31/1946 Green-Wood Cemetery Brooklyn, NY
Dickson, Samuel 5/30/1911 Rosehill Cemetery Chicago, IL
Dillman, Howard T. 10/28/1922 Evergreen Memorial Park Tucson, AZ
Eldred, Gilbert 10/1/1921 Oak Ridge Cemetery Sandwich, IL
Eldridge, Lynn 10/15/1930 Hollywood Forever Cemetery Los Angeles, CA.
Ferch, Walter "Speedy" 7/4/1923 Forest Home Cemetery Milwaukee, WI.
Flagstead, Harlsten 9/4/1928 Alliance City Cemetery Alliance, OH
Fleming, Walter 9/13/1930 Grove Hill Cemetery Oil City, PA
Ford, Leslie 5/3/1931 Elmwood Cemetery Centralia, IL.
Govin, Leroy “Roy” 6/29/1939 St. Paul’s Cemetery Mt. Vernon, NY
Hahn, William Robert “Bobby” 5/25/1934 Forest Lawn Cemetery Glendale, CA
Harris, Lawson 9/20/1939 Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis, IN.
Heid, Matthew "Matt" 6/29/1949 Mt. Ever Rest Cemetery Kalamazoo, MI.
Jacobs, Sam 8/25/1911 Spring Grove Cemetery Cincinnati, OH
Kelly, Frank 9/9/1933 Holy Name Cemetery Ebensburg, PA
Knox, Francis Marion "F.M." 6/11/1933 Summit View Cemetery Guthrie, OK.
Lafon, Clyde 8/20/1927 Holy Cross Cemetery Akron, OH.
Lehmann, Curt A. 10/12/1957 Calvary Cemetery & Mausoleum St. Louis, MO.
Lockwood, James "Speedy" 3/1/1935 Woodlawn Cemetery Santa Monica, CA.
Maben, Curtis "Curly" 8/21/1954 Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park Seattle, WA.
Michaelis, Milton 7/4/1913 St. Joseph’s Cemetery Adrian, MI
Miller, Lee 9/11/1938 Woodland Cemetery Quincy, IL.
Morris, Chester N. “Chet” 6/26/1949 Forest Hill Cemetery Pewaukee, WI
Reid, Gordon 4/20/1952 Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale, CA
Shelly, Howard 9/1/1947 Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park Seattle, WA.
Spanglo, Charles "Dutch" 7/19/1925 Saint Marys Cemetery Champaign, IL.
Van Drake, Owen 9/5/1923 Bayview Cemetery Necedah, WI
Van Steenberg, Harry "Van" 8/11/1925 Mount Hope Cemetery Logansport, IN.
Villa, Chester A. 9/25/1920 San Luis Cemetery San Luis Obispo, CA
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2012 Page 6
RACERS AT REST TRANSITION LIST
W e offer this “transitional” list in order to give our Racers at Rest project supporters a clearer idea of
where we are in our efforts to ensure that the graves of all open-wheel racers who died behind the
wheel of a race car are properly marked..
The racers listed here fall into five categories. Three of the racers currently have a family marker but
no individual markers. Since their graves have at least some identification these racers will be addressed with
individual markers after the other racers’ resting places have been marked. We have tracked two other racers
to cemeteries but their precise resting place within the cemetery is unknown at this time. We will continue to
search for the location of their grave sites though the chances for success appear slim.
Finally, six of the racers have completed the Racers at Rest process. Markers for Joe Russo, Billy
Winn, Earl Farmer, Bill Heisler, Billy Carlson, and Curtis Ross have been placed at their gravesites.
DRIVER DIED CEMETERY LOCATION NOTE
Brown, Walt 7/29/1951 St. Charles Cemetery Farmingdale, NY. 1
Carlson, Billy “Coal Oil) 7/5/1915 Calvary Cemetery E. Los Angeles, CA 5
Davidson, Jay 9/5/1934 Oneonta Plains Cemetery Oneonta, NY. 2
Farmer, Earl 2/1/1931 Inglewood Park Cemetery Inglewood, CA 5
Garringer, Cecil E. “Bobby” 7/28/1940 IOOF Cemetery Montpelier, IN 2
Heisler, Bill 5/15/1932 Inglewood Park Cemetery Inglewood, CA 5
Mancuso, Frank 6/19/1934 St. Peter Cemetery Danbury, CT 1
Ross, Curtis “Cyclone” 7/30/1949 Wesley Chapel Cemetery Columbus, OH 5
Russo, Joe 6/9/1934 Mt. Olivet Cemetery Detroit, MI 5
Speth, Al 5/31/1953 Fairmount Cemetery Davenport, IA 1
Winn, James M. “Billy” 8/20/1938 Mt. Olivet Cemetery Detroit, MI 5
Notes: (1) Family marker is in place at gravesite.
(2) Location of gravesite within the cemetery is unknown.
(3) Order for marker has been placed.
(4) Markers have been completed will be placed when weather permits.
(5) Markers have been placed! Process complete!
PROFILE: HOWARD T. DILLMAN
T he 1920 census reported that
Howard T. Dillman was a
detective living in Phoenix,
Arizona with his wife and two sons,
but by the time his death certificate
or it might have caused him to de-
cide to turn to auto racing.
