Takeo 'Chickie' Hirashima

Posted 06 February 2009 - 15:15

Takeo "Chickie" Hirashima at Ontario Speedway

I would like to start a thread on the late Chickie Hirashima, he was born in Glendale, California on May 12, 1912.
He was the riding mechanic with Rex Mays in 1935 when they were leading the Indy 500 for 89 laps. He was the chief mechanic for George Robson in 1946 when he won the Indy 500. Engines built by Chickie won the Indy 500 in 1955 and 1956 and 1959 and 1960. This is a small part of his racing accomplishments. He was liked and respected by all in racing.

photo Sylvia Pink

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Posted 06 February 2009 - 15:27

George Robson and his wife and Chickie Hirashima in Victory Lane 1946

George Robson was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, George Robson later moved to Ontario, Canada and finally to the U.S.

Sadly George Robson died with George Barringer in an accident at Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta, Georgia. On September 2, 1946. George Robson's brother Hal also completed in the Indy 500.

Indianapolis Star file photo.

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Posted 06 February 2009 - 15:43

Chickie Hirashima building engine with Dale Drake looking on.


photo Ed Pink collection

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Posted 06 February 2009 - 15:50

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Posted 06 February 2009 - 17:21

Rex Mays and Takeo Chickie Hirashima in 1935 Indy 500
They led 89 laps in this race. And started from the pole.

Ensign: The story goes that Jim Rathmann came by Meyer-Drake engines where Chickie was working. He asked him did he want to go to Indy and be his crew chief. Chickie said yes and he along with Bill Yeager towed the car to Indy and won the 500. That was in 1960. Smokey Yunick was brought on board to look after the pit stops. I am sure that Chickie didn't want Smokey to have anything to do with the car preparation.

Photo - Mays Family collection -Speedway photos

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Posted 06 February 2009 - 20:44

Just a small correction: I think Chickie was born on May 4th, 1912.

There's something about him online here.
And a link to this photo showing him with Jim Rathmann in 1960:

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Posted 07 February 2009 - 00:06

;)

Wanna know a trivia question about the Indy 500 that will probably stump even Donald Davidson?

;);)

Who is the only person to have taken the start of the Indy 500 in the fastest car of the qualifying trials three years in a row?

;););)

Or: Who travelled faster around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway than anyone else in every year he had a ride?



Chickie rules!

:up:

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Posted 07 February 2009 - 00:17

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Posted 07 February 2009 - 16:08

Poor sod! What is it that makes people not like you?

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Posted 07 February 2009 - 16:19

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Posted 07 February 2009 - 18:05

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Posted 07 February 2009 - 19:22

Rex Mays and Chickie Hirashima in their Indy Pole winning car in 1935
The fellow standing on the right in the white shirt is Paul Weirick. He was the car owner and also partners with Art Sparks in the race car business.
Chickie hung out at Art Sparks race shop and was given various helper type jobs. Rex Mays was a regular visitor to the shop and he and Chickie got along great and that is how he ended up being the co-driver at Indy with Rex Mays.

During the second World War Chickie Hirashima was sent to the Mojave Desert to an Internment Camp. He later served in the Nisei 442nd Infantry in Italy.

After the war in 1946 Chickie was the head mechanic for George Robson and guided him to his win in the Indy 500. That win was the first race run at Indy under the Hulman family ownership.

photo Mays family collection
research Bob Schilling - Ed Pink

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Posted 07 February 2009 - 22:59

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Posted 08 February 2009 - 18:07

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Posted 08 February 2009 - 19:28

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Posted 09 February 2009 - 17:01

George Robson in Victory Lane in 1946, Chickie Hirashima at his side

photographer unknown

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Posted 10 February 2009 - 15:15

Takeo Chickie Hirashima running the Engine Dyno at Parnelli Jones race shop

The Engine Dyno that Chickie is running was installed under Chickie's personal supervision. Not only was he a great engine man, but also was very capable of undertaking projects such as the Dyno installation.


