Mike O'Leary
National Speed Sport News
Hoosier Pit Pass Column

November 11, 2008

Hoosier Pit Pass – Racers At Rest – The Checkered Flag

Stanford, Indiana – For most of a century, death in racing was not a topic to focus on. The motorsports press reported the facts, often using euphemisms, as was their responsibility. But pursuing beyond that was considered sensationalistic and generally avoided by those who work in the industry. Articles addressing the dark side of the sport were limited to those who wanted to halt all racing, and the tabloids, who wanted to make a quick buck with a sensational headline and photo, or a gory story.

A new book, “Racers At Rest; The Checkered Flag” is the direct opposite. Produced by Hall of Fame racer and historian Buzz Rose, it is not in any way dark or lurid. 

“It’s intended to be a tribute, a celebration of life, to those who perished in our sport,” Rose says. “I think we have forgotten them; we are so busy with our lives that we don’t think back about these guys. I wanted the young people in the sport today to realize the heritage that the sport has. It’s a dangerous heritage.”

From the historical perspective, “Racers At Rest” focuses on open wheel - open cockpit – oval track racing, primarily the national championship, sprint cars and midgets. It lists 1500 names of those who perished while participating in the sport, and highlights more than 400 drivers and mechanics with individual pages. 

Created in collaboration with Joe Heisler, Fred Chaparro and Jeff Sharpe, Rose says that relatives of those who are documented have embraced the book. “The family members were my main concern, whether they would object to this. And with no exception, every family member that I’ve talked to has liked it. It’s our way of honoring these men. Most of them have been forgotten. They were just names in a sports page 50, 60, 70, 80 years ago, and nobody remembers them any more.”

As Rose is quick to note, the book wouldn’t have been possible without help from many of those families. “Johnny McDowell’s son got a photo of his dad’s grave for us. George Barringer’s son was eager for the book. Obscure driver’s families, like Steve Searock, from Las Angeles, who died in 61, his brother participated, his sister, the whole family participated and they all thought that it was marvelous.”

Rose began editing the “Tribute” list compiled by the late Ed Watson about four years ago, and as he delved into the process, he soon conceived the idea of a bigger tribute. He worked with people that had similar lists, and then started collecting the photos (including photos of grave markers), and newspaper clippings that form the memorial section of the book.

The result is both historical, and at the same time, quite human. Those selected for inclusion in the memorial section were purposely chosen to ensure a broad range of representation. Geographically, each area of the country is represented, as are the different racing organizations. And while it includes the best-known drivers, like Bill Vukovich and Jimmy Bryan, the authors also chose unknown racers and mechanics for representation.

“We wanted to encompass the feeling that not everyone who died in these cars were famous people,” Rose explains. “Joe Anello from Kansas City, you can read about him, he has his own page. It took us three months to find a photo of him. He was sitting in the grandstands and had only driven a couple of other times, and a car owner did not have a driver for the semi. He went down and jumped in the car, drove one lap and died.”

The significance of “Racers At Rest” will vary with different people. For example, history buffs will find accurate information and photos of an aspect of open wheel racing that has not previously been addressed. For those directly involved in the sport, it will bring back memories of those who they raced with and the time during which they competed. Relatives of those included will find a more personal meaning and proof that their loved one has not been forgotten.

Rose recalls explaining the concept of the book to Jim McElreath at the Chili Bowl, not knowing what kind of reaction to expect. “He asked me if James was going to be in it, and I said, yes, of course.”

Including the McElreath’s son James, a rising star in USAC when he lost his life at Winchester, was a personally a “tough” task for Rose, who adds, “He had traveled with me a couple years earlier, the last year I was racing. He shared pits with me; he was a great kid. If I had a son who was going to be a racer, I’d have wanted him to be just like James McElreath.”