On October 28, 1922 Dill-
man and his mechanician (riding
mechanic) were practicing for an
Dillman’s mechanician, Joe Diaz,
suffered serious injuries but sur-
vived.
Howard T. Dillman was 36
years old at the time of his death,
was prepared two years later he was upcoming Douglas - Phoenix race and for the past 90 years he has
shown as divorced and working in to be run on public roads. rested in an unmarked grave in Ev-
real estate. We’ll never know what As they neared the town of ergreen Memorial Park in Tucson,
tumult occurred in Dillman’s life Benson, Arizona during their prac- Arizona.
over the course of that 24 months, tice dash they collided with a tour-
but it might have been caused by, ing car. Dillman’s car rolled over
and Dillman was killed instantly.
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Page 7 Racers at Rest
(Continued from page 4) police force. struggle.
that his father and his uncle were Curtis “Cyclone” Ross was And yet he soldiered on,
twins fathered by Ross, in 1939 the only African American racer on driven by the same passion for the
according to our calculations. Vin- our Racers at Rest list and it is so- sport that we all share.
cent’s uncle, Curtis R. Baker, had bering to consider the difficulties
been a Chicago police officer, Now, after a wait of 63
that Ross must have faced to pursue years, Curtis “Cyclone” Ross, racer
killed in the line of duty June 2, his love of auto racing. In those
1984. Dead at 45 years of age, Of- and father and grandfather to Chi-
widely segregated times Ross likely cago policemen, finally gets a
ficer Baker’s life stretched just one
would not have been able to eat at
year longer than his father’s. grave marker thanks to the generos-
the same restaurants as the other ity of the many Racers at Rest sup-
It also appears that Michael racers or stay in the same hotels. porters and the efforts of many oth-
A. Baker, Vincent’s brother, fol- Securing any services at all while ers. Thank you!
lowed his uncle into the Chicago traveling would have been a
SEVENTH MARKER PLANNED
JA M ES S HO R B “ S PE E DY ” LO CKWO O D
W ith six markers already in place, your Rac-
ers at Rest committee has chosen a seventh
recipient and hopes to place an order before
the end of the year for a marker for James Shorb
“Speedy” Lockwood. Speedy has rested in Wood-
through the night then died the following afternoon,
March 1, 1935. He was 26 years old.
James Lockwood was chosen by your com-
mittee to receive the next marker because of the part
he played in the history of midget auto racing as one
lawn Cemetery in Santa Monica, California in an un- of the participants at the first-ever midget event and
marked grave for the past 77 years. because the California weather will permit speedy
Lockwood came into the world April 26, placement for Speedy’s marker.
1909 in Riverside, California. We know very little This marker, like the others already in place,
about his life, but we do know that at some point was made possible by the kind participation of the
Lockwood moved to Santa Monica and was living many supporters of the Racers at Rest project. Thank
there with his wife Hazel at the time of his death. you!
Apparently Lockwood’s brother and father
were also Santa Monica residents.
Speedy was drawn to auto racing and
on August 10, 1933 he was one of the ten driv-
ers who competed in the first-ever midget auto
race. The event was held at Loyola High
School Stadium in Los Angeles. Midget racing
hooked the young Lockwood and he continued
to race the small cars at every opportunity.
On February 28, 1935 at the season
opener for the midgets at the 1/5-mile Gilmore
Stadium in Los Angeles, Lockwood was on the
track in the 10-lap Class B feature. His midget
racer got caught between two other competitors,
wheels touched, and Speedy’s car flipped twice.
James Shorb “Speedy” Lockwood was (Above) This 1933 photograph shows Speedy Lockwood
rushed to a local hospital suffering from a frac- looking ready to go at the first-ever midget auto race. The
tured skull and broken neck. He lingered event was held at Loyola Stadium in Los Angeles. (Sharpe
Collection/Racers at Rest by Buzz Rose)
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2012 Page 8
THANK YOU!
I
ject.
would like to give thanks to
all these people for helping
with the Racers at Race pro-
Rick Yocum- Curtis "Cyclone"
Ross project.
Susan Lewis- Charles Bur-
chards pictures and material.
Sandra Dean-Chester Villa
Motorsport Memorial-
Research.
...and to all my partners in
Racers at Rest, without whose ef-
Jim Michels- Research. material. forts this project would have never
Molly Kennedy- Research. Phil Wilson- Indianapolis Star been possible--Mike Thompson,
Robyn Richardson- Eddie Article. Jim Thurman, Buzz Rose and Don
Nicholson photos. Kate Colwell- Buck Whitmer Tash, and the National Sprint Car
Fern Malkine-Falvey- Roy pictures. Museum, for their full support of
Govin photos. Rick Patterson- Research. the Racers at Rest project.
Chad Schneider- Frank Lake Richard Cole- Research.
material. Clay Espie- pictures. Thanks!
Ann Frank- James "Adrian"
Johnston- photos.
Greg Billing- Dayton Daily
News article.
