Bob harkey race car driver

Bob harkey nationality american born june 23, 1930 hometown charlotte, north carolina died january 16, 2016 place of death indianapolis, indiana racing career summary. The cd contains over 1,500 photos, 95% of them have never been printed from the original negatives and the remaining 5% have not been seen for the past 40 years. Indy car racing indy cars racing team vintage race car car and driver cars and motorcycles race cars indie photo galleries. Harkey taught himself to drive at speed by running as a decoy to lure cops away from those doing illegal moonshine runs in north carolina. Rounds was an extrovert, popular chap who, due to his wild driving style and penchant for crashing was known, with. The tired engine theyd installed didnt last long 12 laps. Race, racing, usac, canam, canadianamerican challenge cup, grand prix. Bob harkey june 23, 1930 january 16, 2016 was an american driver in the usac championship car series from charlotte, north carolina. Daytona 1959 bob harkey racing, stock car racing, inauguration. The only other leader of the day was dickson, whose chevypowered mount was up front for the first 23 laps. He started 27th and finished eighth in it, but the fact is, in its first race, in 1960, jim rathmann. Driver bob harkey and his crew after harkey qualified 31st for the 1973 indianapolis 500. Motor speedway mg cars speed racer old race cars sprint cars vintage race car car and driver. Here is the car of bob harkey, one of the many that would not qualify for the 1967 race.

Friday, may, 1983, 1983 obituaries 53 classified 5463 page 45 harkey in j hired in wallban er tmummrn irl. Status 1 memorial stadium due to poor records, we can not confirm nor deny driver was in this event. Usac champ car series bobby ball memorial phoenix international raceway avondale, arizona november 21, 1965. He was a popular indy race driver who competed in the indianapolis 500 six times between 1964 and 1976 and finished in the top ten. Remembering bob mclean, the man who died racing the first. The best was the bootleggers turn, a trick harkey used to elude law enforcement or pursuers as he called them, during his bootlegging days in north carolina.

Bob initially learnt fast driving on the wrong side of the law. Bob harkey cut off mosley in practice and was severely injured in the crash. The veteran drivers will participate in autograph sessions and other fanfriendly activities. Jan 17, 2016 bob harkey, who was known to be one of the indianapolis 500s best drivers under the pressure of qualifying, died saturday. Bob harkeyresultsnascar midget division1957 the third turn.

The indianapolis star from indianapolis, indiana on may. In may of 1967 i had just graduated from the university of michigan and to celebrate i went down for a weekend of qualifying for the indianapolis 500. Born and raised in charlotte, north carolina, harkey made his national championship debut at milwaukee in june of 63 driving jake vargos sixyearold kurtisoffy roadster. A superb and rare photo of a bob harkey before the start of the indy 500 in 1964. He raced in the 19631979 seasons, with 85 career starts, including the indianapolis 500 in 1964, 1971 and 19731976. Further information on this record can be found at its source. He died in a qualifying crash at legion ascot speedway, apparently due to a stuck throttle.

Jan 17, 2016 colorful indianapolis 500 racing veteran bob harkey died saturday at the age of 85. Indianapolis bob harkey became the first driver seriously injured at indianapolis this year, on the day he and other drivers were predicting recordbreaking qualification speeds this weekend. For some years, bob made appearances at historic events, occasionally driving, before his death in 2016. The engine was created, designed, and built by robert bob roy barker b. He was a popular indy race driver who competed in the indianapolis 500 six times between 1964 and 1976 and finished in the top ten three t. Crowds were huge in those days as qualifying took place over two weekends. But still, injuring a fellow competitor is hard for a driver. He made six indy 500 starts between 1964 and 1976 and finished in the top 10 three times. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Jan 16, 2016 bob harkey nationality american born june 23, 1930 hometown charlotte, north carolina died january 16, 2016 place of death indianapolis, indiana racing career summary. Bob harkey, who competed in the indianapolis 500 six times between 1964 and 1976 and finished in the top 10 three times, passed away on saturday, jan. Harkeys lifetime of colorful adventures speed sport. He was active in usac competitions from 1962 through to 1982. Harkey was much slower than mosley and was at fault for the wreck.