Chickie Hirashima doing some machine work on the band saw at Parnelli Jones shop.
Chickie worked for the Parnelli Jones Racing Group in the mid 70's. Parnelli of course knew Chickie for many years.


Photos - Parnelli Jones Archives
scanned for site Jim Dilamarter- research Jim Dilamarter

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Posted 10 February 2009 - 15:45

Chickie Hirashima in white hat with arms crossed behind the M-15 McLaren Indy car
Denis Hulme in drivers seat, Tyler Alexander ducked down, and at the back of the car the very capable Tom Anderson and on the pit wall Teddy Mayer.

Chickie is looking at the Team McLaren M-15 Indy car in 1970, this car would eventually be driven race day by Peter Revson. Car now owned by Bill Wiswedel of Holland, Michigan.


photo Bill Wiswedel collection - Speedway Photo

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Posted 11 February 2009 - 22:47

Chickie Hirashima as seen at Meyer-Drake in 1952
Chickie is building a Offy 270 cubic inch engine. They had around 345 Horsepower in 1952. That was using Methanol as fuel.



photo Tom Medley

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Posted 12 February 2009 - 09:40

Chickie was also instrumental in the development of the "low tower" Offy, mostly credited to A. J. Watson. In 1957, when USAC reduced the engine capacity to 4.2 litres, many owners and mechanics simply went back to the old 255 Offy, which was anyway the "father" of the 270, and identical in most respects. But A. J. and Chickie went another way: they cut down 270 blocks until they matched the gear train of the 220 Offy, and thus achieved a short-stroke version of the venerable engine. Today, it is believed they both did it quasi-simultaneously, and pretty soon everybody followed that idea up.

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Posted 15 February 2009 - 19:24

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Posted 16 February 2009 - 14:02

Chickie Hirashima and AJ Watson
This is next to the Ken-Paul Special built by AJ Watson. Chickie would be the head mechanic on this car for Jim Rathmann and they would go on to win the 1960 Indy 500 with this car.

AJ Watson remembers that Chickie would come by his shop after Chickie was done with his job at Meyer-Drake and pitch in and help on AJ's cars. AJ said that Chickie was a great friend.


photo AJ Watson collection
scanned for site Joyce Watson

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Posted 16 February 2009 - 18:23

Chickie was a very popular fellow but back in the day, occasionally, some drunk would decide to fight WWII all over again. This exact scenario occurred one night at the Holiday Inn across from IMS on 16th. The drunk was a very well known mechanic who shall remain nameless, but when he broke a bottle and headed Chickie's way, muttering something about the Japs, A.J. Foyt stood up and warned him. The drunk turned to Foyt and challenged him. It was a big mistake and Foyt knocked him COLD. Chickie was unmolested after that.

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 19:03

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 19:34

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 21:42

Great stuff, Ross!

You're right about Chickie, and I believe I even spotted Arthur Chevrolet in the footage, chatting as it was with Wilbur Shaw and Pete de Paolo!

Is there any way to watch the movie in full-screen mode - I couldn't detect the usual link for that!

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 03:17

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 09:09

I can only speculate: Takeo => small guy => feather weight => feathered animal => chicken => "Chickie"?

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 17:23

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 19:09

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 20:43

That gentleman was Art Sparks, the designer of the engine, and it was a "burned piston" - not caused by a rod, those usually pierce the block and/or crankcase when going haywire. I'm sure there are people in a better position to explain a burned piston, but generally it is caused by overheating, either by a water jacket failure or by ignition problems, i.e. wrong valve/ignition timing or fuel related problems, like "knocking".

Russ, again the question, how do you watch the footage full screen?