Steve Estes
RACE CHASERS’ LUNCHEON
(Racers at Rest committee member ting us on the path to this project to the same woman and who are
Steve Estes was scheduled to speak and for allowing us to use the Rac- buried side by side at Mt. Olivet
at the November 17, 2012 Race ers at Rest name. Cemetery, in Detroit.
Chasers luncheon in Indianapolis,
While researching and Two time Indy starter
but unexpected illness prevented
compiling the information for the Billy Carlson, just received a stone
his attendance. This is what Steve
Racers at Rest books, we were after resting 97 years in an un-
would have said if he had been
surprised to find how many of marked grave. Stones have also
able to attend.)
these drivers that gave their life for been placed for Earl Farmer and
F
the sport they loved had no Bill Heisler, west coast sprint car
irst of Hall, I would like to
marker. Most of these came from a drivers. The latest stone is being
give thanks to Race Chas-
different era than we know now, placed as we speak, for Curtis
ers for kindly donating
no multimillion dollar contracts, “Cyclone” Ross, an African
their time and energy to help bene-
no luxurious motor homes, just the American driver who lost his life
fit Racers at Rest, and to Tom
same passion and love for the in a benefit race for a fellow com-
Schmeh, Bob Baker and the Na-
sport that all racers have. petitor ( Bill Pettitt) who died only
tional Sprint Car Museum for
a week earlier.
throwing their full support behind Some of these men are
this project. known but to a few people, many With your help and the
known only to the researchers and help of donations that are sent in to
Secondly, I’d like to thank
any remaining family, but their the Museum, 100% of which go to
the wonderful group of project
sacrifices should be known to the the funding of the project by the
members, my friends, Don Tash ,
entire racing community. It is with way, we will complete our goal
from Phoenix who co-authored the
the help of people that continue to and men like riding mechanics,
Racer at Rest books, Mike Thomp-
provide donations to the project Sam Dickson, Lawson Harris, Sam
son, who does a wonderful job
that we hope to accomplish this Jacobs and open wheel drivers like
with our website and puts in tons
goal. To date, we have provided James “Speedy” Lockwood , Irwin
of hours on the project, and also
headstones for four-time 500 Atwood, and George Brayen, will
our west coast researcher, Jim
starter, Joe Russo (whose son finally get the recognition they
Thurman. I would also like to
Eddie recently passed away), Billy deserve.
thank Buzz Rose, a hall of fame
Winn, also a four-time 500 starter,
sprint car driver himself, for set-
who both, ironically, were married
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Page 9 Racers at Rest
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
A h, the best laid plans of
mice and men...and news-
letter editors.
If all had gone as planned,
Shorb “Speedy” Lockwood, be-
fore 2012 turns into 2013.
You have to agree that’s a
pretty good track record for a pro-
by the time you read that powerful
last line, you are a far stronger
person than I.
Thanks to Rick for all he
you would be reading the fourth ject that’s not quite celebrated its did to help get the Cyclone the
issue of the Racers at Rest news- second anniversary. marker he deserved.
letter for 2012, not the third. But
None of it would have
sometimes life gets in the way and
been possible without the continu-
you simply run out of time to get
done everything that you had
planned. Thanks for your patience
ing generosity and participation of
all the Racers at Rest supporters.
W hile we are on the subject of
Cyclone Ross I want to pass
along this additional bit of infor-
while this issue has been slowly mation. Cyclone was scheduled to
drive in the 1950 Indianapolis 500
I
gestating over the past six months ’ve noticed that as men age it
or so. in a car that former Heavy weight
becomes much easier for them
Boxing Champion Joe Louis was
to cry. At least that’s been my
going to buy.
experience. Almost anything can
T his has been an exciting year
for the Racers at Rest project.
We’ve placed additional markers,
start the waterworks.
With the placement of
Truth? Legend? I suspect
we will never know for sure.
bringing the total to date to six, each Racers at Rest marker I find
myself getting really emotional
I
and we hope to place an order for was honored in 2012 to be
the seventh marker, for James about the small part I play in see-
asked to head up the annual
ing that a mostly-forgotten racer
Winchester Speedway Old Timers
gets a token of our appreciation, a
D O N AT E ! slight gesture to remind one and
Reunion at the track in Indiana. It
was a lot of fun and I got to meet a
T hinking of donating to all that we have not forgotten the
lot of old and new friends.
the Racers at Rest pro- part that racer played in the history
ject? We need every dol- of our sport. I offered event t-shirts
lar bill that you can spare! with the net proceeds going to the
I found myself once again
Racers at Rest project and the Old
getting misty-eyed reading the
Mail your donation to Timers responded by purchasing
piece penned by Rick Yocum (See
National Sprint Car Museum enough shirts to allow me to pass
the sidebar on Page 3) about Cy-
P.O. Box 542 over $100 on to the project.
clone Ross.
Knoxville Iowa 50138 In addition, I passed the
and make your check payable Speaking for the other
hat at the Saturday night dinner
to the “National Sprint Car committee members and likely for
and the Old Timer participants
Museum.” many of the Racers at Rest sup-
pitched in another $115.
porters, we develop an emotional
attachment to the racers on our Altogether, something
In order for your dona-
list. They become friends, family north of $230 was raised for the
tion to go to the Racers at Rest
members, speaking to us across Racers at Rest.
project, you must write “Racers
at Rest” on the memo line of the time about their love of auto rac- Take a bow Winchester
check. ing, about how their only regret is Old Timers! (P.S. The 2013 event
that they couldn’t stay longer at will be held August 17 - 18.
Thank you in advance the party. Please stop by!)
for your kind support of this If you can read Rick’s
very worthy project! article and not have a quivering lip (Continued on page 12)
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2012 Page 10
FROM THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS
FA N S R E F U S E T O L E T M E M O R I E S FA D E
By Greg Billing doesn’t have one. Park in Glendale, Calif.
Staff Writer
For 84 years the Hamilton * Samuel Dickson, a riding me-
S
race car driver has rested in a chanic and the first fatality in the
herman M. Bruck rests next
sunny spot at the cemetery just off history of the Indianapolis 500 on
to his parents in Section U,
Greenwood Ave. No marker to May 30, 1911, rests unmarked at
Lot 228, Space No. 2 of the
announce his birth of Oct. 31, Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.
Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton,
1907. No marker to announce his
almost hugging the corner of the * Sam Jacobs, a riding mechanic
death on Sept. 9, 1928. No marker
curved road just like his auto rac- from Cincinnati whose ride turned
to suggest who is next to Louis and
ing days of long ago. Bruck turned a deadly somersault racing on Aug.
Katherine Bruck.
105 years old on Oct. 31. 26, 1911, in Illinois, rests un-
History may have forgot- marked in Spring Grove Cemetery
You wouldn’t know by
ten about him, but Racers at Rest in Cincinnati.
looking at his grave marker. He
hasn’t. The non-
Helping author Buzz
profit organization
Rose’s book Racers at Rest, re-
relies on donations
searchers Steve Estes of Troy and
to purchase special
Don Tash of Phoenix, Ariz., were
markers for drivers
amazed at the number of drivers
who died in action.
without grave markers. Given per-
At last count RAR
mission to use the RAR name, Es-
knew of 40 racers in
tes, Tash, Jim Thurman of Palm-
unmarked graves out
dale, Calif., and Mike Thompson
of the 1,156 known
of Springboro volunteered their
drivers who died
time to fix that. The National
from injuries suf-
Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knox-
fered in open-wheel
ville, Iowa, also came on board to
racing accidents.
handle the bookkeeping — every
Since his cent donated to RAR goes toward
race car took that the grave markers — and give
fatal tumble down a RAR added credibility and visibil-
15-foot embankment ity.
at an unfinished
The project is personal for
track in Hamilton,
both Estes and Tash. Estes was
Bruck — just 19
Walter “Speedy” Ferch (Forest Home Ceme- devastated when racing hero Pat
when he died — has
tery, Milwaukee, Wis.): He was a motorcycle O’Connor died in a fiery 15-car
laid in anonymity.
stuntman who performed shows on dromes — accident on the first lap of the 1958
He’s not alone.
circle tracks made of vertical boards that the Indianapolis 500. Tash idolized
motorcycles climbed higher and higher on at * Gordon Reid, Jimmy Bryan, who won the Indy
dangerous speeds. At one event in Houston, whose sprint car 500 the day O’Connor died and
Ferch — who always chomped down on a cigar plowed into the perished two years later at Lang-
to keep from biting his tongue off in an accident crowd at Dayton horne Speedway in Pennsylvania.
— flew out the top of the drome and landed Speedway killing
“My dad used to take me
about 160 feet into the parking lot. Both he and three on April 21,
to Dayton Speedway and I sat on
his tongue survived. But Ferch decided to try a 1952, rests in an un-
O’Connor’s lap once when I was a
safer sport. He died in his second auto race on marked grave in For-
July 4, 1923. est Lawn Memorial (Continued on page 11)
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Page 11 Racers at Rest
(Continued from page 10) Yockey, a well-to-do socialite Those efforts often find
child,” Estes said. “To me that who helped fund his racing, but he unexpected detours. Antiquated
was my hero. Then he got fatally died six months later in an acci- cemetery record keeping, drivers
injured at the Speedway in Indian- dent at Pennsylvania’s Langhorne racing under different names and
apolis. That’s hard as a kid be- Speedway in 1934. Yockey then poring through almost 100 years
cause your heroes don’t die. married Winn, who died in 1938 of newspaper archives for snippets
They’re not supposed to die. My after being tossed high into the air mentioning accidents presents its
dad took me to visit his grave. when his car flipped in Spring- challenges. Cemetery regulations
Maybe it started back then, I don’t field, Ill. It’s assumed Yockey — some require the approval of
know, the passion to find these bought the first plot at Mount Oli- blood relatives before a marker
guys.” vet for Russo and one for herself can be placed — and even family
when her time came, but instead disagreements can hamstring ef-
History lessons
placed Winn there. In another forts. And some drivers are for-
To date RAR has placed twist, Russo died at Langhorne ever lost to history with no records
five markers. A sixth could soon after replacing Winn in an ill- or known relatives to tell where
be placed for Curtis “Cyclone” handling Indy Car. they are buried.
