Tommy hinnershitz race car driver

Hinnershitz was active through the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s on dirt, asphalt and boards, driving sprint cars, at that time slightly smaller versions of indianapolis cars that could be raced on half mile dirt race tracks. 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. Tommy hinnershitz one of the mostexciting, mostpopular and mostsuccessful sprint car drivers of alltime, tommy hinnershitz april 6, 1912 august 1, 1999 of oley, pennsylvania, was a farmer by occupation but he raced because it was fun, he could make a little money doing so and he was very good at it. 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. A quet, shy man, he was brilliant in hot rods and roadsters in california. Thomas byrne born 6 may 1958 in drogheda, but grew up outside dundalk county louth is a former racing driver from ireland. Tommy hinnershitz getting a tow from the marchese brothers push truck. Formerly known as the early bird championship, the tommy spring classic took its name in 2007, now run in honor of the winner of the first ever motor racing main event at williams grove speedway back in 1939. Tommy hinnershitz of muhlenberg, pa, drove this sprint car for fellow driver ted horn in several races during the american automobile association sprint car season. This is the tommy hinnershitz sprint car and dodge tow truck. He got to know tommy hinnershitz, a dirt track race car driver from oley township, who is in the pennsylvania sports hall of fame.

Dewease wins hinnershitz memorial all star sprint event at. All star circuit of champions 410 outlaw sprint car. This beautifully printed hardcover book is a fascinating history of the sprint car, telling how it evolved, beginning during the first few years of the 1900s, to become. This exciting biography of tommy hinnershitz, by veteran novelistsportswriter gary ludwig, is a superb account of the life and times of this racecar driver who became an autoracing legend. Tommy hinnerschitz aaa sprint car 1946 unknown 1946. Jan 01, 2009 many have called him the greatest dirttrack sprint car driver of all time. Hinnershitz was active through the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s on dirt, asphalt and boards, driving sprint cars, at that time slightly smaller versions of indianapolis cars that could be raced on half mile dirt race tracks over his 30year career, he captured 103 american automobile association and. Thomas tommy milton november 14, 1893 july 10, 1962 was an american race car driver best known as the first twotime winner of the indianapolis 500. Tommy the flying farmer hinnershitz 19121999 find a. Its reutzel in tommy hinnershitz classic speed sport.

Tommy hinnershitz, the life and times of an autoracing. Empa hall of fametommy hinnershitz eastern motorsport. Click on the site to see tommy hinnershitz s career results at that track. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. Weve been working really hard on getting good when its slick and 20second lap. Haas earns tommy hinnershitz start, back in the topfive. Piloting an indy roadster at indianapolis motor speedway before the 500. When young turned 17, he bought his first car a 1937 ford for. This was a 1947 aaa sanctioned event at the wisconsin state park. Indy 500, daytona 500, and formula one world driving champion mario andretti even competed at bedford in 1961.

Tommy hinnershitz born 06 apr 1912 muhlenberg, pennsylvania. Hard cover, 252 pages, 20 pages of photos, complete race career statistics. Tommy hinnershitz known as the oley dirt farmer, the flying farmer, and finally the flying dutchman remains one of the most popular sprint car drivers in racing history even after his death in 1999 at the age of 77. Dec 05, 2011 piloting an indy roadster at indianapolis motor speedway before the 500. Also worked on his farm he was born on a farm as well and never lost contact with the sport indeed his last appearance at the tracks was in 1998. June 12, 1949 tommy hinnershitz, speed demon from reading, penn. Tommy hinnershitz the king of sprint car racing past youtube. Jack was the first man to qualify for indianapolis with an average lap over 140mph. Mcgrath bought a car a ford model t when he was just thirteen. Tommy hinnershitz, the flying dutchman tnfs archive. Tommy hinnershitz, the flying dutchman posted in tnfs archive. The flying dutchman, by snyder video productions, dvd format, covers the racing career of a true legend, tommy hinnershitz. Ordinarily a nonsprint car driver, pat imagined that 20 laps against tommy hinnershitz at home was going to be as diabolical as 200 around the brickyard. Welcome to our new tnf member, hinnershitz, and a mention about one of his heros, tommy hinnershitz.

Racing fans will want to sprint over to the oley fair, as organizers will be honoring threetime indy 500 racer tommy hinnershitz by featuring his sprint car. Early sprint car racer and national sprint car hall of fame member, the legendary tommy hinnershitz, is said to have captured the most feature race wins. Inducted into the national sprint car hall of fame in 1990. The speedway ran big car races under the american automobile association aaa sanction as. Tommy hinnershitz the king of sprint car racing past. I spent 4 years in the huge city of boiling springs, pennsylvania, just around the corner from williams grove, and was always amazed of the respect the mention of his name drew. Tommy hinnershitz known as the oley dirt farmer, the flying farmer, and finally the flying dutchman remains one of the most popular sprintcar drivers in racing history even after his death in 1999 at the age of 77. He was a farmer that lived close to the scene of aaausac racing in the central.

