I was a teen when attending the Indy road race at Sears Point (Sonoma, California) back in the Spring of 1970 where he gladly autographed a Sears Point Raceway bumper sticker for me. The upbeat enthusiasm he displayed left a lasting impression with me.
Just happened accross this gem of a video. This sums Gary B up so well. The guy was one of the best and would give you the shirt right off his back. RIP Gary B
Gary was, is, and always will be a class act. Always pulled for him to get a 500 win, but it wasn't to be. The Bettenhausen family gave a great deal to the sport. Royalty for sure...
My first time at I.M.S was 1972 I was a chubby 8 yr old cub scout and had ZERO idea what it was I was looking at. The month of May had just started (I'm not exactly sure the day I was there) but Dad had some pull and we were able to get close to drivers and cars, and the moment I saw the Penske cars (the blue and yellow Sunoco) matched my cub scout uniform and I had to get close. Well it was close to lunch time, and I was able to sit down between Mark and Gary. Mark was talking with someone, so I asked Gary if he would like to share my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and chips, Gary looked at me and kind of brushed me off. I looked up at Mark and he said Hello, and asked me my name, and how old I was, I answered him and then asked if he was hungry, and did he want to share my lunch, he smiled and said that he was very hungry and would love to share my lunch. So I gave him half of my sandwich and sat the bag of chips on the wall between us and chowed down, and when we were finished he asked me if I would like to see his car up close, and as i stood there looking at his car I looked up at him and said, "You are going to win the Indy 500" he looked at me and asked how I knew that, and I said to him, Because your car is the same as my cub scout uniform, and because he liked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Mark was kneeling down to talk to me and he looked at me and smiled, my 8 yr old reasoning had made itself clear. Well as we know Mark did win the indy 500. So being from Terre Haute, and having been to many days during the month of May, and many indy 500 races, I saw drivers come and go, and I decided one day to see if I could find Gary, so I poked around Monrovia one summer day and was pointed in the right direction. As I pulled up at Gary's house there he was fooling around with some buckets, and he asked if he could help me, I said yes sir, that I had come to see if I could have 5 minutes with one of racings best drivers ever, and the buckets got thrown to the side, and he said he could spare 5 minutes. I grabbed a couple of things out of my truck, and we opened up the tailgate and sat down, he asked me my name, and I said it's not really important, and I pulled out his qualifying photo from 1972 at indy, and he said boy that's one good looking fella right there, and I asked if he would autograph it for me, which he did, and I pulled out a couple of other photos and off we went, talking about racing. And about 20 minutes later I said that I had wasted enough of his time and that I should be going, but Gary laughed and said that he was happy that I stopped by, it really made his day, so I smiled and said Gary, now I have something for you, and went to the front of my truck, and came back with a small brown paper sack. I said Gary, my first trip to I.M.S was 1972, and I was a chubby little 8 yr old kid in a cub scout uniform, and I had asked you if (and I started pulling it out) you were hungry and would like to share my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and chips, but you kind of just brushed me off, so I asked Mark if he was hungry, and I saw Gary's eyes widen and he said, "I remember you, and I also remember that you told Donahue that he was going to win." I nodded and then asked him if he was hungry, he looked at me for a couple of seconds and said "little late now, but he was a little bit hungry" so we sat there in silence and each of us with a half of sandwich, and a small bag of chips between us until it was finished, I went back up front and pulled a couple bottles of water out and returned to the tailgate, he looked at me and just laughed, he said, "I wish I had taken that offer" and asked if I thought it would have got him to the end instead of breaking down, I could only shrug my shoulders and smile. I guess we'll never know he said, and still couldn't believe that I had come to make his day, even though I was trying to make his day 25 years earlier. We shook hands and I jumped in my truck, and Gary said stop by anytime you're around, and I nodded and as i was leaving I looked in the mirror and saw Gary wave and I waved back, I had actually made his day. You're never forgotten Gary having watched you on the dirt in Terre Haute to the pavement of the Indy cars, but most of all finally getting to share my lunch with one of the Greatest ever! !!
What a story you had to tell!! My first year at Indy was pole day 1970. I was clueless about Indy car racing but my Dad had been there many times. He knew all about Gary and Tony and so I was a Bettenhausen fan starting at 9 years old!!
