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    The Daytona 100-1959
    The Daytona 100-1959
    The Daytona 100-1959
    Ebook77 pages57 minutes

    The Daytona 100-1959

    By J Louis Frey

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    About this ebook

    The Daytona 100 - 1959 tells the story of the only open wheel auto race that was contested at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Daytona International Speedway has reached legendary status since it opened in February 1959. The NASCAR stock cars raced in the Daytona 500 where they reached a pole position speed of 143 mph. The United States Auto Club and their Championship Cars started the season in sunny Florida in April. No one had ever driven that fast on a closed course on American soil. The cars went very fast, the pole position was won by an average lap speed of 173 mph. Twenty cars started the race, two drivers led the race and one driver was killed in the race. The 100 mile race lasted a little more than a half an hour. A new team called the "Triple W's" got its first start at Daytona, it wouldn't be their last taste of success.

    The line up featured both veterans and rookies. Young and old drivers made up the star crossed starting field. Nearly half of the racers present were killed in auto racing crashes in the coming months and years. One driver who survived was involved in 2 crashes that were fatal to other drivers. Two drivers died on the same day from racing injuries. Six drivers total were killed in Champ cars in the 1959 season.

    One driver in the line up was later named the Driver of the Century. Another driver was later named the Hero of the 1959 Indianapolis 500. The Clown Prince of Racing was the nickname of yet another driver. The defending National Driving Champion started the race but didn't finish it. One guy returned to the track and won the Daytona 500. A car owner received a bill weeks after the checkered flag fell on the race.

    NASCAR Founder Bill France vowed after the race that he would never do this again and he kept his word. He wanted the world's record on a closed course to be claimed at his new speedway. He allowed an old friend to break the record before the Champ cars made their appearance, but something went wrong. Would wind gusts play a role in the race, and what about the guardrail height?

    America's newest race track would be the scene of this event. It's fastest cars were coming to town. The sun was shining, It looked like everybody was going to have a good time. What could go wrong? Author J Louis Frey tells the rest of the story.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJ Louis Frey
    Release dateFeb 13, 2013
    ISBN9781301053353
    The Daytona 100-1959
    Author

    J Louis Frey

    J Louis Frey has been an auto racing fan for over 40 years and continues to attend races. He is a racing writer and publisher. He collects racing books, magazines, and programs. Frey is married and has two children. He loves all types of racing cars!

    Read more from J Louis Frey

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      Book preview

      The Daytona 100-1959 - J Louis Frey

      The Daytona 100 – 1959

      J Louis Frey

      Smashwords Edition

      Text copyright 2012 J Louis Frey

      All Rights Reserved

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Dedication:

      To those who drove open wheel auto racing cars during the 1950's and 1960's.

      Table of Contents

      Dedication

      Introduction

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      References

      About the Author

      Introduction

      The work on this book was truly a labor of love.  I have been captivated by auto racing since being a kid.  After reading books and articles about the post World War II era, I fell in love with the men and cars of that time.  Some guys have heroes who were ball players or cowboys or astronauts.  My heroes were always racing car drivers.  You had to look up to the men of this time.  Most grew up in poverty or at least rough times because of the Great Depression.  They served their country during World War II, some stateside and some abroad. 

      After the war they were seeking adventure and thrills.  Some had raced cars before the war.  Others were hotrodding around town.  A few drivers saw racing as fun and a great way to earn money.  Even though the sport was brutal to its participants, nobody held a gun to their heads and forced them to drive.  Although some would admit to being afraid of these powerful cars, most at least had a deep respect for what could happen to them on the track.  Many had the thought that if you didn't want to get hurt then don't get into one of these cars.   Helmets were primitive and fire safety equipment was non existent.  A large number of drivers were killed during this time, taken at the full strength of their youth.  Many more were injured and scarred.  A lucky few left the sport without some kind of damage. 

      The drivers developed a fatalistic view of their exploits.  They knew they could be killed, but figured it would happen to the other guy.  As long as they had the steering wheel in their hand they could control the situation.  They could do the same with their foot on the throttle or brakes.  He could get himself into a tight spot or get himself out of it.  He controlled his own little world inside of the cockpit.  Perhaps it is the ideal embodiment of being an American, the independence, the pursuit of happiness, creativity, and true freedom.  From the top of their helmet to the heel of their driving shoes they were the quintessential American man.

      In a Sports Illustrated article dated November 25, 1957 by Kenneth Rudeen on how to pass the guy in front of you.  If you stopped to think, it would be too damn late to do it.  George Amick

      Chapter 1

      The United States Automobile Club had a plan to sanction at least a baker's dozen of Championship Car races in 1959.  The organization, known as USAC, was founded in 1956 by Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Anton Tony Hulman.  The American Automobile Association, AAA, had sanctioned the circuit from its very beginning in 1905.  However, after numerous racing deaths prior to and including the 1955 season the association wanted out.  In addition to the Championship cars, both organizations sanctioned stock cars and sprint cars as well.

      The 1959 series would feature 7 races on dirt tracks, asphalt races would number 6.  In addition to the Indianapolis 500 races would be held from California to New Jersey.  The open wheel cars would travel as far north as Milwaukee and as far south as Daytona Beach.  Other stops included tracks in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, New York, and Arizona.

      The season would start at the brand new Daytona International Speedway.  The recently completed track held its first ever Daytona 500 on February 22, 1959.  It was won by Lee Petty in a photo finish over Johnny Beauchamp.  The high banked 2.5 mile track allowed the stock cars to exceed 140 mph.  The average speed for the non stop 200 lap race was over 135 mph.  Cotton Owens was the fastest qualifier for the Daytona 500, going 143.1 mph.  While many people were concerned about driver safety

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