Ross at Wesley Chapel Cemetery
“Since 1938, Billy and Joe As Thompson put it: “In
in Columbus. Ross — the only
rest side-by-side in Mount Olivet,” some cases, cemeteries keep re-
black driver on the RAR list and
said Springboro’s Thompson, cords on 3x5 cards and have since
possibly the second black driver
RAR webmaster and newsletter the dawn of time. For some reason
ever killed — died at Playland
editor. “As luck would have it there’s always a fire somewhere
Speedway in Council Bluffs,
they are sort of on the front row along the line.”
Iowa, on July 30, 1949. Finding
side-by-side … and the first two
Ross was typical of the challenges Most of what Estes knows
stones we placed were for Joe and
facing RAR. According to RAR’s about Bruck comes from a short
Billy.”
website, Ross’s family paid $25 to paragraph in the Zanesville Signal,
purchase his plot and another $20 Since the program’s which lists his name as Brucks
to dig the grave located in Chapel launch in 2011, RAR has placed (the Piqua Daily Call spelled it
Cemetery. With the exact location markers on the graves of Billy Brooks). The paragraph said
of his grave unknown, however, Carlson, Bill Heisler, Earl Farmer, Bruck ran down an embankment
cemetery officials used string to Russo, Winn. at an unfinished track but didn’t
triangulate a 100-foot by 100-foot say where in Hamilton the track
“I think it’s one of the
area where Ross should be. was located. Bruck, though, is one
most worthwhile projects we’ve
of the lucky ones.
The average marker used ever been involved with here at
by RAR costs about $850, a paltry the National Sprint Car Hall of Indiana native and Dayton
sum considering the money high- Fame and Museum,” said resident Cecil Edward “Bobby”
powered sponsors and teams NSCHoF curator Tom Schmeh. Garringer was buried in IOOF
throw at the sport each weekend. “We just really believe those that Cemetery in Montpelier, Ind., af-
Thompson estimates the entire gave their life to the sport deserve ter a fatal practice session at the
project costs about $30,000 to fin- recognition. They don’t have to be Columbus Indiana Fairgrounds on
ish. the best sprint car drivers of all July 28, 1940. They just don’t
time. Everybody who participates know where.
Estes said RAR spent four
is a part of the sport and deserves
years trying to place its first two “They didn’t mark down
recognition, especially for those
markers, which ended up side-by- where in the cemetery,” Estes
who gave their lives to the sport.
side in Mount Olivet Cemetery in said. “The cemetery has no marker
It’s a tremendous project and
Detroit. for him so he might be lost to
we’re really proud of the volun-
time.”
The story goes like this: teers who took on this effort.”
Racer Joe Russo married Helene
Unexpected detours (Continued on page 13)
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2012 Page 12
EDITOR’S DESK - CONTINUED
C O N TA C T U S
(Continued from page 9) A special thanks goes out
J
H
on Noggle (“Noggle’s Goggles”) to Jon and Barry, and all the Race
and Barry Hindman generously Chasers! ave a question or some-
welcomed me, representing the thing to share with the
(By the way, if you are in- members of the Racers
R@R gang, and Tom Schmeh and
terested in joining the Race Chasers
Larry Ball, Jr. from the National at Rest Committee? Don’t hesi-
crew, send an email to
Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Mu-
jonviv1@sbcglobal.net. Noggle tate to contact us!
seum, as speakers at their Race
sends daily email recaps, “Noggle’s
Chasers luncheon November 17. RACERS REST PROJECT
Goggles,” of everything happening
I had a great time listening in the world of open-wheel racing.) racersatrest@gmail.com
to Tom and Larry and, best of all,
Jon and Barry donated the luncheon NATIONAL SPRINT CAR
proceeds, over $300, to the Racers
at Rest project! D uring the course of 2012 I got
to know Phil Wilson, a sports
writer for the Indianapolis Star. I
MUSEUM
&
In addition, I offered DVD HALL OF FAME
exchanged emails and chatted on
copies of my documentary film TOM SCHMEH
the phone with Phil, urging him to
“The Mutt Anderson Story,” part of
consider writing about the Racers at
Curator
my Faded Thunder series, to any- tschmeh@sprintcarhof.com
Rest project.
one making an additional donation.
Another $100+ was raised for the And write he did. When DON TASH
R@R project. his wonderful article finally ap- Show Low, Arizona
peared in the Star on October 5
dtash90@gmail.com
it was carried on the front page
of the paper, not in the sports (602) 791-3983
section!
STEVE ESTES
The Star and Phil were Troy, Ohio
nice enough to allow us to share
restes@woh.rr.com
the article with you. We’ve re-
printed it for you on page 15. (937) 339-2784
JIM THURMAN
According to the Star, Palmdale, California
the article has been jim.thurman@att.net
“recommended” 104 times since
publication, which is, I think, a MIKE THOMPSON
very good thing. Webmaster/Newsletter Editor
Tom Schmeh (left) of the National Springboro, Ohio
Thank you Phil for your
Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Mu-
help with the R@R program! foggygoggles@woh.rr.com
seum, accepts a check from Mike
Thompson of the Racers at Rest (937) 550-4067 (Office)
committee. The check represented
the funds collected for the R@R
project during the 2012 Winchester
W e are also indebted to
Greg Billing, sports
writer for the Dayton Daily
Speedway Old Timers Reunion.
