Jump to content

Eddie Sachs: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
heading
m v2.05b - Bot T20 CW#61 - Fix errors for CW project (Reference before punctuation)
 
(27 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American racing driver}}
{{short description|American racing driver (1927–1964)}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox F1 driver
{{Infobox racing driver
| name = Eddie Sachs
| name = Eddie Sachs
⚫
| image =
⚫
| nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} American
⚫
| caption =
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|5|28}}
⚫
| nationality =
⚫
| birth_place = [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| birth_name = Edward Julius Sachs, Jr.
⚫
| death_date = {{death date and age|1964|5|30|1927|5|28}}
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|05|28}}
| death_place = [[Speedway, Indiana|Speedway]], [[Indiana]], U.S.
⚫
| birth_place = [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
⚫
| Years = {{F1|1953}}–{{F1|1954}}, {{F1|1956}}–{{F1|1960}}
⚫
| death_date = {{death date and age|1964|05|30|1927|05|28}}
⚫
|Team(s) = [[Schroeder (constructor)|Schroeder]], [[Kurtis Kraft]], [[Kuzma (constructor)|Kuzma]], [[Ewing (constructor)|Ewing]]
| Races = 7 (4 starts)
| death_place = [[Speedway, Indiana]], U.S.
| Championships = 0
| titles =
| Wins = 0
| awards =
| module1 = {{Infobox Champ Car driver|child=yes
⚫
| Podiums = 0
| Points = 0
| years = 1951, 1953–1964
| Total_Champ_Races = 65
⚫
| Poles = 1
| Fastest laps = 0
| Years_In_Champ = 13
| Champ_Car_Team =
⚫
| First race = [[1953 Indianapolis 500]]
| Best_Champ_Pos = 2nd – [[1961 USAC Championship Car season|1961]]
⚫
| First win =
| First_Champ_Race = [[1953 AAA Championship Car season|1953]] [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|Golden State 100]] ([[California State Fairgrounds Race Track|Sacramento]])
⚫
| Last win =
| Last_Champ_Race = [[1964 USAC Championship Car season|1964]] [[1964 Indianapolis 500|Indianapolis 500]] ([[Indianapolis Motor Speedway|Indianapolis]])
⚫
| Last race = [[1960 Indianapolis 500]]<!-- Please do not change this to [[1964 Indianapolis 500]] - this infobox details Sachs' Formula One World Championship career and the Indianapolis 500 was only part of the World Championship up until 1960 -->
| First_Champ_Win = [[1956 USAC Championship Car season|1956]] [[Atlanta 500 Classic|Atlanta 100]] ([[Lakewood Speedway|Lakewood]])
| Last_Champ_Win = [[1961 USAC Championship Car season|1961]] [[Trenton 150|Trenton 100]] ([[Trenton International Speedway|Trenton]])
| Champ_Wins = 8
| Champ_Podiums = 19
| Champ_Poles = 4
}}
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox F1 driver
'''Edward Julius Sachs Jr,''' (May 28, 1927 – May 30, 1964) was a [[United States Auto Club]] driver who was known as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing".{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} He coined the phrase "If you can't win, be spectacular".{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
| child = yes
⚫
| Years = {{F1|1953}}–{{F1|1954}}, {{F1|1956}}–{{F1|1960}}
⚫
|Team(s) = [[Schroeder (constructor)|Schroeder]], [[Kurtis Kraft]], [[Kuzma (constructor)|Kuzma]], [[Ewing (constructor)|Ewing]]
| Races = 7 (4 starts)
| Championships = 0
| Wins = 0
| Podiums = 0
| Points = 0
| Poles = 1
| Fastest laps = 0
⚫
| First race = [[1953 Indianapolis 500]]
⚫
| First win =
⚫
| Last win =
⚫
| Last race = [[1960 Indianapolis 500]]<!-- Please do not change this to [[1964 Indianapolis 500]] - this infobox details Sachs' Formula One World Championship career and the Indianapolis 500 was only part of the World Championship up until 1960 -->
}}}}

'''Edward Julius Sachs Jr,'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eddie Sachs |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/SachsEddie.htm |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=www.champcarstats.com}}</ref> (May 28, 1927 – May 30, 1964) was a [[United States Auto Club]] driver who was known as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing". He coined the phrase "If you can't win, be spectacular".<ref>[https://www.getyourfaceinabook.com/book/9781420848939 ''Eddie Sachs: the Clown Prince of Racing: The Life and Times of the World's Greatest Race Driver'' (Hardcover)], Face in a Book</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Sachs was born May 28, 1927, in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]].<ref>[https://www.mcall.com/2014/05/17/recalling-the-indy-500-crash-that-killed-lehigh-valleys-eddie-sachs-50-years-ago/ "Recalling the Indy 500 crash that killed Lehigh Valley's Eddie Sachs 50 years ago"], ''The Morning Call'', May 17, 2014</ref> He served in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]].
Sachs was born in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]].


