AC Bristol team fatality

At Sebring in 1959 there was a fatal accident to one of the team mechanics. It occured early in the week and he was apparently driving one of the race cars to the circuit. In the several references I have found to this accident, he is named only as 'a mechanic.'

Can anyone help me lift this individual from anonymity and provide his name?

Thanks for any help or leads!

Hello Mike, this is not a lot of help but according to "Ace Bristol Racing" by McLellan and Bancroft the chassis # of the car was probably BE 1055 and " The Rix/Rahel Ace....substituted when the intended entry was driven into the back of a truck during a test run the night before the race and was demolished, killing the driver. Although involved in the accident, Lonnie Rix survived to race next day."
All you have to do is locate Lonnie Rix it seems...
Regards, David B

http://www.racecarsg...p?t=624&start=0

In this thread, we have many stories of triumph and, unfortunately, tragedy. The two seem to go hand in hand, don't they...... The Lonnie Rix story is mentioned, as well.

Mike, the name Lonnie Rix rings a faint bell in my memory. ISTR he drove a Bristol in SCCA Divisionals/Nationals and was from the Savannah, GA area. He certainly was an SCCA member back then.

I think I met him once or twice around '63, and have a vague image of a lean guy with blond hair. But that's all I can recall. If still around, he'd be in his early seventies.

Wish I could help more.

Joel