News, for making the R@R pro-
The exchange occurred during the
November 2012 Race Chasers
luncheon in Indianapolis. (Continued on page 14)
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Page 13 Racers at Rest
(Continued from page 11) are sore (the morning after the
The first known racing accident), but alive. … To sort of
fatality is believed to be Frank discard these guys is a crime.
Day at Wisconsin State Fair on
“This is just a modest
Sept. 12, 1903. That at least 1,155
proposal to put a bookmark on a
have followed is a tragedy. But
guy’s grave to say this guy meant
some good has come out of some
something to our sport, his sacri-
of those accidents, mostly in the
fice helped today’s drivers survive
name of better safety equipment
incredible accidents and he de-
and regulations. That’s one more
serves at least a bookmark, at
reason RAR doesn’t want those
least a note.”
unmarked drivers lost to history.
Racers at Rest donations
“The reason guys like
Make checks payable to National
(sprint car driver) Kyle Larson
Sprint Car Hall of Fame and mail
survive is not because someone
to:
sat down yesterday and did a
National Sprint Car Museum
computer simulation,” Thompson
P.O. Box 542
said, referring to Larson’s gut-
Knoxville, Iowa 50138
wrenching flips after another car
Note: RACERS AT REST must
slammed his and sent it airborne
be written on the memo line to
at Eldora Speedway in September.
ensure the donation goes to this
“It’s because guys like project. There are no administra-
Cyclone showed people we need a tive fees or overhead so the full
(safety) bar here, better helmets. donation benefits to Racers at
Those guys sort of paid with their Rest. For more information visit
lives so drivers like Kyle Larson www.racersatrest.com.
PROFILE: WILLIAM ROBERT HAHN
A spiring driver Bob Hahn
died as a riding mechanic
beside Peter Kreis during a
practice session for the 1934 Indi-
anapolis 500. The Kreis/Hahn car
owned by Harry Hartz crashed
into and over the wall at the exit of
turn one and smashed into a tree.
The Associated Press arti-
cle (right) gives a good impression
of the lack of respect given riding
mechanics generally. Hahn gets
scant mention compared to driver
Pete Kreis. The burial notice in
the paper near his California home
(left) provides a bit more.
Bob Hahn has rested in an
unmarked grave for the past 78
years.
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2012 Page 14
(Continued from page 12)
ject the subject of a lengthy article.
(See Page 10.)
of project supporters across the
motorsports community. I f you’ve not yet had an oppor-
tunity to donate to Racers at
Rest, please take a minute in the
next couple of days to write out a
Greg has mentioned the
R@R project several times in arti-
cles over the past two years and
T here is a possibility that some
subscribers to this newsletter
might not have received this issue.
check and sent it along to the Na-
tional Sprint Car Hall of Fame &
Museum.
there is no way for us to ade-
I believe that my mailing list
quately express our appreciation Any amount will do, but
might have been corrupted when I
for his continuing support other I’ve been recommending to
moved into a new set of com-
than to say “thanks.” friends that they donate the
puters. If you think you have been
amount that they would have spent
overlooked, please send me an-
at their local short track to see one
other email to racersa-
I f you are like me, you have
enough “stuff” for several life-
times. Many of your friends are
trest@gmail.com with the word
“subscribe” in the subject line.
event during the past season.
If you have already do-
nated, we thank you from the bot-
possibly in the same predicament I apologize for any incon-
tom of our hearts, but (you knew
and that makes it very hard to shop venience.
there was going to be a “but” did-
for them for Christmas. What do
n’t you?) we hope that you might
you get someone who has two of
H ere’s a tip of the hat to loyal consider another small donation if
everything?
Racers at Rest supporter you are able.
Here’s an idea: why not
Lydia Brasher of Indianapolis. Every donation, large or
make a nice donation to the Racers
Lydia was way ahead of us in small, is helpful and 100% of your
at Rest project in their name? Be-
terms of using a Racers at Rest donations go to placing markers
sides helping a really good cause
donation as a Christmas gift. on the graves of our fallen heroes.
you’ll prevent burdening your
Lydia made a very gener- There are no deductions for ad-
friend or family member with one
ous Christmas donation in the ministrative costs or other ex-
more thing that needs dusted or
names of Tony Hileman and Lee penses.
exchanged.
Morrow.
And a R@R donation re-
quires no batteries!
Directions for making a
Take a bow Lydia!
F inally, speaking for the Racers
at Rest committee-- Don
Tash, Steve Estes, Jim Thurman
P
donation can be found on page 9 articularly sharp-eyed follow- and myself--I wish each of you the
of this newsletter. Thanks for con- ers of the Racers at Rest pro- best and happiest holiday season
sidering us! ject will have noticed that Walter and I hope that 2013 brings you
Donnelly has been taken off the everything that you need, if not
Transitional List (see page 6).
