I was surprised to see this article in the paper August 14, 2008.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/1...t-swede-savage/

Thanks for that link, Bufe!

A very moving and poignant piece.

Thank you for that link. I never really knew Swede Savage. I was a gopher at K&N Motorcycles when he rode 1/2 mile for them at Ascot. I saw him ride and spoke to him a few times. I remember he crashed at Ascot a number of times without injury. One of the crashes was in the main event while he was lying third. Kenny and Norm and the rest were going nuts at the possibility of a high finish. But it was not to be. He was a very brave racer. R.I.P.

Thanks for posting this. I had no idea about his daughter. What a shame. What has become of Swede's widow?

Jack

Thanks for the link. I forwarded it on to Swede's stepson, Gary.

Cool!

I just got an email that will answer that question:



Dennis, thanks for passing that along. Just growing up in San Berdoo and reading his description brought back memories........and we got our car washed at that very car wash!

My mom, sister & brother all live on Vegas, too. I don't think the author knew that. My sister got married last year and had a baby boy 2 years ago.

Gary Savage
www.Savage42.com

Thanks, Dennis.

Jack

"And when we drove back by the carwash, I couldn’t decide whether the reason I don’t have heroes anymore is because I got old or because sometimes it hurts."

I couldn't agree more.

I'll admit that my eyes were moist after I read the marker inscription.
Tom

Thanks Buford.

Angela Savage lives in Las Vegas according to the Swede Savage website...and she welcomes people to stop where she works to say hello.

I signed the guestbook...bringing back memories of a 10 yr old boy dealing with death that summer.

I have watched the 3 different films of that tragic race recently and wonder...
why did Swede's pit only change the right side tires on that pit stop 2 laps before his crash? I thought they changed all 4, but on closer examination of the films, he only gets a right side change and full fuel load.

Zooom has a personal picture from turn 4 that is included in the "mickey thompson" thread of an instant after the impact with the inside wall. Incredible he lived after impact!

I will note that the North chute and turn 4 were giving many drivers troubles that afternoon...Joe Leonard does a few 360's in controlling his Yellow #1 in the chute... Peter Revson simply spins in the same place Swede spun,albeit about 50 laps earlier in the race, Revson just does not hit the wall with such force.

A nice article. Thanks Buford

So much better than the piece in for the San Bernardino Sun a few years back - which was negative toward racing and had glaring factual errors. But, that's the difference in having a racing writer and a "general" sportswriter tackle the same subject. Like so many other "general sportswriters" the Sun writer had a penchant for sneering attacks on racing. A shame that Swede's hometown paper couldn't have done something more fitting.

Even the Vegas writer didn't seem that aware of Savage's career beyond "a cool name" (I was younger than him at the time and I knew!). Some things that are worth mentioning. First, he was a true prodigy a "whiz kid" in an era where it was almost unheard of in top level racing. This was back when talent made the difference, not connections with a television network or having a conning stepfather. Savage and Mark Martin are the only examples I can cite from my time who were elevated so quickly to big time racing.

He raced motorcycles, including Speedway bikes at places like Trojan Speedway in South Gate, catching Dan Gurney's eye. A fellow Inland Empire resident, Gurney took on Savage as his protege as Gurney began winding his driving down. Swede raced in NASCAR, Trans-Am and Indy Cars. After winning the 1970 season closing USAC race at Phoenix International Raceway, he and Gurney parted ways. After the serious crash in the Questor Grand Prix at Ontario, he was portrayed as "never being the same" and his results kind of indicate that.

And what of the stories that it wasn't the burns, but tainted blood that eventually claimed Swede?

Dr. Steve Olvey, Savage's resident physician after his accident, wrote in Rapid Response that Savage died of liver failure resulting from a Hepatitis B-infected transfusion of blood plasma.

I'd give the writer a bit more credit than that. Ron Kantowski is apparently something of a student of motorsports history, at least moreso than one might expect of a sportswriter for a major-market daily. A few years ago, he wrote this retrospective on the long-forgotten Stardust International Raceway:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2003/may/2...rdust-memories/

I recently found out that Swede's (and later, Scott Brayton's) chief mechanic - Jim Wright - passed away in April of this year. Jim had a excellent reputation as an engine builder & was well known at Indy for his efforts with the Buick engine, among many other successes over the years in many racing disciplines. He was with Swede as early as the Gurney years. The family has www.jimwrightmemorial.com where much more than I can say is available on his racing career. I do know that when I was at the Brayton Engineering facilities, there was a few photos on the wall with Jim & Swede together. He cared alot about Swede, I sure am going to miss Jim. He & his wife, Lynn, always welcomed us with open arms. I'm ashamed that I only found out about his passing a few weeks ago. A fine man to me & all of my family.

Brian