Well, well, Michael. Your hunch looks to be correct - the Lincoln Star , Nebraska - June 28, 1931 refers to "Ernie Triplett, Los Angeles & Joe Thomas, Hammond, Indiana, both of whom qualified for last month's Indianapolis 500 classic".

Also, there is no news report I could see of Thomas returning, something, I would presume to be of some note to make a newspaper.

So, IF - and it's still an if - Thomas, might have, after all, moved to Indiana briefly & perhaps that reignited his interest - it's a different man - who is it?
There only seems one credible candidate census wise (but of course, censuses are notoriously fickle), but the census has him down as 49yr old, Yugoslav born "shearsman" (I think) at a car stop.

It's a big leap (not unknown, of course - Orstrander was a truck driver who fancied a crack - Paul Butler a taxi driver likewise who fancied a go) from that to a racing driver.

I, like Michael, would appreciate it if anyone could have more information on Joe's whereabouts & on this other Joe Thomas, if it is indeed a different man.

Nonetheless, thanks, Michael - even if it might lead to another mystery just as some are getting solved!

Well, you know, I like nothing more than keeping you busy!

Hmm, 49 years old you say? Might explain the rather poor performance - six-and-a-half minutes for ten miles isn't hot, even considering that the Finneran was the smallest car in the field, an only slightly bored-out Miller 91 shorn of its supercharger. But even the Diesel was more than twenty seconds faster! Mind you, eleven years earlier Joe Thomas (the board track veteran) qualified faster with the rather crude Monroe-Frontenac 4-cylinder, so he should've done better than that!

You're right about the missing "comeback story", which I also found irritating. But then again, right now I'm trying to determine the circumstances of Arvol Brunmier's comeback in 1946, and he was arguably a bigger star than Thomas, retired more "publicly" and was away twice as long, yet I can't find nary a word in the press - frustrating!

Just checking: Richie, how sure are you of your details for "Dusty" Fahrnow? You have his real name as Herbert, I have now found reference to William "Dusty" Farnow.

The Chester Times (PA), May 22 in 1935, had some detail about Johnny Hannon: born in Clifton Heights on Nov 9, 1908, where his father conducted a tailor (?) shop. He was married to Mary (22), and the father of two: Constance (3) and Marlene (14 months). Educated at St. Augusta parochial school in Bridgeport, he started out as a musician until losing (!) his clarinet. He then worked variously as an errand boy for a furniture store in Philadelphia, then for a plant that made radiator cores for automobiles and planes. Next he was an express truck driver between Philadelphia and New York.

Having been a pugilist from age 14 to 19, he gave that up for motor racing, and ran a garage on Elm street in Conshohocken "for some years. More recently he had been employed in a garage in Norristown, a short distance from where he lived on Knox street."

Pretty happy.
Remember, I have seen Shortly Cantlon referred to as Andrew!

The Zanesville, Ohio newspaper of 28 May 1934 refers to him as Herbert "Dusty" Fahrnow, plus I can't see any Farnows in Indiana in the 1930 census.

But I am open for debate...



Perfect, thanks Michael - that's another mystery sorted, without lifting a finger! 1 down, 147 to go, plus potentially, say 20-30 "Fines hmmmm possible mysteries?"

I'm not arguing Farnow, but can you perhaps find a William Fahrnow that would fit the criteria? Not that I rely too much on newspaper spellings, mind you, I could write a book about "typos" that would be a real hoot! But just sometimes you find a nugget...

Another thing I noticed, WATN doesn't have a birthday for Ernie Triplett. The San Mateo Times (CA) of Sep 24, 1932 goes to quite some lengths telling its readers "that Sunday is the speed king's birthday and he's especially anxious to cop first money in the main event as a natal day present." Didn't really work out as planned, Ernie finished only 6th, and to add to his sorrows Les Spangler continued to eat into his points lead with a 2nd place finish!

146 to go?

Yep!
This is piss easy - I should've got you to do the work ages ago, instead of going grey with worry if that fellow is THE Art Johnson and so on !

Only chappy that I can find for William Fahrnow is a Herman William Fahrnow, who was born in 1879, in Iowa, and who was a farm labourer. Me thinks not our man.
The only William Farnow in the nearest census - 1920 - is a William H. Farnow, a black labourer in North Carolina, born 1876. Me thinks again, not our man.