A nd here’s another alternative: everything that you want.
Walter was previously on the list
give the book that started it God bless you all, and...
because we thought we knew
all, Racers at Rest by Buzz Rose.
which cemetery held his mortal Until next time, thanks for
You’ll find more informa- remains, but the exact location of your support of Racers at Rest!
tion for ordering at his grave was a mystery.
www.roseracingpublications.com.
Steve Estes confirmed just
as this issue was ready for publica- Mike Thompson
tion that Walter had been found
T he Racers at Rest project has
enjoyed remarkable early suc-
cess thanks entirely to the gener-
buried with his wife’s relatives
and with a proper marker.
ous contributions and participation Thanks Steve!
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Page 15 Racers at Rest
FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR
E N S U R I N G R AC E R S ’ G R AV E S A R E M A R K E D
By Phillip B. Wilson provide the departed with de- Ohio, home.
phillip.wilson@indystar.com served recognition. “It’s our organization’s belief
“The guys who are racing that at the very least those guys
T he ground above the
final resting places of
Maxwell and Mattie
Dickson rises to a ridge in Section
K of Chicago’s Rosehill Ceme-
today like (Indy 500 winners)
Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon
and the rest of them are really
standing on the shoulders of the
guys who raced before them, guys
deserve a stone to mark their final
resting place. Most of these guys,
obviously, were not superstars.
These aren’t guys who received a
lot of glory or acclaim. These are
tery. Behind that double plot, be- who raced for a lot less money, guys who struggled but loved this
yond that crest at the front of lot under a lot more risky conditions,” sport, loved it as much as any-
17, is a barren spot of dirt. said Thompson, 65, an attorney body. They came up at a danger-
who edits a Racers at Rest online ous time and they paid the ulti-
That’s where their son, Sam, newsletter from his Springboro, mate price.”
is buried. That small space where
the grass didn’t grow, ironically, is Since they launched the pro-
where a tombstone should be – if gram on Jan. 20, 2011, RAR has
the first fatality in Indianapolis placed markers on the graves of
500 history had one. Indy 500 drivers Joe Russo, James
Dickson was a 24-year-old “Billy” Winn and Billy Carlson as
x
riding mechanic for Arthur well as short-track drivers Bill
Greiner’s No. 44 red-and-white Heisler and Earl Farmer. A sixth is
Amplex entry in the inaugural about to be planted for black short
Indy 500 on May 30, 1911. News- -track racer Curtis “Cyclone” Ross
papers reported Dickson was in Columbus, Ohio. Details are
killed instantly after a backstretch being finalized on a seventh for
crash on the 12th lap. Silver Crown midget winner Curt
Lehman in St. Louis.
He became the 67,872nd per- “We just wanted to set things
son to be buried in a cemetery that right,” said Estes, 64, Troy, Ohio.
now has more than 187,000
graves. Why his grave, 101 years Early idols inspired
later, doesn’t have a red granite Estes and Tash were stunned
tombstone like his parents’ is a to learn of so many unmarked
mystery. graves when doing research for
Buzz Rose’s “Racers at Rest”
Four passionate race fans re- book released in 2008. Rose
fuse to let that rest. granted permission to use the book
(Above) The “X” marks the final
Steve Estes, Don Tash, Jim name.
resting place of Sam Dickson, the
Thurman and Mike Thompson
Indy 500’s first fatality in the very
formed Racers at Rest, a non- The National Sprint Car Hall
first running of the event in 1911.
profit foundation which has tar- of Fame and Museum in Knox-
Note that Sam’s mother also died in
geted 45 open-wheel racers in un- ville, Iowa, allowed RAR to work
1911 and that his father followed
marked graves. The foursome are under its umbrella. Race legends
two years later. The Dickson family
scattered across the country but Mario Andretti, Johnny Ruther-
certainly had their share of tragedy.
unite on research, identifying new ford and Andy Granatelli have
Photo by Phillip B. Wilson/
racers, then trying to cut through contributed to the cause.
Indianapolis Star.
the red tape of cemetery rules to (Continued on page 16)
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2012 Page 16
(Continued from page 15) friends, they had fans.”
“The intention of this pro- Adds Thurman, 53, Palmdale,
gram is pure and admirable,” Calif.: “They had stories. They
wrote Andretti, the 1969 Indy 500 had lives.”
winner, in a newsletter testimo-
nial. “It shows respect and fond- In some instances, records
ness for those who went before us, have been destroyed and specific
especially for those who were plots are unknown. RAR realizes
minimized in terms of their memo- those are lost causes, but Estes
rial.” suggests they could place as many
as 35 markers.
Tax-deductible donations But it’s not always easy. For
with Racers at Rest in the memo one racer, three daughters declined
line are sent to the National Sprint permission. By law, that trumped
Car Museum, P.O. Box 542, the one daughter who gave the
Knoxville, Iowa, 50138. The men OK.
don’t claim a dime for administra-
tive expenses. “Almost every imaginable
“We don’t want credit for problem you could conceive of has
anything,” said Tash, 62, Show plagued us,” Thompson said.