I must’ve been off in College that day or something, but that’s awfully cool. He never did tell me that story. You’ve probably heard the story by now why he didn’t finish in 1972, and it wasn’t ignition failure as the record book said. Wouldn’t have mattered who ate the sandwich, just a moment of inattention during the fabrication of a fitting at Penske racing in Reading Pennsylvania. That’s what cost us the Indy 500. A moment of inattention by a welder.
@@tbhausen Hi Todd, No I have never heard anything except for ignition failure. Yes the day I decided to go see your dad I was so nervous and afraid that he wouldn't want to see me I almost turned around and went back to Terre Haute twice, but thankfully I am stubborn and kept going. Finally the moment of truth and I am finally sitting on a tailgate with legend Gary Bettenhausen reminiscing about how I first saw him in Terre Haute in a sprint car and he had a huge smile on his face because he said those were the most fun times, he said that his years at Indianapolis were very special but that the pressure was tremendous, however unloading a midget, or a sprint car somewhere was pure fun, and some of the best times in his racing career. Gary said twice that he couldn't believe that I was that little guy in the Cub scout uniform and now as a grown man sitting with him made him feel old, but I quickly said that it was ment to make him feel special, I was a very quiet kid and kind of shy but when dad pointed out that Gary was sitting right there just feet from where we stood, instead of what seemed like miles away from up in the grandstands at a dirt track in somewhere in Indiana was like seeing a movie star when you're a kid, at least for me, and even though Gary was very focused on his indy car and really didn't have much to say that day in '72 I told him that it was just as special simply sitting there next to him then as it was right now, and he smiled a little bit bigger and that's when I asked him if he was hungry.
I had the MAGNIFICENT FORTUNE to meet Gary and his son's at the shop out around Avon, Indiana?!?! I was a kid, the details escape me. I know it was the Genesee Beer White with Blue and gold. Gorgeous!!! And to a kid... it's like I went to the Moon. Gary was MAGNIFICENT. Period. Nothing else to be said! He gave me hats, buttons, shirts, autographs, AND (engine porn spoiler alert) I got to watch them dyno an Indy car engine to failure!!! Awesome! and Gary gave me one of the connecting rods. Class act 100%. Thank you Gary, I will never forget you.
@@tbhausen I was a kid... They did appear to be surprised... Maybe it was a "yeah, we meant to do that!" Wonderful Family. For a little kid it was like going to the Moon. Todd, I know that it was a Chevy engine. The benches had boxes of " Diamond" pistons. I remember thinking "how do they shape diamonds?" Gary, at the end went in a closet and grabbed hats, t-shirts, buttons from the " Gennessee Beer wagon" white, blue, and gold. Thanks, it's been 30+, and still, THANK you all!
P.S. , @Todd Ace tool and machine in Mooresville did work on an oil pan.....??? We went with the owner to drop it off to the shop on the west side. Gary could have said "Bye!" Instead he said, my hand to God, " Son, you CAN help me put this on, right?" Seriously, I pooo'd a bit that moment, lol! Fabulous, everyone that day. Always a smile!
@@danielhreno9582 stories like this are always heartwarming all these years later. We’re probably more proud of the fact that he took time with every fan until they turned the lights off in the pit area than we are of what he accomplished on the race track. He got that from his dad. He was the same way. I’m sure there were times when things weren’t going well, and he wasn’t able to spend the time that he wanted to, but I recall him always making time whenever he could. He always stayed late for autographed sessions, too.
@@tbhausen I was born in 69. I know Tony was lost in 61. But I grew up with my weekends in May listening to WIBC and scribbling the lap times in The Star... never made sense to me, tomorrow's paper has all of it, but you don't buck tradition. Tony was an icon in my family before I was born. See... for me Gary, Tony, Merle, I learned, hell, they are just regular guys! Exc, They just don't give up! Lol!
Still one of the "Top Five that Should Have Won the Indy 500" in my book. It was exciting to hear on radio & then via tape delay on ABC-TV's Indy 500 coverage of 1980. Rutherford, Sneva, then Gary B. Wow! That would have been "super history" of the Indy races: Sneva from 33rd or Gary Bettenhausen from 32nd to win the race of '80. And actually, I was pulling for Gary to win - a first victory of Indy cars teams who literally never won a big Indy race, and, another win for the dying Offenhauser type engine power plant. The saddest interview I ever saw of an Indy driver was the one where Gary was asked by the interviewer what his feelings were now that his career in racing was about to end. Gary was actually shaking and in tears that he knew "the clock was running down, and he just wanted to win Indy for the family of the Bettenhausens." I, myself, was teary eyed in watching that interview end on that note. His passing a few years ago was one I'll always remember...like the passing of the great Lloyd Ruby...men who dearly wanted to conquer & win just one Indy 500. (Oh - that goes also for the late Eddie Sachs & Mike Mosley)
Thank you for posting this. I'm 37 and grew up in a family that followed Gary and his career for decades. We always watched Indy time trials every year to see how Gary and Tony did in qualifying. Brings back some really good memories.
