Many racers over the years have also had other jobs. Why, right offhand I can think of a doctor, a dentist, and a barber.
Here locally, we have two guys who work at Cummins' Engine Company. Derek Scheffel and Tim Spindler work there, when they are not slinging their sprint cars around the area bullrings.
Got any more?
http://www.hoseheads.com/dannyb.html
Wanna know what's wrong with NASCAR? They've gone from Junior Johnson to Jimmie Johnson.
Wanna know what's wrong with IndyCar? It's gone from dirt ovals to street races.
NASCAR driver Fred Lorenzen I believe was a carpenter.
Stupid me. When I owned a midget, early 60s. Our driver was a fireman.
Unusual one: Nino Vaccarella, Le Mans winner and Targa Florio hero, was a teacher of law at some Sicilian college.
"An emphasis was placed on drivers with road racing backgrounds which meant drivers from open wheel, oval track racing were at a disadvantage. That led Tony George to create the IRL." -Indy Review 1996
Originally posted by NoviVespa
NASCAR driver Fred Lorenzen I believe was a carpenter.
...atta boy Fred!
BTW - in case you don't get it, I'm a Union Jorneyman Carpenter!!
All right, irf. If you wanna play that way....
Jerry Rector, who has driven a late model in South Carolina and occasionally with the Hooter's Cup Series, is a mailman.
Harry Gant always thought of himself as a decent race car driver, but was more proud of being a good carpenter.
I'll see YOU at the races!
Gentleman Jimmy Hensley was an oil truck driver during the week.
My new favorite Brad Pollard is a graphics director for XBOX games.
Art Pollard was a mechanic for a GM dealer.
Ray Elder, Riverside 500 NASCAR winner was a farmer.
Please visit the tributes to my favorites:
Swede Savage / Art Pollard / Mel Kenyon /
Joe Leonard / Peter Revson
Indy Kids
Tony Bettenhausen and Tommy Hinnershitz were farmers.
Mauri Rose worked for the auto companies as an engineer when he was winning his three Indy 500s.
In fact he was credited as inventing a device to allow amputees to drive cars.
"Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate."
2012 Indianapolis 500 Photo Gallery
2011 Indianapolis 500 photo gallery
The guy that drove our sprinter was (is) a wholesale produce salesman out of the San Francisco Bay Area and silicon Valley.
I always made him eat his carrots before a night race.
Neil Bonnett was a pipefitter.
"It was actually fun, because you're back fully driving again in these trucks. Ninety percent of the tracks we go to in the IRL, you're flat-out. I was having to lift off the corners some here." - Buddy Rice
So was Jim Clark.Originally posted by Niseguy
Tony Bettenhausen and Tommy Hinnershitz were farmers.
Graham Hill paid for early drives for Lotus by acting as a mechanic for them.
Justin Wilson earned his corn this year - whilst driving for Jaguar - as a race school instructor.
Bjorn Wirdheim, F3000 champ, works on F1 Racing Magazine's Swedish edition.
During WW II, Len Duncan had the honor of being a chauffer (sp?) for the President, while overseas. I wonder if the President knew that Len was a race driver?
Yes, but how many of these individuals maintained these jobs and did them on a full-time basis once they began racing professionally full-time and traveling around the country/world?
There are countless racers with side jobs.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ensign14
[B]
Justin Wilson earned his corn this year - whilst driving for Jaguar - as a race school instructor.
I thought he was a cajun chef.
Former USAC Midget and Sprint Car driver Greg Staab is a supervisor for Cincinnati Department of Maintenance. He probably was a little busy this week with the seasons first snowfall.
See my answerOriginally posted by theunions
Yes, but how many of these individuals maintained these jobs and did them on a full-time basis once they began racing professionally full-time and traveling around the country/world?
Bentley Warren, who is STILL racing, owns a trucking/sand and gravel company.
Gordon Johncock was owner of Johncock/Brayton Redi/Mix cement. I beleive he's also a farm hand - last I heard he was living on a farm in Hastings MI.
AJ Foyt ran a car dealership.
Dick Ralstin - Barney Oldfield - AJ Foyt - Jim Clark - Dan Gurney - IMS - IMS YT - INDYCAR - INDYCAR YT
Steve Watson was a porn star.
SENÓR MODERATOR......
"Better To Be Judged By Twelve Than Carried By Six"
" Only Those Who Will Risk Going Too Far....Can Possibly Find Out How Far One Can Go "...T.S. Elliot....
Who's Steve Watson
Patrick Bedard was (or still is?) a writer for Car and Driver.
Never heard of Steve Watson, but maybe he's thinking of Reine Wisell instead?Originally posted by MichaelP
Who's Steve Watson
IRL and Indy 500 veteran Jon Herb was an actor who starred in such movies as "The Fugitive", "With Honors", and "The Untouchables."
Tom Sneva was a high school principal.
USAC Midget driver Clay Klepper currently works at Keco Coatings in Indy.
If I were Ed Carpenter and you were a lady...
Was Herm Johnson painting helmets during his driving days?
Andy Hillenburg (Indiana) last I heard is a driving instructor for Buck Baker's Driving School when not racing.
Don't know if he still does it or not, but sprint car driver Terry Pletch builds and assembles swimming pools.
Sprint car driver Brian Hayden used to be the driving instructor at the Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, IN.
I think sprint car driver Phil Hedges is a fireman as well.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks