Jim Hurtubise in victory lane at Langhorne.
Langhorne, Penn. (June 19, 1960) - Rugged, cigar-smoking Jimmy Bryan, veteran auto racer who won 19 championships including the Indianapolis 500 in 1958, was killed Sunday in the 100-mile National Championship Big Car race at Langhorne Speedway.
He had not raced on dirt since 1957 although he won his early fame there.
The 33-year-old Phoenix, Ariz., native who began racing in 1948 was attempting to pass Don Branson, of Champaign, III., for the lead on the first lap when his car suddenly skidded sideways and rolled over several times. There was no fire.
Bryan was pulled quickly from his car and rushed to the Lower Bucks County Hospital where he was dead on arrival. Attendants said he died of chest and internal injuries.
The 17-car race restarted after the fatal accident. It was won by Jim Hurtubise of Lennox, Calif., who set a national record of 100.786 miles per hour over the one-mile dirt track. His winning time was 59 minutes and 31.92 seconds.
Eddie Sachs, of Center Valley, Penn., who viewed the tragedy from his position eight cars behind, blamed the accident on Bryan’s “overconfidence in himself and his eagerness to return to the profession that he was so wonderful in.”
“They had just dropped the green flag and the cars went into the turn. Bryan took the outside and the dust and dirt got heavy. And after 2-1/2 years of inactivity, he didn’t like what was happening.”
“He tried to drive from the outside to the inside too quickly and that is what put the car out of control. He made such a sharp turn that the car flipped to the inside of the track.
“I was heartsick. He was loved and revered by every man in the racing business.”
Results –
1. Jim Hurtubise
2. Jim Packard
3. Gene Force
4. Cotton Farmer
5. Roger McCluskey
6. Parnelli Jones
7. Jack Rounds
8. Bobby Grim
9. Bill Homeier
10.Dick Rathmann
11.Lloyd Ruby
12.Jiggs Peters
13.Eddie Sachs
14.Jim McWithey
15.Don Branson
16.A.J. Foyt
17.Red Amick
18.Jimmy Bryan
Jimmy Bryan
He left behind a wife, and two daughters Stephanie Lou,Cindy Annette......
ReplyDeleteMy father was in the stands that day when Jimmy Bryan flipped end over end right in front of him. He said one of the medical personnel from the ambulance looked up at the people in the stands and shook his head side to side meaning he was gone. My father was always deeply affected by it.
ReplyDeleteMy mom and dad were at Langhorne for that race. Jimmy was my mom’s favorite driver. Was sad they witnessed his horrible accident! R.I.P.
ReplyDeleteI remember as a kid in 1958 & 59 in Phoenix Jimmy Bryan had a Triumph 650 cc motorcycle engine powered go cart he would race on the Maryvale Shopping city's Sunday parking lot at 51.St. Ave. & W. Indian School Rd. bales of hay marked the course. Jimmy's over powered cart couldn't win any faces as he kept spinning out at nearly every turn. I think it by deliberate design just to show off. We all loved him. He was our hero.
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