A frequent usac championship, sprint and midget competitor, he recorded a usac feature victory on august 23, 1963 at wall stadium in belmar, n. Headshot of bob harkey, 1964 headshot of bob harkey, 1966. I restored it to its last livery, when bob harkey drove the car in the 1964 indianapolis 500. Starting 9th he finished 5th to enjoy quite a debut. Race used helmet worn by colorful indianapolis 500 racing veteran bob harkey in the early 70s. We used a mock up engine and transmission to fit the oil. Colorful indianapolis 500 racing veteran bob harkey died saturday at the age of. Bob harkey was an american driver in the usac championship car series from charlotte, north carolina. Bob barker inducted into the national midget auto racing hall of fame january, 2012 at the chili bowl, tulsa, ok about this site this site is devoted to the history and restoration of the barker midget and sports car racing engine.

Indianapolis 500 1964 driver bob harkey indy 500 photo press. Jan 17, 2016 driver in the usac championship car series from charlotte, north carolina. Clicking on a race will open to a page of thumbnail photos. Often raced in sprint cars and roadsters and for a long time, ran a muffler shop in huntington park. Harkey is one of only six living drivers to finish in the top 10 in a roadster and a rearengine car. The car is now owned by race car collector bob mcconnell of urbana, ohio, who has restored it to its 1964 appearance, complete with the st. Bob harkey the champ car and indy car online stats warehouse. Bob harkey, an indycar regular during the 60s and 70s, has passed away at the age of 85. Bob harkey awaits the start of the 1973 indianapolis 500 with his blown engine. Indy 500 bob harkey, sigh rip, innovation and original. This is part of a series by indianapolis motor speedway historian donald davidson featuring indianapolis 500 veteran drivers returning to ims for legends day honoring roger penske on saturday, may 26. Indianapolis 500 1964 driver bob harkey indy 500 photo.

Louis was celebrating its bicentennial that year and one of the cars in the race was wally weirs mobilgas special driven to eighth place by bob harkey. Driver injured in indy accident the new york times. Features vintage sprint car pic thread, 1965 and older. Harkeys lifetime of colorful adventures page 2 of 2. This is an optimal model of a indy car racing, indy cars, indianapolis motor. Prior to his passing he was one of only 11 drivers still living who could claim to have driven in the 500 with a frontengine car. Also did skydiving after his racing career finished. Hiding a blown engine from race officials to salvage his 1973 indianapolis 500 starting spot was good, but it wasnt the best trick bob harkey pulled off in a car. Harkey drove in the indy 500 six times between 1964 and 1976. Bob harkey died at 85, american racecar driver youtube. Bob gates photo collection sixtime indianapolis 500 starter bob harkey has accumulated a lifetime of colorful adventures and 83 years of unforgettable tales to document them. The best was the bootleggers turn, a trick harkey used to elude law enforcement or pursuers as he called them, during his bootlegging days in. Jan 21, 2016 bob harkey passed away saturday, january 16, 2016.

Bob harkey became the first driver seriously injured at. August 22, 1971 illinois state fairgrounds springfield, illinois tony bettenhausen 100. Harkey made six 500 starts between 1964 and 1976, and he. Harkey, bob, 1930automobile racing drivers goggles helmets. He was also a stunt driver thunder road starring robert mitchum and also paul newmans indy car classic winning, featured harkeys work. Winchesters old timers grand marshal turns colorful tales. While not experiencing the success at indy that some of his contemporaries enjoyed, few had more entertaining exploits than harkey. Jul 30, 2017 a very nasty bob harkey crash at indy 1983. Indianapolis 500 1976 signed program cover lloyd ruby. Bob harkey born 23 jun 1930 charlotte, north carolina. May, 1983 bob harkey suffered a broken neck, a broken collarbone, multiple rib and arm fractures and bruised lungs today when his coyote racer brushed mike mosleys car and slammed against the fourthturn. A tribute to bob harkey, 19302016 indianapolis motor speedway. Thankfully harkey survived a private plane crash in 2004. Sep 10, 2017 jack rounds born 02 dec 1930 huntington park, california.

Bob also worked with champion spark plugs during his racing career. I recently got out the negatives from that trip and i want to share some of the memories i have with you. Bob harkeyresultsnascar midget division1957 the third. Harkey made six 500 starts between 1964 and 1976, and he finished in the top 10 three times. Driver bob harkey poses for a professional portrait.