Latest updates are up, after an unavoidable delay - the update was done around May time, so it won't cover the recent sad passings of Andersson & Romano & a few bits & pieces since then. Regardless, again, there's a bit to report:

2008 WATN
John Andretti, Agathangelou, Bernoldi, Bremer, Dominguez, Dalziel, Doornbos, Eyckmans, Figge, Frentzen, Giebler, Goeters, Gabbiani, Heylen, D Hamilton, Hearn, Davidson, M Jourdain jr, Kerr, Luydenyk Jr, McDowell, Montagny, Moreno, Meneghello, Mazzacane, D Martinez, Borkowski, Carbonell, Pirro, Pizzonia, Perera, Preston, Rangoni, H Richards, Speed, HJ Stuck, Sato, A Suzuki, Viso, Tagliani, Tracy, Tuero, v d Merwe, V. Hooydonk, Toccaceol, Wardrop, Zoboli, Yasuakawa, A Wirth, Yoong

General WATN
Ma Andretti, Alliott, Ashley, Andy Brown, J Bailey, D Baldwin, Brandfon, Coffey, Capelli, Caliri, Caffi, Christiaens, da Matta, Decker, Fitch, Franchi, Goldsmith, E George, Bubby Jones, Kapitza, Irwin, Lawrence, Olsson, R Owen, Orr, Neve, Patrese, Pease, Ray, Reynolds, M Schumacher, Sears, Skelly, T Simpson, A Unser Jr, Tambay, Tarquini, Trolle, Wietzes, Zanardi

DIED
Daigh, W Ferguson, D Murphy, Neuman

NEW
Annala, Camara, F Galvin (added), Moraes

NEW INFO
Birthdate details: Baker, Chittum, Hahn, Melaun, McNay, E Ray, Sassetti (Partial), Sears, Shoaff (Partial), Woodford

Deathdate details: Babcock, Baker, Buxton, Gelnaw, Headley, Hahn, Klemos, Leisaw, McNay, Reynolds, Thiele, Whalen

Birthplace details: C Arnold, Coffey, Campeau, Cosman, D Day, Goode, Graemiger, Kapitza, MacDougall, Olsson, Perkins J, E Ray, Sassetti, Sears, T Simpson (partial)

Deathplace details: H Butcher, Broeker, Decker, Klemos, Lago, Reynolds, Theiel, P Warwick (amended), Whalen

Amended Info: McCluskey (birth year), Dawson (birthdate), Milton & Corum (deathdate), Reynolds (name!), J Thomas (birthplace)

OTHER
Casman changed to Cosman
Indy 500 & North American Racers changed to correct categories as a result of the Indy 500
All Indy 500 driver starts changed, likewise F1 for 2008 competitors
More spellings etc corrected
Blank entries are starting to be filled in, slowly but surely!
Indy Pro renamed to Indy Lights

THANKS
Randall Cook, Adam Ferrington, Peter Higham, Davide Marchi, Andrea Borsotti, LDS, Raoul le Duke, Peter Horsman, Michael Ferner, Ron Fellows, Ted Stoner, Hieronynmus, Rewind, Rick Kelly & especially so, Peter Olsson for coming on here & putting us all right!

Greg Weld

Richie!

Question: how sure are you of Roscoe Ford (b. 15 Apr 1897 in Edinburgh, Indiana/d. 19 Dec 1979 in Fort Pierce, Florida on WATN)?

I have him as Roscoe L. Ford, building and entering a McDowell-engined Sprint Car in about 1926 for Lou Moore to race mainly in South California, then from 1928 with Johnny Sawyer also in Midwestern events (Iowa, Illinois), then himself driving in South California, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Illinois until ca. 1930. His car, btw, got a Fronty engine in the meantime, and was later entered by Alvin Kingsley for Earl Mansell and others.

Now, by chance, I find this: http://70.230.83.139/Resurrection/BOW/view...sonID=RCC12389L - notice the middle initial! Checking on SSDI, this appears to be in Urbana/Champaign (IL), hometown of Don Branson btw.

Comments?

According to SSDI on rootsweb it isn't Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, but Urbana, Champaign, Ohio! Town and county are namesakes.

Um.. reasonably happy but open to suggestions.

This Roscoe L Ford's middle name was Laurence and lived all his life in Ohio by the looks of it - it appears he was a doctor going by the 1930 census. It also doesn't mention any business or car link in his WW2 draft registation card.

The small modicum of info I got from Donald Davidson about RF was that he was an Indiana based mechanic - which is what the 1897-1979 RF is.

Hoppla, you're right! What a coincidence!

Richie, Indiana based mechanic? Hmm. Difficult to be certain, but to me it looks more like California based, with a temporary (= for the month of May) residence near a certain speedway. On the other hand, by 1929 he may have relocated permanently...

Another thing, I understand you're going mostly after mechanics and the like, and that's probably quite an efficient way to go about obscure ones, but don't count out other occupations! Sadly, I haven't made notes (there's only so much you can put into a database :\), but I've come across a number of very interesting "civil" occupations for racing drivers...