==Professional racing career==
==Professional racing career==
[[File:American Red Ball Halibrand Ford front view Honda Collection Hall.jpg|thumb|A restored Heilbrand-Ford "American Red Ball Special" similar to that being driven by Sachs when he was killed in a fiery crash at the [[1964 Indianapolis 500]]]]
His career included eight USAC Championship Trail wins, 25 top-five finishes in 65 career AAA and USAC starts, including the 1958 USAC Midwest Sprint Car Championship. He was an eight time starter of the Indianapolis 500, 1957–64, winning the pole position in 1960 and 1961, with his best finish being second in 1961. Leading the race with only three laps to go, he saw his right rear tire begin to delaminate and pitted to replace it, handing victory to [[A. J. Foyt]]. Sachs never regretted his decision not to gamble on the tire, saying, "I'd sooner finish second than be dead".<ref>''This is Indy!'' {{ISBN|978-1-329-53138-3}} p. 127</ref>
His career included eight USAC Championship Trail wins, 25 top-five finishes in 65 career AAA and USAC starts, including the 1958 USAC Midwest Sprint Car Championship. He was an eight time starter of the Indianapolis 500, 1957–64, winning the pole position in 1960 and 1961, with his best finish being second in 1961. Leading the race with only three laps to go, he saw his right rear tire begin to delaminate and pitted to replace it, handing victory to [[A. J. Foyt]]. Sachs never regretted his decision not to gamble on the tire, saying, "I'd sooner finish second than be dead".<ref>''This is Indy!'' {{ISBN|978-1-329-53138-3}} p. 127</ref>