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 21:33

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 22:12

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 23:36

00'10" the "new" 6-cylinder Miller rear engine leaving the pits, driver George Barringer (?)
00'17" a Maserati 8CTF, presumably Lou Moore's
00'18" engine compartment of the Winfield V8, soon to become the famous Novi, "cleansing" in process
00'30" the 1936 Hartz/Offenauser, now owned by Boyle, driver George Connor, Cotton Henning to the left
00'40" Cotton working on the car, Connor looking on
00'48" and - WOOOOSH - Emil Andres in the 1939 Lencki rushing out of Gasoline Alley in the background!
00'50" engine compartment of the Miller 6
01'07" the Miller engine being cranked from the side, I believe that's Eddie Offutt handling the chore
01'10" the eventual winner, the 1939 Moore/Offenhauser, driver Floyd Davis, owner Lou Moore to the right
01'18" ... and off you go!
01'20" Moore again, working on the Maser
01'45" Hepburn and the Miller-Ford/Winfield, Bud Winfield to the left
01'54" Chet Miller in the 1938 Boyle/Miller front drive
02'03" Arthur Chevrolet, Wilbur Shaw and Pete de Paolo, chatting
02'30" some of these guys look familiar, but I can't put names to the faces
02'34" Hepburn accelerating past the Moore Maser
02'39" the new Walsh/Offenhauser, actually a 1932 Miller FWD with a new chassis made by Frank Kurtis, Ed Walsh far right with pipe, driver Sam Hanks to the left, Harry Stephens (?) in the middle
02'49" ?
02'53" Bud Winfield checking plugs on the "Novi"
03'12" Harry Hartz (?) to the right
03'14" Art Sparks and Chickie rebuilding an engine
03'35" check that piston
03'50" nice hole!
03'55" ... and in goes the cigarette!
04'00" the Moore Maser, again, driver Mauri Rose standing by
04'05" ... and arguing animatedly!
04'17" the Walsh/Offenhauser, again, and that looks like "Minnie" in the background, between them another car, looks like the 1934 Marks (?)
04'40" Ted Doescher (?) to the right
04'50" Seth Klein flagging
04'54" the "Novi" after qualifying (?), Bud Winfield in the black shirt
05'15" posing for the official qulaifying picture, Hepburn and Bud Winfield, Lew Welch (?) and Ed Vogel (?) (r-l)
05'22" Rex Mays in the 1938 Bowes starting up for his qualifying attempt
05'32" ... getting the white flag...
05'35" ... and the "checker", courtesy of Seth Klein
05'40" returning to the pits - pole position?
05'56" Chet Ricker in the timing booth
06'10" ... and the (in)famous "tape"
06'24" smiling Wilbur Shaw, pushing Boyle's Maserati 8CTF
06'35" cranking the Maser engine
06'50" receiving a note, presumably with Mays's times
07'00" ... and going for it!
07'10" ... white flag...
07'15" ... and "checker" - not enough!
07'30" Rose and Moore are ready!
07'42" ... and here's the "checker" - pole position!
07'50" satisfaction evident
07'53" Talbot '90130' ready for practice - I believe that's Jean Trévoux, probably René Le Bègue talking to him
08'08" Trévoux (?)
08'30" working on the Talbot engine
08'45" actually, that should be Talbot '90131' now, but I don't see the characteristic bulge on the bonnet, nor the open cockpit side!
08'55" "Pop" Myers, now I remember!
08'57" Rex Mays receiving a medal (?)
09'03" Wilbur Shaw ditto
09'10" Myers and Shaw
09'17" Kelly Petillo (?)...
09'20" ... Joe Thorne...
09'24" ... Mauri Rose...
09'28" ... and Wilbur Shaw receiving cheques in front of the Borg-Warner trophy - qualifying prizes?

