3 replies to this topic

[Flat Black 84]

Charles "Sonny" Ates, born March 28, 1935, in Sellersburg, Indiana, passed away this past Monday in Phoenix.

Ates raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1968-1970 seasons, with 15 career starts, including the 1969 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 5 times, with his best finish in 5th position in 1968 at Brooklyn. Ates was also a top sprint car driver during the 1960's and 1970's. He held the world speed record for a sprint car with a clocking at the famed Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana.

[Lemnpiper]

Charles "Sonny" Ates, born March 28, 1935, in Sellersburg, Indiana, passed away this past Monday in Phoenix.

Ates raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1968-1970 seasons, with 15 career starts, including the 1969 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 5 times, with his best finish in 5th position in 1968 at Brooklyn. Ates was also a top sprint car driver during the 1960's and 1970's. He held the world speed record for a sprint car with a clocking at the famed Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana.

Godspeed Sonny ,

Well if you could only make the race one year 1969 seems to have been one of the better choices based on how it turned out.

Gets the feeling Mr Ates would be one of the tuffer ones to locate if he had raced and made the race back in the 1910's or 1920's. Pity sometimes the one and done guys get so little notice when they pass , when they did make the show that one time .

Edited by Lemnpiper, 02 November 2010 - 23:57.

[Flat Black 84]

How many people have been fortunate enough (and good enough) to race in the '500' even once? It is a great achievement, and one that I truly envy.

[AlMark]

Very sorry to hear of Sonny's passing. I live in Louisville, KY, just across the Ohio from Sellersberg, and I was always pulling for him to do well in the 500.