I came across a book in the library about the Bettenhausen family and their racing. Maybe the title was GO!!! I remember one of the chapters was titled, A farewell to arms, which was about Merle and Gary and their injuries. I remember Gary was racing at IRP, and it was on the ESPN thunder show. Gary's car spit a driveshaft out and knocked the fuel pump off the back of the engine, setting it on fire. Gary climbed up out of the cage and sat on top steering with his feet. There was a mini-pond in the infield from heavy rains, and Gary steered the car into the pond, bailed out to his left bouncing off the rear tire, and put himself out. The camera caught him lifting his left arm with his other arm, and it blew my mind, I thought it was broken or something, then I realized it was Gary and that arm didn't work anyway. I believe Gary could still clinch his fist, I've seen videos of him holding onto his fire suit with his left hand, I guess so it didn't just hang at his side.
Only saw him race once 1982 in the Delrose Holt Silver Crown car at Raceland in Denver but I had never seen anybody back a dirt car in like that and to this day have never seen anybody else even come close. He was the best and bravest race car driver I have ever seen
I remember as a child we would go to watch the races in Salem Indiana. All the great USAC racers would show and race, Tom Bigelow, Pancho Carter, Dana Carter, Sheldon Kinser, and Gary. I remember that he would have an electric start on his 99 car, always loved that. We could hear it crank from the stands. The announcer would make comments about it. The guy had a lot of heart, I remember talking to him in the pits after it was all over. He was just the nicest guy. I sure do miss the old days, they dont make me like Gary any more.
I was at the track (IMS) one year during practice with my dad. There was a crash and the number 16 car stopped and the driver ran to the crashed driver to help. I asked my dad "Who is that guy? He's my driver." His name just sealed the deal.
I live down the road from the bettenhousan family homestead. The driveway has a street sign that says Gary's way. And checkered flags on the front gate. My dad always told me to race car driver lived there but I never knew much about him.
Never met or saw the man in person, but was a Gary B. fan after getting interested in Indy 500 right around the time he almost won in 1972. Then I tracked him every year at Indy. Out within laps in 1974, a valiant 3rd in a beater car in '80. I remember one year (?) he was piloting a car on 3 wheels down the main straight after a wheel came off. Felt awful in '89 when his car didn't fire at the start - it was a beautiful paint scheme. New life with Menard and the Buick V6 in the '90s. Fastest qualifier in '91. Was having a top 10 run in '92 when, as he said, a tire came out of the sky and damaged his car beyond repair. Favourite memory in '93 on Bump Day when he did a quick mentoring of Eddie Cheever who had never driven the Buick. With only a few laps practice Cheever qualified the car. A great member of America's open wheel fraternity.
I saw Merle drive midgets at Western Springs in Auckland New Zealand. He drove the Thermo King VW to win the 30 lap world title. He was so smooth and the car ran rings around the rest of the field. 1973 I think
Yes Kym Bonython [Rowley Pk] brought Merle to Australia and New Zealand. First in Offys then later he came in VWs. Very smooth on both dirt and bitumen
I also remember watching Merle drive a midget car in the early 70’s with an artificial arm that had a pin that fit the steering wheel , he was amazingly smooth and a great driver . Merle , Gary and Larry Rice were all great race car drivers
@@3349mm620z - I remember the Bettenhausen coming to Australia. I admit to being only young at the time, and if it was 1973, I would have been 11. But I was Speedway mad anyway by that age, growing up in Liverpool, in the outter South Western Suburbs of Sydney, and home to the Liverpool City Raceway, where the great AJ Foyt raced in 1976. I also recall Larry Rice and Rich Voegler, "Sleepy" Tripp, the last three came out to race Midgets, but in different years I think.
