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Topic: R.I.P. Gary Bettenhausen
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Page 1 of 1 of 13 replies
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March 16, 2014 at
11:01:37 PM
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Just heard that Gary Bettenhausen, one of the all time great open wheel racers has passed away. R.I.P. Gary.
GOODYEAR #1 in RACING
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March 17, 2014 at
07:41:20 PM
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Sorry to hear the news. Gary B. was quite a character and one helluva gasser. He was definitely from an earlier era. I was always a big fan at Indy and at the Silver Crown races.
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March 17, 2014 at
08:14:52 PM
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Anyone who missed the Gary and Larry show in the late '60s/early '70s missed some of the best sprint car duels of all time as Bettenhausen and Dickson went at it in the midwest. Only comparable pairing I ever saw was Dean Thompson and Bubby Jones at Ascot. Glad I got to see both.
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March 18, 2014 at
02:16:54 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Goodyear25c on March 16 2014 at 11:01:37 PM
Just heard that Gary Bettenhausen, one of the all time great open wheel racers has passed away. R.I.P. Gary.
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The Bettenhausen family paid a heavy price. Garys dad Tony Sr. died at Indy. His brother Tony Jr. a very sucessful Indy car team owner died in a plane crash. His brother Merle lost an arm in a Indy car race, and Gary lost about 90% use of one of his arms after a sprint car wreck. Gary was a tough as they came and as good as they came.
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March 18, 2014 at
11:27:44 AM
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For those that sit around and wonder what a real racer is, Look up the Bettenhausen family ! Then take time to ponder over the 99 asphalt sprint car and how changeable it was. For certain tracks they would lay the motor over 45 degrees and move the fuel tank to the side for example. And that's just one example. I was in awe every time he raced and as a mechanic got to see him up close many times. Watching him run a dirt car was special. Tough as nails barely describes him and family. RIP Gary!
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March 18, 2014 at
01:22:43 PM
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Robin Miller tribute to Gary. Good read with some nice pics.....
http://racer.com/index.php/more/viewpoints/52-indycar/101965-gary-bettenhausen-remembered-obituary-1941-2014-by-robin-miller
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March 18, 2014 at
04:13:31 PM
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The old man was always riding with Gary and there's no question that he wanted the Benttenhausen name on the Borg Warner not only for himself but for the whole family, especially his dad.
Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.
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March 18, 2014 at
06:44:18 PM
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thanks for posting this.
Follow me on the social medias! ; twitter -
larryitis Facebook - Michael Collins
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March 19, 2014 at
11:57:27 AM
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If any of you are in the Paso Robles, Calif area stop in the auto racing musum at the airport (north of hwy 41, east of 101) There sits the Bettenhausen "offset" sprint car in Simone #10 trim. This car still holds the track record for USAC sprint cars at Phoenix. Sadly we have lost it all a great racer, an inovater and fabricator that tested the limits of rule books.
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March 22, 2014 at
09:58:02 AM
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BETTENHAUSEN, Gary
1967 & 1979 Turkey Night Winner
1969 & 1971 USAC Sprint Champion
1980 & 1983 USAC Silver Crown Champion
1983 Copper World Sprint Car Winner
40 USAC National Sprint Wins
27 USAC National Midget Wins
10 USAC Silver Crown Wins
4 Indy Car Wins
1 SMRA Super Modified Win
His Indy Car Wins were at Phoenix in 1968, Michigan in 1970, Trenton in 1972 and Texas World Speedway in 1973.
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March 22, 2014 at
10:31:45 AM
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My first memory of a "big time" racer was Gary. 1972 I was 7 and we stayed at the Best Western in Odessa (KC) Mo. Gary and his car and crew were staying there to race the next night at I-70. I remember being mesmerized by that blue n gold racecar . And as a 7 yr old I thought i was big shit watching him race next night cause I had stayed in the same hotel as him. RIP Gary.
oh yea... and thanks for taking me to the races dad.
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March 22, 2014 at
02:03:05 PM
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God speed
They don't even know how to spell sprint car
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com
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March 22, 2014 at
06:46:35 PM
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One of the Bettenhausens was married to James McElreath's daughter. Was it Gary or Tony ??
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March 22, 2014 at
07:02:53 PM
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This message was edited on
March 22, 2014 at
07:04:59 PM by BIGFISH
Reply to:
Posted By: pinkie5 on March 22 2014 at 06:46:35 PM
One of the Bettenhausens was married to James McElreath's daughter. Was it Gary or Tony ??
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In September 1977, James McElreath, the son of 15-time Indy 500 veteran Jim McElreath, was killed in a USAC sprint race. "I think a big part of my dad died that day," said James' older sister, Shirley, years later.
Shirley McElreath and Tony Lee Bettenhausen, friends since childhood, grieved together. The relationship blossomed into love; they married in 1978.
http://www.sptimes.com/News/052500/Sports/Tragedies_don_t_spoil.shtml
Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.
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