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George Amick

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George Amick
BornGeorge Reggie Amick, Jr.
(1924-10-24)October 24, 1924
Vernonia, Oregon, U.S.
DiedApril 4, 1959(1959-04-04) (aged 34)
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Champ Car career
43 races run over 5 years
Years active1955–1959
Best finish2nd – 1958
First race1955 Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee)
Last race1959 Daytona 100 (Daytona)
First win1956 Langhorne 100 (Langhorne)
Last win1957 Atlanta 100 (Lakewood)
Wins Podiums Poles
3 14 3
Formula One World Championship career
Active years19571958
TeamsSnowberger, Epperly
Entries2 (1 start)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums1
Career points6
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1957 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1958 Indianapolis 500

George Reggie "Little George" Amick[1] (October 24, 1924 – April 4, 1959) was an American racecar driver, mainly competing in the American National Championship.[2] He was killed in a crash in a USAC 100-mile (160 km) race at Daytona International Speedway.[2]

Racing career

[edit]

Amick began racing in jalopies in the Northwestern United States before switching to midget car racing.[2] He competed in USAC National midgets for three seasons, finishing in the top ten points each season, and won 16 feature races.[2] He totaled 38 wins including the 1957 Turkey Night Grand Prix.[2]

He moved to Indy cars and won three times in 43 starts.[2] In his rookie appearance at the Indianapolis 500 in 1958, Amick was assigned a "lay-down" roadster commissioned by car owner Norm Demler, designed by Quinn Epperly, and built by master Indianapolis chief mechanic George Salih. Amick found himself running a comfortable second to leader Jimmy Bryan with just 20 laps remaining. Demler and Salih felt Amick was in a position to catch Bryan and perhaps even win, but decided against pushing their rookie driver into a potentially fatal mistake, and Amick came home an easy second. He was named the 1958 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.[3]

Death

[edit]
Amick's grave at Crown Hill Cemetery

Amick was competing in the only Indy Car race ever run at the Daytona International Speedway and was killed in an accident on the final lap.[2] He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[4][5]

Awards

[edit]

Amick was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.[2]

Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results

[edit]
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos Points
1955 INDY
MIL
7
LAN
18
SPR
4
MIL
20
DUQ
3
PIK SYR
3
ISF
3
SAC
12
PHX
3
9th 750
1956 INDY
DNP
MIL
DNQ
LAN
1
DAR
4
ATL
13
SPR
DNQ
MIL
6
DUQ
5
SYR
5
ISF
12
SAC
13
PHX
1
4th 1.050
1957 INDY
DNQ
LAN
5
MIL
6
DET
2
ATL
1
SPR
3
MIL
5
DUQ
16
SYR
5
ISF
3
TRE
3
SAC
4
PHX
11
3rd 1.400
1958 TRE
6
INDY
2
MIL
6
LAN
14
ATL
2
SPR
18
MIL
4
DUQ
18
SYR
2
ISF
Wth
TRE
19
SAC
4
PHX
15
2nd 1.640
1959 DAY
4
TRE
INDY
MIL
LAN
SPR
MIL
DUQ
SYR
ISF
TRE
SAC
PHX
36th 120

Indianapolis 500 results

[edit]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points
1957 Federal Engineering Snowberger Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500
DNQ
FRA GBR GER PES ITA NC 0
1958 Norman Demler Epperly Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON NED 500
2
BEL FRA GBR GER POR ITA MOR 15th 6

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "George Amick". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Plaque" (Press release). National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. 2009.
  3. ^ "George Amick Wins Rookie Award Prize". The Star Press. United Press International. June 1, 1958. p. C1. Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ^ "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  5. ^ "Racing Fraternity Pays Tribute To George Amick At Final Rites". The Indianapolis Star. April 10, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved July 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
Sporting positions
Preceded by Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year
1958
Succeeded by