I almost got to see him a Flemington in a silver crown race in the 80's .Warmups were just ending when I got to the stands and he was just slowing on the front stretch trailing blue smoke in the Rose car. When he didn't come out to qualify they announced he had blown the only motor they brought. Good race,but I all ways have been disappointed that I didn't get to see him in action.
jeeze 12 years racing on one good arm, and on unrully dirt and winning, thats badass, but like soo many indy the grandest of all to openwheel fans is without mercy, but soo many ledgends that have the stats and abillity soo often dont have the rings or trophies that man and women of lesser skill but greater luck do. but this is why he has a race named after him though saddly there are few mile or big tracks of dirt left to race at.
Man, I miss Gary B. This was an excellent tribute/racing history of him. I was there at Indy when he took that piece of shit wildcat offy from 32nd to 3rd. I never saw a drive like that before or after. Nobody did. Lonestar JR (Rutherford) won the race that year but in reality it was a cakewalk for him with that chapparal. No other car was in the same league as that car.
I remeber Gary B , Syracuse ny 70s thru # 44 sideways going into the 1st turn , wheels dug in and his car ended up front wheels on top of the fence after his front wheels went thru the top of a concession stand after rolling the car several times, he ended up in the hospital
PLEASE FORGIVE ME! To , say Gary was "Great for not achieving something." Personally reminds me of the T.V. show on the Weekend racing shows, (so, a spoiler mine is from REAL memory, not video!) Dale Earnhardt was asked, some B.S. about never having a "Full" career without wining Daytona? He laughed... I hope Gary did too.
I got Gary's autograph when I was a kid back in the 60s, still have it today
Met him at Du Quoin circa 82 I was a kid went up to him after race got autograph glad I got to meet him I knew he was an all time great driver
I was a teen when attending the Indy road race at Sears Point (Sonoma, California) back in the Spring of 1970 where he gladly autographed a Sears Point Raceway bumper sticker for me. The upbeat enthusiasm he displayed left a lasting impression with me.
Just happened accross this gem of a video. This sums Gary B up so well. The guy was one of the best and would give you the shirt right off his back. RIP Gary B
The saddest four words ever written...........What might have been. RIP Gary, may you travel faster still, through the heavens.
Gary was, is, and always will be a class act. Always pulled for him to get a 500 win, but it wasn't to be. The Bettenhausen family gave a great deal to the sport. Royalty for sure...
Wonderful vidio. Robin Miller is the best. Thank you 🇺🇸
Great stuff. Racecar driver's are my heroes.
My first time at I.M.S was 1972 I was a chubby 8 yr old cub scout and had ZERO idea what it was I was looking at.
The month of May had just started (I'm not exactly sure the day I was there) but Dad had some pull and we were able to get close to drivers and cars, and the moment I saw the Penske cars (the blue and yellow Sunoco) matched my cub scout uniform and I had to get close.
Well it was close to lunch time, and I was able to sit down between Mark and Gary.
Mark was talking with someone, so I asked Gary if he would like to share my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and chips, Gary looked at me and kind of brushed me off.
I looked up at Mark and he said Hello, and asked me my name, and how old I was, I answered him and then asked if he was hungry, and did he want to share my lunch, he smiled and said that he was very hungry and would love to share my lunch.
So I gave him half of my sandwich and sat the bag of chips on the wall between us and chowed down, and when we were finished he asked me if I would like to see his car up close, and as i stood there looking at his car I looked up at him and said, "You are going to win the Indy 500" he looked at me and asked how I knew that, and I said to him, Because your car is the same as my cub scout uniform, and because he liked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Mark was kneeling down to talk to me and he looked at me and smiled, my 8 yr old reasoning had made itself clear.
Well as we know Mark did win the indy 500.
So being from Terre Haute, and having been to many days during the month of May, and many indy 500 races, I saw drivers come and go, and I decided one day to see if I could find Gary, so I poked around Monrovia one summer day and was pointed in the right direction.
As I pulled up at Gary's house there he was fooling around with some buckets, and he asked if he could help me, I said yes sir, that I had come to see if I could have 5 minutes with one of racings best drivers ever, and the buckets got thrown to the side, and he said he could spare 5 minutes.
I grabbed a couple of things out of my truck, and we opened up the tailgate and sat down, he asked me my name, and I said it's not really important, and I pulled out his qualifying photo from 1972 at indy, and he said boy that's one good looking fella right there, and I asked if he would autograph it for me, which he did, and I pulled out a couple of other photos and off we went, talking about racing.