===Death at Indianapolis===
===Death at Indianapolis===
{{main|1964 Indianapolis 500}}
{{main|1964 Indianapolis 500}}
Sachs and sports car driver [[Dave MacDonald]], a 500 rookie, were killed in a fiery crash involving seven cars on the second lap of the [[1964 Indianapolis 500]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Nathan Brown, Christopher DeHarde and Dana Hunsinger Benbow |date=May 3, 2021 |title=Bobby Unser, three-time Indy 500 champion, dies at 87: 'There was nobody like him' |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motorsports/2021/05/03/bobby-unser-dies-undy-500-champion/4927259001/}}</ref> MacDonald was driving a car owned and designed by [[Mickey Thompson]], the #83 "Sears-Allstate Special".<ref>[http://thompson-motorsports.com/indy63.html Mickey Thompson @ 1963 Indy 500<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911030949/http://www.thompson-motorsports.com/indy63.html |date=2007-09-11 }}</ref> Thompson had requested USAC officials to visit his shop in California to inspect the car while it was under construction so that he would not invest money in the car if there was a chance that it would be disqualified at the Speedway. USAC accepted the request and passed the car with its ground effects package. By the time the car reached the Speedway in May, USAC had changed their mind and failed it. Working in the cramped spaces of the garage area, Thompson and crew practically rebuilt the car to meet the new USAC specs. These changes, removal of the fenders, changing to larger tires and increasing the height from two inches to four, made the cars very unstable.<ref>[http://www.automobilemag.com/features/columns/0306_johnny_rutherford/ American Driver, Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford – Columns – Automobile Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Graham Hill]] tested the vehicle before Indy but refused to drive it in 1963. [[Masten Gregory]] crashed earlier in the month due to aerodynamic lift. After MacDonald had qualified and before the race, World Grand Prix Formula One Champion [[Jim Clark]], who knew MacDonald and respected his ability, followed the Californian for several laps. After they pulled in, Clark emphatically urged MacDonald to get out of the car. "Get out," Clark said, "just get out and walk away." But MacDonald felt obligated to honor his contract with Thompson. Other drivers took Gregory's advice and stayed away from the Thompson cars. Before the race, Gregory approached [[Formula One]] driver [[Jack Brabham]], who was alongside MacDonald on the grid, and urged Brabham to allow the rookie a lot of room. Brabham credited Gregory's advice with saving his life.
At the [[1964 Indianapolis 500]] on May 30, 1964, Sachs and sports car driver [[Dave MacDonald]], an [[Indianapolis 500]] rookie, were killed in a fiery crash involving seven cars on the second lap.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Nathan Brown, Christopher DeHarde and Dana Hunsinger Benbow |date=May 3, 2021 |title=Bobby Unser, three-time Indy 500 champion, dies at 87: 'There was nobody like him' |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motorsports/2021/05/03/bobby-unser-dies-undy-500-champion/4927259001/}}</ref> MacDonald was driving a car owned and designed by [[Mickey Thompson]], the #83 "Sears-Allstate Special".<ref>[http://thompson-motorsports.com/indy63.html Mickey Thompson @ 1963 Indy 500<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911030949/http://www.thompson-motorsports.com/indy63.html |date=2007-09-11 }}</ref> Thompson had requested USAC officials to visit his shop in California to inspect the car while it was under construction so that he would not invest money in the car if there was a chance that it would be disqualified at the Speedway.
USAC accepted the request and passed the car with its ground effects package. By the time the car reached the Speedway in May, USAC had changed their mind and failed it. Working in the cramped spaces of the garage area, Thompson and crew practically rebuilt the car to meet the new USAC specs. These changes, removal of the fenders, changing to larger tires and increasing the height from two inches to four, made the cars very unstable.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.automobilemag.com/features/columns/0306_johnny_rutherford/ |title=American Driver, Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford – Columns – Automobile Magazine<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-08-17 |archive-date=2016-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131121736/http://www.automobilemag.com/features/columns/0306_johnny_rutherford/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Graham Hill]] tested the vehicle before Indy but refused to drive it in 1963. [[Masten Gregory]] crashed earlier in the month due to aerodynamic lift. After MacDonald had qualified and before the race, World Grand Prix Formula One Champion [[Jim Clark]], who knew MacDonald and respected his ability, followed the Californian for several laps. After they pulled in, Clark emphatically urged MacDonald to get out of the car. "Get out," Clark said, "just get out and walk away." But MacDonald felt obligated to honor his contract with Thompson. Other drivers took Gregory's advice and stayed away from the Thompson cars. Before the race, Gregory approached [[Formula One]] driver [[Jack Brabham]], who was alongside MacDonald on the grid, and urged Brabham to allow the rookie a lot of room. Brabham credited Gregory's advice with saving his life.

On the second lap, MacDonald lost control coming off the fourth turn. As the car began to slide, he came across the track and hit the inside wall, igniting the 45-gallon fuel load which erupted into a massive fire. His car then slid back across the track. Sachs, following [[Bob Veith]], aimed for an opening along the outside wall that was soon closed by MacDonald's burning car. Veith made it through by inches, but Sachs hit MacDonald's car broadside causing a second explosion. [[Johnny Rutherford]], following Sachs, having no place to go except into the inferno, decided his only chance was to power his way through. Going at full throttle, his Watson Roadster went under Sachs and over MacDonald taking the injectors off MacDonald's engine. After clearing the wreckage, he was then broadsided by the NOVI of [[Bobby Unser]]. He then motored (on fire) down the main straight, through turns one and two, up the back straight and through turn three, stopping at a fire-truck station in turn four. [[Ronnie Duman]], following Rutherford, went to the left to avoid the crash. It looked as if he was going to make it through when he was rear-ended by the out of control NOVI, which had lost its steering, splitting his fuel tank which also erupted. Duman then spun into the infield wall, where he received serious burns.

He was transported to the [[Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis|Methodist Hospital]]'s burn unit in [[Indianapolis]] by helicopter to begin a lengthy recovery. Rutherford and Unser received minor burns and were released from the track hospital. MacDonald, whose lungs were scorched from inhaling the flames and who was burned over 75% of his body, was awake and alert when he was removed from his car. He was taken to the track hospital then transferred to the Methodist Hospital burn unit by ambulance, where he died two hours later. [[Chuck Stevenson]] and [[Norm Hall]] were also involved but escaped injury.


On the second lap, MacDonald lost control coming off the fourth turn. As the car began to slide, he came across the track and hit the inside wall, igniting the 45-gallon fuel load which erupted into a massive fire. His car then slid back across the track. Sachs, following [[Bob Veith]], aimed for an opening along the outside wall that was soon closed by MacDonald's burning car. Veith made it through by inches, but Sachs hit MacDonald's car broadside causing a second explosion. [[Johnny Rutherford]], following Sachs, having no place to go except into the inferno, decided his only chance was to power his way through. Going at full throttle, his Watson Roadster went under Sachs and over MacDonald taking the injectors off of MacDonald's engine. After clearing the wreckage, he was then broadsided by the NOVI of [[Bobby Unser]]. He then motored (on fire) down the main straight, through turns one and two, up the back straight and through turn three, stopping at a fire-truck station in turn four. [[Ronnie Duman]], following Rutherford, went to the left to avoid the crash. It looked as if he was going to make it through when he was rear-ended by the out of control NOVI, which had lost its steering, splitting his fuel tank which also erupted. Duman then spun into the infield wall, where he received serious burns. He was transported to the [[Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis|Methodist Hospital]] burn unit by helicopter to begin a lengthy recovery. Rutherford and Unser received minor burns and were released from the track hospital. MacDonald, whose lungs were scorched from inhaling the flames and who was burned over 75% of his body, was awake and alert when he was removed from his car. He was taken to the track hospital then transferred to the Methodist Hospital burn unit by ambulance, where he died two hours later. [[Chuck Stevenson]] and [[Norm Hall]] were also involved but escaped injury. Despite being trapped in his car, Sachs's driver's suit was only scorched, but he received critical burns on his face and hands. The car was covered with a tarp before being taken to the garage area for removal of his body. It has never been determined if he died of asphyxiation, burns or blunt force injury. One driver stated that he saw him struggling to get out of the car after the impact. A lemon that had been on a string around Sachs's neck was found inside Rutherford's engine compartment after the crash.<ref>[http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=211 Motorsport Memorial<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Despite being trapped in his car, Sachs's driver's suit was only scorched, but he received critical burns on his face and hands. The car was covered with a tarp before being taken to the garage area for removal of his body. It has never been determined if he died of asphyxiation, burns or blunt force injury. One driver stated that he saw him struggling to get out of the car after the impact. A lemon that had been on a string around Sachs's neck was found inside Rutherford's engine compartment after the crash.<ref>[http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=211 Motorsport Memorial<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


The crash was well documented on film and shown worldwide. For the first time in its history, the Indianapolis 500 was stopped because of an accident. Partially in response to media pressure, for subsequent races USAC required that cars carry less fuel and make a mandatory minimum of two pit stops. The new pit-stop rule negated any mileage advantage gasoline-powered cars would have had, so gasoline has not been used since. Every race from 1965 forward has been run using methanol or ethanol-based fuels.<ref>[http://www2.indystar.com/cgi-bin/indy500/index.php?action=show_race&id=48 IndyStar.com: Indy 500<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808003405/http://www2.indystar.com/cgi-bin/indy500/index.php?action=show_race&id=48 |date=2007-08-08 }}</ref>
The crash was well documented on film and shown worldwide. For the first time in its history, the Indianapolis 500 was stopped because of an accident. Partially in response to media pressure, for subsequent races USAC required that cars carry less fuel and make a mandatory minimum of two pit stops. The new pit-stop rule negated any mileage advantage gasoline-powered cars would have had, so gasoline has not been used since. Every Indianapolis 500 race since 1965 has been run using [[methanol]] or [[ethanol]]-based fuels.<ref>[http://www2.indystar.com/cgi-bin/indy500/index.php?action=show_race&id=48 IndyStar.com: Indy 500<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808003405/http://www2.indystar.com/cgi-bin/indy500/index.php?action=show_race&id=48 |date=2007-08-08 }}</ref>


==Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results==
==Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results==
Line 293: Line 322:
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
!Year<ref name=race>[http://www.indy500.com/stats/drivers.php?drivername=Eddie%20Sachs Eddie Sachs Indy 500 Race Stats]</ref>
!Year<ref name=race>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indy500.com/stats/drivers.php?drivername=Eddie%20Sachs |title=Eddie Sachs Indy 500 Race Stats |access-date=2007-01-04 |archive-date=2012-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205131525/http://www.indy500.com/stats/drivers.php?drivername=Eddie%20Sachs |url-status=dead }}</ref>
!Car
!Car
!Start
!Start
Line 421: Line 450:


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Sachs married Nance McGarrity of [[Coopersburg, Pennsylvania]] on June 3, 1959 at the home of Harry Hamilton, a relative of his car owner, Peter Schmidt in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]. Their son, Edward Julius Sachs, III was born on February 6, 1962. Nance Sachs died on September 28, 2005 at her home in [[Clinton Township, Michigan]]. She is survived by her son Edward III, and grandchildren, Edward IV and Meagan Sachs. Forty-one years after his death, she was buried next to her beloved Eddie in Holy Saviour Cemetery in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]]. Using the name "Eddie Sachs, Jr," Eddie III became a race car driver racing on the local dirt tracks in the Midwest. Unlike his famous father, he never raced in the [[Indianapolis 500]]. He has become a businessman as the owner of Sachs and Associates in [[Lake Orion, Michigan]]. He has been a part-time car owner in various levels of motorsport, currently in the [[USAC Silver Crown Series]].
Sachs married Nance McGarrity of [[Coopersburg, Pennsylvania]], on June 3, 1959, at the home of Harry Hamilton, a relative of his car owner, Peter Schmidt in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]. Their son, Edward Julius Sachs, III was born on February 6, 1962. Nance Sachs died on September 28, 2005, at her home in [[Clinton Township, Macomb County, Michigan|Clinton Township, Michigan]]. She is survived by her son Edward III, and grandchildren, Edward IV and Meagan Sachs. Forty-one years after his death, she was buried next to her beloved Eddie in Holy Saviour Cemetery in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]]. Using the name "Eddie Sachs, Jr," Eddie III became a race car driver racing on the local dirt tracks in the Midwest. Unlike his famous father, he never raced in the [[Indianapolis 500]]. He has become a businessman as the owner of Sachs and Associates in [[Lake Orion, Michigan]]. He has been a part-time car owner in various levels of motorsport, currently in the [[USAC Silver Crown Series]].


==See also==
==See also==
Line 431: Line 460:
==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.mmshof.org/index.php/inductees/inductees/192-eddie-sachs-ii "Eddie Sachs"] at Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 06:01, 19 March 2024

Eddie Sachs
BornEdward Julius Sachs, Jr.
(1927-05-28)May 28, 1927
Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMay 30, 1964(1964-05-30) (aged 37)
Speedway, Indiana, U.S.
Champ Car career
65 races run over 13 years
Years active1951, 1953–1964
Best finish2nd – 1961
First race1953 Golden State 100 (Sacramento)
Last race1964 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win1956 Atlanta 100 (Lakewood)
Last win1961 Trenton 100 (Trenton)
Wins Podiums Poles
8 19 4
Formula One World Championship career
Active years1953–1954, 1956–1960
TeamsSchroeder, Kurtis Kraft, Kuzma, Ewing
Entries7 (4 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions1
Fastest laps0
First entry1953 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1960 Indianapolis 500

Edward Julius Sachs Jr,[1] (May 28, 1927 – May 30, 1964) was a United States Auto Club driver who was known as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing". He coined the phrase "If you can't win, be spectacular".[2]

Early life

[edit]

Sachs was born May 28, 1927, in Allentown, Pennsylvania.[3] He served in the United States Navy during World War II.

Professional racing career

[edit]
A restored Heilbrand-Ford "American Red Ball Special" similar to that being driven by Sachs when he was killed in a fiery crash at the 1964 Indianapolis 500

His career included eight USAC Championship Trail wins, 25 top-five finishes in 65 career AAA and USAC starts, including the 1958 USAC Midwest Sprint Car Championship. He was an eight time starter of the Indianapolis 500, 1957–64, winning the pole position in 1960 and 1961, with his best finish being second in 1961. Leading the race with only three laps to go, he saw his right rear tire begin to delaminate and pitted to replace it, handing victory to A. J. Foyt. Sachs never regretted his decision not to gamble on the tire, saying, "I'd sooner finish second than be dead".[4]

Death at Indianapolis

[edit]
Main article: 1964 Indianapolis 500

At the 1964 Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 1964, Sachs and sports car driver Dave MacDonald, an Indianapolis 500 rookie, were killed in a fiery crash involving seven cars on the second lap.[5] MacDonald was driving a car owned and designed by Mickey Thompson, the #83 "Sears-Allstate Special".[6] Thompson had requested USAC officials to visit his shop in California to inspect the car while it was under construction so that he would not invest money in the car if there was a chance that it would be disqualified at the Speedway.