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 00:35

09'30" the big fire!
10'00" what a mess!
10'15" remains of a car?
10'18" salvaging bits and pieces
10'30" oh dear!
10'35" a burned-out dirt car (?), possibly the 1940 Marks/Offenhauser (I have never seen a full list of all the cars consumed by the fire)
10'55" another wreck, and a spare Offy (?) engine
11'15" gloom!
11'18" and now for the parade!
11'35" the Boyle pit, with the Maser and the front drive behind it
11'40" someone's posing in the Bowes, with Lou Meyer and Wilbur Shaw attending - I don't quite recognise the man on the right
12'00" ... and more parades...
12'30" more people on the track than in the stands?
12'55" now for the serious business: Emil Andres warming up
13'00" last check on the Boyle Maser
13'05" Wilbur Shaw reversing into position...
13'10" ... and stopping right in front of the 1936 Shaw/Offenhauser, his winning mount in '37
13'15" Cotton Henning signing some sort of form - indemnity insurance?
13'22" ... and Shaw lighting a fag on the grid!
13'35" the rebuilt 1934 Marks/Offenhauser is wheeled into position
13'40" ditto Lencki's dirt car
13'45" Frank Brisko's Maserati 8CTF, to be driven by Duke Nalon
13'48" the Williams/Offenhauser front drive, and the Shaw/Offy to the right
13'52" Boyle Maser in foreground, Williams/Offy in background
13'55" ... and further back, the White/Alfa Romeo
13'57" Shaw still - I wonder if the Maser has an ash tray!
14'00" Chet Miller and the Boyle front drive, again
14'05" Lou Fageol's Miller-Ford/Offenhauser wheeled into position, for Mel Hansen
14'10" Petillo/Offenhauser (?) to the left
14'22" Doc Williams listening to Cotton Henning (?)
14'34" Rex Mays preparing to jump in... and yawning!
14'40" a jovial wave
14'43" "Pop" Myers, again
14'50" the Bowes team discussing strategy... or just relaxing, more likely
14'55" Moore in front of his Maser
15'00" Mays shaking hands with an official
15'08" the group photo, an old tradition that was not continued after WW2 (?), so perhaps the last ever
15'33" Myers and Ricker, checking time
15'43" Shaw going over to the Bowes crew to wish good luck
15'48" ... and Miller all ready to go
15'50" the cars are pushed off, Shaw is late in getting started
16'00" we see the 1933 White/Offenhauser and the 1938 Marchese/Miller rush past, then Hansen
16'05" the rear engine Miller has also trouble in getting going
16'10" oh dear! endless troubles...
16'20" the field is lined up behind the pace car
16'30" ... going slowly...
16'45" on the backstretch
16'50" ... and they are off!
17'05" Mays leads the first lap, then Shaw, Rose, McQuinn, Wearne, Bergere (?), Chet Miller, Devore, Hepburn, Saylor (?), Al Miller, Williams, Snowberger and the rest
17'50" pit stop for Mays (?)
18'38" smoke from the rear engine Miller!
18'54" another pit stop: Willman in the Lyons/Offenhauser (?)
19'00" pit boards go up
19'10" Turn 2 (?) - oh, that's frowned upon, eh, so Southeast corner - better?;)
19'19" Rose comes in!
19'40" the mechanics refuel, change plugs, wipe the screen...
19'55" ... and push start the recalcitrant Italian girl...
20'00" ... manhandle it back to the pit stall, from where it rejoins the race under its own power