And about 20 minutes later I said that I had wasted enough of his time and that I should be going, but Gary laughed and said that he was happy that I stopped by, it really made his day, so I smiled and said Gary, now I have something for you, and went to the front of my truck, and came back with a small brown paper sack.
I said Gary, my first trip to I.M.S was 1972, and I was a chubby little 8 yr old kid in a cub scout uniform, and I had asked you if (and I started pulling it out) you were hungry and would like to share my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and chips, but you kind of just brushed me off, so I asked Mark if he was hungry, and I saw Gary's eyes widen and he said, "I remember you, and I also remember that you told Donahue that he was going to win."
I nodded and then asked him if he was hungry, he looked at me for a couple of seconds and said "little late now, but he was a little bit hungry" so we sat there in silence and each of us with a half of sandwich, and a small bag of chips between us until it was finished, I went back up front and pulled a couple bottles of water out and returned to the tailgate, he looked at me and just laughed, he said, "I wish I had taken that offer" and asked if I thought it would have got him to the end instead of breaking down, I could only shrug my shoulders and smile.
I guess we'll never know he said, and still couldn't believe that I had come to make his day, even though I was trying to make his day 25 years earlier.
We shook hands and I jumped in my truck, and Gary said stop by anytime you're around, and I nodded and as i was leaving I looked in the mirror and saw Gary wave and I waved back, I had actually made his day.
You're never forgotten Gary having watched you on the dirt in Terre Haute to the pavement of the Indy cars, but most of all finally getting to share my lunch with one of the Greatest ever! !!
What a story you had to tell!! My first year at Indy was pole day 1970. I was clueless about Indy car racing but my Dad had been there many times. He knew all about Gary and Tony and so I was a Bettenhausen fan starting at 9 years old!!
That, Sir, is a terrific story. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I must’ve been off in College that day or something, but that’s awfully cool. He never did tell me that story. You’ve probably heard the story by now why he didn’t finish in 1972, and it wasn’t ignition failure as the record book said. Wouldn’t have mattered who ate the sandwich, just a moment of inattention during the fabrication of a fitting at Penske racing in Reading Pennsylvania. That’s what cost us the Indy 500. A moment of inattention by a welder.
@@tbhausen Hi Todd,
No I have never heard anything except for ignition failure.
Yes the day I decided to go see your dad I was so nervous and afraid that he wouldn't want to see me I almost turned around and went back to Terre Haute twice, but thankfully I am stubborn and kept going.
Finally the moment of truth and I am finally sitting on a tailgate with legend Gary Bettenhausen reminiscing about how I first saw him in Terre Haute in a sprint car and he had a huge smile on his face because he said those were the most fun times, he said that his years at Indianapolis were very special but that the pressure was tremendous, however unloading a midget, or a sprint car somewhere was pure fun, and some of the best times in his racing career.
Gary said twice that he couldn't believe that I was that little guy in the Cub scout uniform and now as a grown man sitting with him made him feel old, but I quickly said that it was ment to make him feel special, I was a very quiet kid and kind of shy but when dad pointed out that Gary was sitting right there just feet from where we stood, instead of what seemed like miles away from up in the grandstands at a dirt track in somewhere in Indiana was like seeing a movie star when you're a kid, at least for me, and even though Gary was very focused on his indy car and really didn't have much to say that day in '72 I told him that it was just as special simply sitting there next to him then as it was right now, and he smiled a little bit bigger and that's when I asked him if he was hungry.
I had the MAGNIFICENT FORTUNE to meet Gary and his son's at the shop out around Avon, Indiana?!?!
I was a kid, the details escape me.
I know it was the Genesee Beer White with Blue and gold. Gorgeous!!! And to a kid... it's like I went to the Moon.
Gary was MAGNIFICENT. Period. Nothing else to be said!
He gave me hats, buttons, shirts, autographs,
AND (engine porn spoiler alert)
I got to watch them dyno an Indy car engine to failure!!! Awesome! and Gary gave me one of the connecting rods. Class act 100%.
Thank you Gary, I will never forget you.
I don’t remember that day, but they’re not supposed to blow up on the dyno 🤣🤣🤣
@@tbhausen I was a kid...
They did appear to be surprised...
Maybe it was a "yeah, we meant to do that!"
Wonderful Family. For a little kid it was like going to the Moon.
Todd,
I know that it was a Chevy engine. The benches had boxes of " Diamond" pistons. I remember thinking "how do they shape diamonds?"
Gary, at the end went in a closet and grabbed hats, t-shirts, buttons from the " Gennessee Beer wagon" white, blue, and gold.
Thanks, it's been 30+, and still, THANK you all!
P.S. , @Todd
Ace tool and machine in Mooresville did work on an oil pan.....???
We went with the owner to drop it off to the shop on the west side.
Gary could have said "Bye!"
Instead he said, my hand to God, " Son, you CAN help me put this on, right?"
Seriously, I pooo'd a bit that moment, lol!
Fabulous, everyone that day.
Always a smile!
@@danielhreno9582 stories like this are always heartwarming all these years later. We’re probably more proud of the fact that he took time with every fan until they turned the lights off in the pit area than we are of what he accomplished on the race track. He got that from his dad. He was the same way. I’m sure there were times when things weren’t going well, and he wasn’t able to spend the time that he wanted to, but I recall him always making time whenever he could. He always stayed late for autographed sessions, too.
@@tbhausen I was born in 69. I know Tony was lost in 61. But I grew up with my weekends in May listening to WIBC and scribbling the lap times in The Star... never made sense to me, tomorrow's paper has all of it, but you don't buck tradition. Tony was an icon in my family before I was born.
See... for me Gary, Tony, Merle, I learned, hell, they are just regular guys!
Exc, They just don't give up!
Lol!
Still one of the "Top Five that Should Have Won the Indy 500" in my book. It was exciting to hear on radio & then via tape delay on ABC-TV's Indy 500 coverage of 1980. Rutherford, Sneva, then Gary B. Wow! That would have been "super history" of the Indy races: Sneva from 33rd or Gary Bettenhausen from 32nd to win the race of '80. And actually, I was pulling for Gary to win - a first victory of Indy cars teams who literally never won a big Indy race, and, another win for the dying Offenhauser type engine power plant.
The saddest interview I ever saw of an Indy driver was the one where Gary was asked by the interviewer what his feelings were now that his career in racing was about to end. Gary was actually shaking and in tears that he knew "the clock was running down, and he just wanted to win Indy for the family of the Bettenhausens." I, myself, was teary eyed in watching that interview end on that note.
His passing a few years ago was one I'll always remember...like the passing of the great Lloyd Ruby...men who dearly wanted to conquer & win just one Indy 500. (Oh - that goes also for the late Eddie Sachs & Mike Mosley)
Thank you for posting this. I'm 37 and grew up in a family that followed Gary and his career for decades. We always watched Indy time trials every year to see how Gary and Tony did in qualifying. Brings back some really good memories.
I think I saw Gary Bettenhausen race at Weatern springs New Zealand many years ago.
I came across a book in the library about the Bettenhausen family and their racing. Maybe the title was GO!!! I remember one of the chapters was titled, A farewell to arms, which was about Merle and Gary and their injuries. I remember Gary was racing at IRP, and it was on the ESPN thunder show. Gary's car spit a driveshaft out and knocked the fuel pump off the back of the engine, setting it on fire. Gary climbed up out of the cage and sat on top steering with his feet. There was a mini-pond in the infield from heavy rains, and Gary steered the car into the pond, bailed out to his left bouncing off the rear tire, and put himself out. The camera caught him lifting his left arm with his other arm, and it blew my mind, I thought it was broken or something, then I realized it was Gary and that arm didn't work anyway. I believe Gary could still clinch his fist, I've seen videos of him holding onto his fire suit with his left hand, I guess so it didn't just hang at his side.
I'll never forget the time Gary beat Sammy Sessions at the Winchester Twin 50s....and he came from last to first in a backup car!
Only saw him race once 1982 in the Delrose Holt Silver Crown car at Raceland in Denver but I had never seen anybody back a dirt car in like that and to this day have never seen anybody else even come close. He was the best and bravest race car driver I have ever seen
I remember as a child we would go to watch the races in Salem Indiana. All the great USAC racers would show and race, Tom Bigelow, Pancho Carter, Dana Carter, Sheldon Kinser, and Gary. I remember that he would have an electric start on his 99 car, always loved that. We could hear it crank from the stands. The announcer would make comments about it. The guy had a lot of heart, I remember talking to him in the pits after it was all over. He was just the nicest guy. I sure do miss the old days, they dont make me like Gary any more.
I was at the track (IMS) one year during practice with my dad. There was a crash and the number 16 car stopped and the driver ran to the crashed driver to help. I asked my dad "Who is that guy? He's my driver." His name just sealed the deal.
You were stuck on 499 likes so I gave you your "500th" like in honor of Mr. Bettenhausen.
I live down the road from the bettenhousan family homestead. The driveway has a street sign that says Gary's way. And checkered flags on the front gate. My dad always told me to race car driver lived there but I never knew much about him.
Another street in there is named after our mom, Wavelyn. I think it’s awesome. They earned it.
Never met or saw the man in person, but was a Gary B. fan after getting interested in Indy 500 right around the time he almost won in 1972. Then I tracked him every year at Indy. Out within laps in 1974, a valiant 3rd in a beater car in '80. I remember one year (?) he was piloting a car on 3 wheels down the main straight after a wheel came off. Felt awful in '89 when his car didn't fire at the start - it was a beautiful paint scheme. New life with Menard and the Buick V6 in the '90s. Fastest qualifier in '91. Was having a top 10 run in '92 when, as he said, a tire came out of the sky and damaged his car beyond repair. Favourite memory in '93 on Bump Day when he did a quick mentoring of Eddie Cheever who had never driven the Buick. With only a few laps practice Cheever qualified the car. A great member of America's open wheel fraternity.
I saw Merle drive midgets at Western Springs in Auckland New Zealand. He drove the Thermo King VW to win the 30 lap world title. He was so smooth and the car ran rings around the rest of the field. 1973 I think
Yes Kym Bonython [Rowley Pk] brought Merle to Australia and New Zealand. First in Offys then later he came in VWs. Very smooth on both dirt and bitumen
I also remember watching Merle drive a midget car in the early 70’s with an artificial arm that had a pin that fit the steering wheel , he was amazingly smooth and a great driver . Merle , Gary and Larry Rice were all great race car drivers
@@3349mm620z - I remember the Bettenhausen coming to Australia. I admit
to being only young at the time, and if it was 1973, I would have been 11. But I
was Speedway mad anyway by that age, growing up in Liverpool, in the outter
South Western Suburbs of Sydney, and home to the Liverpool City Raceway,
where the great AJ Foyt raced in 1976. I also recall Larry Rice and Rich Voegler,
"Sleepy" Tripp, the last three came out to race Midgets, but in different years I think.
i was a GARY B fan from the first time i heard his name a saw him race!
I almost got to see him a Flemington in a silver crown race in the 80's .Warmups were just ending when I got to the stands and he was just slowing on the front stretch trailing blue smoke in the Rose car. When he didn't come out to qualify they announced he had blown the only motor they brought. Good race,but I all ways have been disappointed that I didn't get to see him in action.
excellent...
I Remember 1961 As If It Was Yesterday,,,
jeeze 12 years racing on one good arm, and on unrully dirt and winning, thats badass, but like soo many indy the grandest of all to openwheel fans is without mercy, but soo many ledgends that have the stats and abillity soo often dont have the rings or trophies that man and women of lesser skill but greater luck do.
but this is why he has a race named after him though saddly there are few mile or big tracks of dirt left to race at.
Man, I miss Gary B. This was an excellent tribute/racing history of him. I was there at Indy when he took that piece of shit wildcat offy from 32nd to 3rd. I never saw a drive like that before or after. Nobody did. Lonestar JR (Rutherford) won the race that year but in reality it was a cakewalk for him with that chapparal. No other car was in the same league as that car.
greg j.
RIP Gary B. ;-(
I remeber Gary B , Syracuse ny 70s thru # 44 sideways going into the 1st turn , wheels dug in and his car ended up front wheels on top of the fence after his front wheels went thru the top of a concession stand after rolling the car several times, he ended up in the hospital
@@normanharp8463 - Sounds like he damn near lost his life, and lucky not too,
by the sounds of things.
@@normanharp8463 That's where he injured his arm!
@@karlmuller3690 not nearly fatal. He stayed conscious through the whole thing.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME!
To , say Gary was "Great for not achieving something." Personally reminds me of the T.V. show on the Weekend racing shows, (so, a spoiler mine is from REAL memory, not video!) Dale Earnhardt was asked, some B.S. about never having a "Full" career without wining Daytona? He laughed... I hope Gary did too.
A Hoosier Legend? He was born raised and LIVED in Illinois. Born in
Tinley Park, IL. Hoosier legend? No. Indy 500 Legend YES!
Our family made Indiana our home for obvious reasons. So I’m good with “Hoosier Legend”.