Found a few things about Virgil Livengood from the Gary Evening Times from Gary (IN), which is part of the metropolitan area of Chicago, just like Livengood's hometown Hammond (IN), so that it is practically his "hometown paper". Date is May 27 in 1933, the day after the only day that Livengood made much of an "impact" (pun intended) in racing cycles.

Interesting that this paper, in contrast to almost all others, spells his name "Livingood"! It also reports him being a welder by occupation, and a stock car regular at Roby and Evanston Speedways. It makes a somewhat nebulous claim of him taking his first ride at the IMS on the day of the accident, but perhaps this is just hyperbole, not unusual in the context. More interesting are the personal details from the article: "Livingood is married and resides at 5334 Maywood avenue".

Btw, the accident happened at the end of lap 9 of ten of his qualifying attempt, and his average speed up to the time was reported as 103 mph. Good enough at the time to qualify, but he would've been bumped anyway.

Comes now the amateur skeptic from "recession-proof" Oklahoma City:

Lewis Strang was killed when his car toppled off of the road into a ditch while attempting to pass another vehicle at ~4 miles/hour.

He was employed at the time by the Case company. The event was a "reliability run". He was NOT an entrant in this event. He was still recovering from injuries he incurred at a race a week or two prior to this event. He might have been some kind of an official of the "reliability run", or he may have been serving in a public relations capacity for the Case company.

I am currently buried in paper from all of Motorsport Memorial's boat race fatalities, so I present the following from the "memory of a very tired researcher".

1) I have found at least two newspaper articles that state that Lewis Strang was born in Amsterdam, New York. His body was shipped to that mid-NY state town for burial. A sister was contacted by the Case company, asking for instructions for the burial. She was found in Brooklyn, NY. Another article states that Strang had three sisters. I found one Strang family in the 1900 U. S. Federal Census, which had a widow as the head of household, with four children - three daughters and one son. One of the daughters had the same name as the sister that was contacted by Case. The son was named Lewis. It would be a strange coincidence if this was some other Strang family.

2) Therefore, I challenge the information indicating that Lewis Strang was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

3) I also question the status of a "reliability run" to be in the same category as an automobile race. The general sense I have of these events is that they are more of a publicity promotion intended to display the viability of automobiles as vehicles for use to travel from city to city, and even from state to state, etc. Sometimes a driver is awarded a prize, but an original design element of a car might be awarded the top prize in a "reliability run" even though others had better finishing positions that the awardee.

4) Racing and hill climbing were popular events of the time. One must also consider that the Ford Model T went into production only three years before the accident that took Strang's life. The Interstate Highway was at least a half century in the future. Television was not yet available as an advertising medium. In my opinion, the "reliability run" was an early-day advertising and public relations event, not a "race".

When I dig down to my research papers I think I can come up with a date of birth (month and year only) of the Lewis Strang in the 1900 Census.

- - - -

Deeply saddened by Phil Hill's passing.

Rick Kelly
Oklahoma City

Pulled up the census report from 1900:

Head of household: Estelle L. P. Strang, born in November 1851.

Daughter: Angie L. Strang, born in December 1879.

Daughter: Elizabeth S, Strang, born in August 1886. (This is the name of the Case company's contact.)

Son: Lewis P. Strang, born in August 1884.

Daughter: Christeanne (sic?) M. Strang, born in February, 1891.

All of the family were born in New York State. Their residence at the time of the 1900 census was in Manhattan, New York.

- - - -

As you know, the 1890 census was mostly destroyed by a fire, so I could not find any information from that date.

Strang was a very active auto competitor. I came up with more than one hundred "hits" when I searched his name in The New York Times from 1900 to 1912. That amount of coverage suggests that he was a New York boy.

- - - -

Phil Hill came up with more than two thousand "hits" when I searched his name in The New York Times. He was often described as the "only American-born" F-1 champion. Hope Mario Andretti does not feel slighted, just because he was born in Trieste. Two birds, of very different feathers, but both great drivers and gentlemen.

Rick Kelly
Oklahoma City

Rick, I too have seen those reports saying Strang was from Amsterdam. However, I was told in no uncertain terms that the information was wrong & in fact he was from Georgia, and then moved to NY in the early 1890's. That having been said, I can't find much evidence to really back this up. The NY passenger ship index also seems to indicate LS was from NY & born in 1884.

I think the confusion here has developed from the fact that in a couple of reports in the Atlanta Constitution, Strang is referred to as a "local boy". However the newspapers may have possibly been a feed from NY, which the Constitution perhaps didn't correct?

Nonetheless, I shall change it as I have the same information in my files.




I have not put any information saying that the "reliability run" is an automobile race though - just the basic info.

I am questioning Bill Denver's birthdate, as his age is consistently given as 32 at time of death! What do we have to support either date/year?