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 01:32

20'35" pit stop for Mays!
21'00" fuel splashing over the seat - good thing that Mays had gotten out before!
21'05" ... and rejoinig the fray
21'15" Rose again at the pits, for another set of fresh plugs - but it's over
21'20" Rose and Moore confering...
21'28" "How's Floyd doing? Can you call him in?"
21'35" McQuinn is getting relief by Kelly Petillo, who has already retired - it's been a while since he last drove for White (1934!)
21'56" Joe Thorne with the back to the camera, reporting his retirement
22'10" ... and here's the reason: the wrecked Lencki of Andres...
22'22" ... and the "impression" Thorne made on the Lencki...
22'25" ... not that his 1937 Sparks-Thorne looked much better!
22'40" "P3" for Bergere!
22'45" Lou Moore in conversation with Davis (?)
22'49" ... and Rose, giving the spurs to the Moore/Offy!
22'51" Shaw, still leading (?)
22'58" a short glimpse of Ted Horn (1938 Sparks-Thorne) on the track
23'03" Shaw at the pits - water! That's not Wilbur's famous loving cup, is it?
23'22" team mate George Connor in for service
23'38" ... and now also Ted Horn
24'25" a caution period, 1941 vintage
24'35" Joie Chitwood at the pits
24'45" ... and the "Big Deacon" Litz in the Sampson 16 - never a slim guy, not even in his heyday!
25'00" he's not happy!
25'05" ... and heaves his big frame out of the car
25'10" Shaw in, again
25'12" another gulp from his, er, "cup"
25'17" it's hot, evidently!
25'40" is that a black flag?
25'48" Hepburn in for service
25'53" two drivers move in, hoping for a chance to relief the veteran...
26'15" ... but Ralph is having none of it!
26'20" Bud Winfield himself helps pushing him back into the race
26'25" Oops! one maroon Maserati, parked against a wall
26'30" quite a commotion, but Shaw will not be a four-time winner!
26'57" Nalon in, again - not a Maserati day!
27'02" Chet Miller at the Boyle pit
27'08" no air guns in 1941, changing tyres was hard work!
27'56" finally, the chequered flag - for Mauri Rose!
28'16" ... and for Mays, second best again!
28'22" wait a moment, which flag was for which car?
28'28" Horn is well practised in acknowledging that flag!
28'37" here's the winner - notice Floyd Davis by the gate, waving!
28'57" ... but it's Rose who gets swamped...
29'02" ... and his famous pipe set alight
29'25" there they are, the "co-winners", one can sense the awkwardness in Davis's movements
29'47" "Well, that's that then. Let's call it a day"
29'53" a short glimpse of Nalon, the last "finisher"...
29'56" ... and Mays, a good natured "loser" - Ah well, there's always next year...

Thanks for listening, good night and good luck! :yawn:

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 19:13

Jerry (and Dennis), thanks for that! I can watch this over and over again, you always see something new.

You may wanna check this out:

http://www.joost.com...q/t/Wilbur-Shaw

This is an incredible site, I just spent several hours watching lots of spectacular Indy footage, and I haven't even scratched the surface!

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 20:46

Damn you! I had to get two pocketbikes ready for Beth to race on Sunday, and now I'm trapped in front of the computer!!!



What a wonderful site!

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 21:06

Originally posted by MPea3
Damn you!

You're welcome!;)

Don't be too despondent - it wrecked my day, too!

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Posted 21 February 2009 - 21:22

Chickie Hirashima and his mentor Art Sparks
This is from Indy in 1941.

identification Michael Ferner - scanned for site Dennis Entin

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Posted 28 February 2009 - 20:25

Chickie Hirashima seen working on Watson Roadster
This picture is from about 1961.

photo- Lester Nehamkin

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 19:21

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Posted 02 March 2009 - 23:00

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Posted 04 March 2009 - 12:39

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Posted 04 March 2009 - 13:47

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Posted 04 March 2009 - 16:10

Rathmann had Yunick in '61, but Chickie was working for Leader Cards on their second car, before Jud Phillips joined in late 1962. Perhaps he was paying the Granatellis a visit...

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Posted 05 March 2009 - 10:29

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Posted 20 March 2009 - 19:52

Chickie Hirashima and Art Chrisman putting Indy Ford into 1967 Mustang.


Mario Andretti along side the 1967 Autolite Mustang

This was a project done on a stock bodied 1967 Mustang to see how fast it would go at Bonneville Salt Flats.
Chickie was working for Autolite Sparkplugs and the car was driven by Mario Andretti. He recorded a best speed of 175.875 mph. They had a piston go away and the runs were ended.


The Indy Ford had around 480 hp.
That radiator is out of an Indy Lotus. The front end of the car was modified by Race Car Engineering, it had a dropped tube type put in place of the stock Mustang setup. The wheels were by Cragar and besides Chickie and Art Chrisman, Ak Miller also pitched in on the project. It was ready to run in just 34 days.


photos Eric Rickman

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Posted 20 March 2009 - 20:47

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Posted 24 March 2009 - 09:11

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