But while tommy was upstairs, pat was busy working the bottom. Driver tommy hinnershitz career statistics racingreference. Tommy hinnershitz race cars, monster trucks, race car track. He failed to finish in either of the grands prix he started and scored no formula one championship points. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Click on the site to see tommy hinnershitz s career results at that track glossary. An illustrious 30year sprint car and midget racing career ended saturday with the retirement of tommy the flying dutchman hinnershitz, a story in the morning call of sept. Many have called him the greatest dirttrack sprint car driver of all time. Hinnershitz, tommy historic 2003 inductees hall of. Tommy hinnershitz of muhlenberg, pa, drove this sprint car. Tommy hinnershitz thomas paul hinnershitz birthplace. Finished 32nd in 1940, 10th in 1941 and 9th in 1948. Hinnershitz, wellknown former race car driver, was found dead sunday afternoon in his residence in alsace.

Like many of his generation, trumbauer, 54, dreamed of becoming a sprint car driver as he watched masters like the late tommy hinnershitz fly around the allentown track. Hinnershitz, tommy historic 2003 inductees hall of fame. In a poll done by the national sprint car hall of fame, fans voted hinnershitz the no. This exciting biography of tommy hinnershitz is a superb account of the life and times of this racecar driver who became an autoracing legend. Tommy hinnershitz the life and times of an autoracing legend by gary ludwig. Over a span of four decades tommy captured 100 victories and 7 eastern sprint car championships all without the protection of a ro. Thomas tommy paul hinnershitz april 6, 1912 august 1, 1999 was an american race car driver. The late tommy hinnershitz, a race car driver who finished ninth in the 1948 indianapolis 500, will be honored at this years oley fair, which runs today through saturday. He was notable for having only one functional eye, a disability that would have disqualified him from competing in modern motorsports. Tommy hinnershitz nationality american born april 6, 1912 hometown muhlenberg, pennsylvania died august 1, 1999 place of death oley, pennsylvania racing career summary. Also worked on his farm he was born on a farm as well and never lost contact with the sport indeed his last appearance at the tracks was in 1998, when his lifelong. April 16, 2018 cory haas represented his central pennsylvania fanbase well on friday night at williams grove speedway, not only qualifying for the tommy hinnershitz memorial main event against the arctic cat all star circuit of champions presented by mobil 1, but also earning a heat race victory in the process.

Should you be a sprint car fan, and respect its history, well you need to know about this man. Other notable drivers during this time included 1952 and 53 indy winner jimmy bryan, ted horn, paul russo, tommy hinnershitz, joie chitwood, duane carter, bill schindler, and buster warke. Tommy s car was sponsored by wards riverside tires. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Weve been working really hard on getting good when its slick and 20second lap times around this place is unreal hard, reutzel said. He participated in two formula one grands prix in 1982 with the backmarker theodore team, failing to qualify for another three. Hosted on fotki hosted on fotki hosted on fotki hosted on fotki had this one up on freds in the past. Driver tommy hinnershitz 1948 aaa champ car series results. An eventual hall of fame driver, hinnershitz of oley went on to win the track title that year and again in 1949 and 1952. This exciting biography of tommy hinnershitz, by veteran writer gary ludwig, is a superb account of the life and times of this racecar driver who became an autoracing legend. Cookies are used to keep you logged in, to optimize your ad experience, and for other features, but you can optout if you wish. This exciting biography of tommy hinnershitz, by veteran writer gary ludwig, is a superb account of the life and times of this racecar driver who became an auto racing legend. Click on the site to see tommy hinnershitzs career results at that track glossary.

In late 1937, car owner at that time, emmett shelley convinced williams grove park owner roy richwine to build a speedway across the street from the park and on may 21, 1939, williams grove speedway held its first race. Some of the greatest drivers of that era and arguably any era of racing in the unites states competed here. Tommy hinnershitz racing career profile driver database. Tommy morrison racing career profile driver database. Mechanicsburg, pa fayetteville, pennsylvanias lance dewease made it look easy on friday night during the annual tommy hinnershitz memorial, charging forward from the inside of row seven to move the. Coronavirus doesnt sidetrack blandon car aficionado.

All star circuit of champions 410 outlaw sprint car series. Dec 7, 2012 this pin was discovered by gerry courtney. Retired from driving in 1964 and became a mechanic, notably helping mario andretti in his dirt racing career. Tommy hinnershitz spring classic at williams grove friday. View career statistics for tommy hinnershitz tweet. Oley fair pays tribute to flying farmer tommy hinnershitz. Tommy hinnershitz the champ car and indy car online stats. Lance dewease wins tommy hinnershitz memorial from row. Tommy hinnershitz was elected to the national sprint car hall of fame on the first ballot in 1990, the pennsylvania sports hall of fame in 1975, and finished second to steve kinser in 2000 balloting for the greatest sprint car driver of the 20 th century, amazingly 40 years after his retirement in 1960.