USAC accepted the request and passed the car with its ground effects package. By the time the car reached the Speedway in May, USAC had changed their mind and failed it. Working in the cramped spaces of the garage area, Thompson and crew practically rebuilt the car to meet the new USAC specs. These changes, removal of the fenders, changing to larger tires and increasing the height from two inches to four, made the cars very unstable.[7] Graham Hill tested the vehicle before Indy but refused to drive it in 1963. Masten Gregory crashed earlier in the month due to aerodynamic lift. After MacDonald had qualified and before the race, World Grand Prix Formula One Champion Jim Clark, who knew MacDonald and respected his ability, followed the Californian for several laps. After they pulled in, Clark emphatically urged MacDonald to get out of the car. "Get out," Clark said, "just get out and walk away." But MacDonald felt obligated to honor his contract with Thompson. Other drivers took Gregory's advice and stayed away from the Thompson cars. Before the race, Gregory approached Formula One driver Jack Brabham, who was alongside MacDonald on the grid, and urged Brabham to allow the rookie a lot of room. Brabham credited Gregory's advice with saving his life.

On the second lap, MacDonald lost control coming off the fourth turn. As the car began to slide, he came across the track and hit the inside wall, igniting the 45-gallon fuel load which erupted into a massive fire. His car then slid back across the track. Sachs, following Bob Veith, aimed for an opening along the outside wall that was soon closed by MacDonald's burning car. Veith made it through by inches, but Sachs hit MacDonald's car broadside causing a second explosion. Johnny Rutherford, following Sachs, having no place to go except into the inferno, decided his only chance was to power his way through. Going at full throttle, his Watson Roadster went under Sachs and over MacDonald taking the injectors off MacDonald's engine. After clearing the wreckage, he was then broadsided by the NOVI of Bobby Unser. He then motored (on fire) down the main straight, through turns one and two, up the back straight and through turn three, stopping at a fire-truck station in turn four. Ronnie Duman, following Rutherford, went to the left to avoid the crash. It looked as if he was going to make it through when he was rear-ended by the out of control NOVI, which had lost its steering, splitting his fuel tank which also erupted. Duman then spun into the infield wall, where he received serious burns.

He was transported to the Methodist Hospital's burn unit in Indianapolis by helicopter to begin a lengthy recovery. Rutherford and Unser received minor burns and were released from the track hospital. MacDonald, whose lungs were scorched from inhaling the flames and who was burned over 75% of his body, was awake and alert when he was removed from his car. He was taken to the track hospital then transferred to the Methodist Hospital burn unit by ambulance, where he died two hours later. Chuck Stevenson and Norm Hall were also involved but escaped injury.

Despite being trapped in his car, Sachs's driver's suit was only scorched, but he received critical burns on his face and hands. The car was covered with a tarp before being taken to the garage area for removal of his body. It has never been determined if he died of asphyxiation, burns or blunt force injury. One driver stated that he saw him struggling to get out of the car after the impact. A lemon that had been on a string around Sachs's neck was found inside Rutherford's engine compartment after the crash.[8]

The crash was well documented on film and shown worldwide. For the first time in its history, the Indianapolis 500 was stopped because of an accident. Partially in response to media pressure, for subsequent races USAC required that cars carry less fuel and make a mandatory minimum of two pit stops. The new pit-stop rule negated any mileage advantage gasoline-powered cars would have had, so gasoline has not been used since. Every Indianapolis 500 race since 1965 has been run using methanol or ethanol-based fuels.[9]

Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results

[edit]
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points
1951 INDY MIL LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ DUQ PIK SYR
DNQ 		DET DNC SJS PHX BAY – 0
1953 INDY
DNQ 		MIL
 SPR
 DET
 SPR
 MIL
 DUQ
 PIK SYR
DNQ 		ISF
DNQ 		SAC
18 		PHX
DNQ 		– 0
1954 INDY
DNQ 		MIL
DNQ 		LAN
5 		DAR
16 		SPR
DNQ 		MIL
DNQ 		DUQ
 PIK SYR
 ISF
DNQ 		SAC
DNQ 		PHX
7 		LVG
 29th 160
1955 INDY
 MIL
 LAN SPR MIL
DNS 		DUQ PIK SYR ISF
DNQ 		SAC PHX
DNQ 		45th 46.8
1956 INDY
DNQ 		MIL
 LAN
 DAR
21 		ATL
1 		SPR
3 		MIL
4 		DUQ
DNQ 		SYR
12 		ISF
DNQ 		SAC
 PHX
DNQ 		12th 650
1957 INDY
23 		LAN
2 		MIL
16 		DET
 ATL
 SPR
 MIL
 DUQ
 SYR
 ISF
 TRE
 SAC
 PHX
 25th 160
1958 TRE
DNQ 		INDY
22 		MIL
10 		LAN
1 		ATL
6 		SPR
DNQ 		MIL
3 		DUQ
17 		SYR
10 		ISF
1 		TRE
10 		SAC
15 		PHX
3 		7th 990
1959 DAY
19 		TRE
19 		INDY
17 		MIL
7 		LAN
18 		SPR
7 		MIL
10 		DUQ
18 		SYR
1 		ISF
2 		TRE
1 		SAC
DNQ 		PHX
10 		6th 797
1960 TRE
8 		INDY
21 		MIL
5 		LAN
13 		SPR
2 		MIL
20 		DUQ
4 		SYR
11 		ISF
13 		TRE
1 		SAC
DNQ 		PHX
 12th 650
1961 TRE
1 		INDY
2 		MIL
Wth 		LAN
3 		MIL
5 		SPR
DNS 		DUQ
3 		SYR
DNQ 		ISF
DNQ 		TRE
1 		SAC
DNQ 		PHX
6 		2nd 1,760
1962 TRE
18 		INDY
3 		MIL
21 		LAN
 TRE
15 		SPR
 MIL
4 		LAN
 SYR
 ISF
 TRE
7 		SAC
PHX
 9th 1,060
1963 TRE
15 		INDY
17 		MIL
2 		LAN TRE
DNQ 		SPR MIL
24 		DUQ ISF TRE
23 		SAC PHX 21st 160
1964 PHX
6 		TRE
DNQ 		INDY
30 		MIL
 LAN TRE
 SPR MIL
 DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 36th 80

Indianapolis 500 results

[edit]

World Championship career summary

[edit]

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Accordingly, Sachs participated in four World Championship races. He started on the pole once, but scored no World Championship points.

Awards

[edit]

Sachs was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1999.[11]

Personal life

[edit]

Sachs married Nance McGarrity of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, on June 3, 1959, at the home of Harry Hamilton, a relative of his car owner, Peter Schmidt in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their son, Edward Julius Sachs, III was born on February 6, 1962. Nance Sachs died on September 28, 2005, at her home in Clinton Township, Michigan. She is survived by her son Edward III, and grandchildren, Edward IV and Meagan Sachs. Forty-one years after his death, she was buried next to her beloved Eddie in Holy Saviour Cemetery in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Using the name "Eddie Sachs, Jr," Eddie III became a race car driver racing on the local dirt tracks in the Midwest. Unlike his famous father, he never raced in the Indianapolis 500. He has become a businessman as the owner of Sachs and Associates in Lake Orion, Michigan. He has been a part-time car owner in various levels of motorsport, currently in the USAC Silver Crown Series.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Eddie Sachs". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  2. ^ Eddie Sachs: the Clown Prince of Racing: The Life and Times of the World's Greatest Race Driver (Hardcover), Face in a Book
  3. ^ "Recalling the Indy 500 crash that killed Lehigh Valley's Eddie Sachs 50 years ago", The Morning Call, May 17, 2014
  4. ^ This is Indy! ISBN 978-1-329-53138-3 p. 127
  5. ^ Nathan Brown, Christopher DeHarde and Dana Hunsinger Benbow (May 3, 2021). "Bobby Unser, three-time Indy 500 champion, dies at 87: 'There was nobody like him'". USA Today.
  6. ^ Mickey Thompson @ 1963 Indy 500 Archived 2007-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "American Driver, Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford – Columns – Automobile Magazine". Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
  8. ^ Motorsport Memorial
  9. ^ IndyStar.com: Indy 500 Archived 2007-08-08 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Eddie Sachs Indy 500 Race Stats". Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  11. ^ "EDDIE QACHQ". Retrieved 1 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eddie Sachs.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eddie_Sachs&oldid=1214480042"