Low, Ariz. “It bothered us for “There’s no uniform approach for
years that these drivers are lan- how markers are handled at ceme-
guishing in unmarked graves. It’s teries. Some cemeteries we’ve
been long enough. It’s past due.” contacted, they say, ‘Sure, have
the marker made, bring it out and
Each were emotionally af- put it in.’ Other cemeteries require
fected during childhood by seeing that we track down the nearest The Kingston (New York) Daily
heroes depart. Estes idolized Pat living blood relative and get a no- Freeman, Thursday, September
O’Connor, who was killed in the tarized, signed statement approv- 21, 1939.
1958 Indy 500. Tash adored ing the placement of a marker.”
Jimmy Bryan, who won the 500 in “It was kind of a mysterious
which O’Connor perished but died IMS open to helping out situation,” said IMS historian
two years later after a crash at Until being informed of Donald Davidson. “Why Lawson
Langhorne Speedway (Pa.). RAR’s existence, Indianapolis Harris was riding with him, I have
Motor Speedway’s decision- no idea.”
A young Estes once sat on makers were unaware of Dick- No relative has ever come
O’Connor’s lap at Dayton Speed- son’s unmarked grave, according forward, he said.
way (Ohio). Estes and his father to spokesman Doug Boles. They
frequently visited O’Connor’s also didn’t know that Lawson Har- Boles said the Speedway is
grave in North Vernon, Ind. Tash, ris, a riding mechanic for Louis receptive to discussing assistance
whose youngest son is named Meyer’s Indy 500 wins in 1933 and is mulling involvement.
James Bryan, was 15 when he vis- and 1936, doesn’t have a marker at “Dickson and Harris would
ited his hero’s grave in Phoenix Crown Hill Cemetery. be appropriate conversations for
for the first time. Harris, 32, was killed Sept. IMS to have with Racers at Rest,”
Both cried. 20, 1939, in a Speedway tire-test Boles said.
“If I had gone down to see crash. Driver Elbert “Babe” Stapp
Jimmy Bryan and saw a barren survived the turn-one wreck. There is precedence for the
plot of land, I would have been What’s puzzling is why Harris was Speedway in this area. Last year,
very upset,” Tash said. “These with Stapp, since riding mechanics IMS teamed locally with David
guys had families, they had were no longer utilized after 1937. (Continued on page 17)
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2012 Page 16
(Continued from page 16) 1934, was killed later that year at man “well spoken of” by company
Ring of Harry W. Moore Mortuary Langhorne Speedway (Pa.). His officials. Riding mechanics were
to place a tombstone on the 1946 widow, Helene Yockey, purchased known then as “mechanicians”
grave of Arthur Chevrolet in Holy two plots. and Dickson was expected to one
Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery As sometimes happens with day become a driver.
near Downtown. people tied closely to the racing “It’s sad in a way, but the
“Honoring those who have community, Yockey and Winn reason guys survive crashes today
participated at IMS is a huge part later married. Winn also started is because men like Sam didn’t,”
of the IMS DNA,” Boles said. “In four Indy 500s, his best finish Thompson said. “We owe it to
over 100 years, only 745 men or ninth in 1932, and was a relief him. We need to get to Sam.”
women have started the Indian- driver four times. But he died in
apolis 500. It is an exclusive com- 1938 after a crash in Springfield, Perhaps with the Speedway’s
munity that deserves to be appro- Ill. help, Dickson or Harris will be
priately honored and remembered “Whether or not it was a crossed off the RAR list next.
for their accomplishments. practical decision or a financial
“Racers at Rest is certainly decision we’ll never know, but she Harris is buried in Section 95,
tackling an important element to interred Billy right next to Joe,” lot 780, near the South fence in a
ensure our sport’s participants are Thompson said. clearing from where the extended
honored in the most fundamental branches of two large trees over-
of ways by bringing these omis- When RAR approached the hang. Those buried next to him
sions to the attention of the racing cemetery, they were advised indi- have markers, which is essential
community and raising the appro- viduals who weren’t in the same when trying to find an unmarked
priate funding.” family had to have separate mark- grave, especially in a cemetery
ers. with more than 200,000 people.
Who will be next? “We good-naturedly sug- “I don’t know what you’ll see
RAR was particularly proud gested that because they were part out there,” said a helpful Crown
of placing the first two markers for of the racing family, they could Hill employee, “except a patch of
Russo and Winn at Detroit’s get by with a single marker,” grass.”
Mount Olivet Cemetery. How Thompson said.
these former Indy 500 drivers Of all the racers on their list, Call Star reporter Phillip B. Wil-
ended up being buried next to each Dickson’s death is the oldest. son at (317) 444-6642. Follow
other has an interesting explana- The Indianapolis News re- him at twitter.com/
tion. ported Dickson was well known in indystar_pwilson24
Russo, a four-time 500 starter Mishawaka, Ind., where the Am-
whose best finish was fifth in plex factory was located, a young
Merry Christmas
And
Happy New Year
From
Racers at Rest!
Honoring Our Racing Heroes in Their Eternal Slumber