I'm also questioning the first name of his riding mechanic, Hugh Hurst: most accounts give his name as Bob, some call him Robert Hurst, some Robert U. Hurst, at least one calls him "Happy" Hurst. I'd guess that "Hugh" is a mistake that crept in because of his middle initial, which would sound alike. Btw, his age is consistently given as 31, and his hometown as Indianapolis.

Oh, and both were reported as being married, maybe that'll help?

Another thing worth mentioning - while Newspaperarchive is still down - is that Denver crashed on the first lap of his qualification attempt, and that it may well have been the first time he ever drove the car! I believe, though, that it was the same car he had driven a couple years earlier at Altoona and Syracuse, but at his stage I can't be sure. What is sure, however, is that the car was entered for fellow Pennsylvanian Al Aspen in 1933, and that Aspen had crashed it on his first qualification attempt on the preceding Monday.

On the eve of the day of the Denver accident, the car was reported to be in the process of being repaired and readied for another attempt by Aspen! Since that accident happened on a rather busy "bump day", with a record (for the year) fourteen drivers qualifying even before rain halted proceedings, it appears very unlikely that Denver could have practised in the car - remember, this was the year that ten-lap trials were introduced in place of the usual four-lap runs!

Another thing, for the trivia lovers: Aspen crashed the car on the first day of the week at the South-West Turn (#1), while Denver crashed the same car on the last day of the week at the North-East Turn (#3), the opposite part of the track. Aspen's riding mechanic, btw, was not Hurst but another Pennsylvanian, Mitz Davis.

Richie, I see that you have Martín de Alzaga's birthdate as January 25 - most online sources have January 10!

Who shall we put our trust in?

"Most"? Only pilotosmuertos seem to have the 10th, most have the 25th. The 25th came from a very trusted Argentine source who found a newspaper biography that mentioned the date.

Besides 10/01/01 looks just a teeny little dodgy to me...

I'll change if it if need be, but not solely on the word of pilotosmuertos, who have Aldo Franchi as died 1920, after all, I'll need a bit more proof to change it to the 25th - the only source on the Spanish Wikipedia page that mentions the 10th is pilotosmuertos - none of the others do.

Oooooops!

Perhaps I was a little bit fast, but the Spanish Wikipedia also show January 10! Actually, it seems that only English language sites show Jan 25, while only Spanish language sites show Jan 10... Hmm.

A small, but no less significant update - the next one will be the annual winter movathon/update/slog.

What's worth mentioning is longer readers of WATN will notice a heck more information in the driver section, as suggested re. de Beaufort and so many others. When looking through, it was somewhat scandalous that obscure F3000 drivers or one-time Indy 500 non-qualifiers got more write up than Hill, Pryce, de Beaufort, de Portago etc.

Without becoming too much of a profile site, and to stay to the essence of what I am trying to do here, there has been a lot more filling in the gaps. This is still being undertaken & will be completed next update.

A lot of work is being done behind the scenes on this & smoothing the whole thing from top-to-toe - hopefully if all goes reasonably well, then F2/GP2 may make an appearance in 2009 - apt if this so-called F2 comes back onto the scene.

Anyway latest updates:

2008/09 Updates
Coulthard, Davidson, Dixon, Doornbos, Franchitti, Ganassi, Glock, Guerreri, Gounon, Keen, Lazier, Karthekiyan, Leinders, M Jourdain Jr, Kristensen, Mears Ca, McNish, Nissany, Pera, Paffett, Nakajima K, Schiattarella, Spataro, T Stewart, Schneider, Tredozi, Tracy

General Updates
Barbazza, M Ferte, D Gibson, F Giaffone, Guelfi, Inoue, Herta, Kiesa, McKenna, Nannini, von Opel, Roos, Salles, Surtees, Trolle, Vanderpleyn, Whittington Do & B, West, Vettel, Webber, Yamamoto, Wheldon

Deaths (Done before Phil Hill's sad passing)
O Andersson, M Romano, Weld

New Information
F Clemons - change of deathplace & date & WATN info
Hannon - birthdate & WATN info
P Russo - changed deathdate
Scheel - full birth & death information, plus WATN
triplett - birthplace


Other
Herb Hill's dates removed for now
GP totals updated

Thanks!
Ron Dowle, Michael Ferner, Gergely, David Hyland & a big merci beaucoup to Michel Trolle!

Michel Trolle? Where did he spring from?


I dunno, in some ways I'd rather read about Wladimiro de Tomaso or Rex Easton or Nino Fama than drivers that have had books written about them...

Well, that essentially is still the focus - the Domenico Gittos & Herbert Scheels (great story - became Indiana Jones almost after racing) of this world are still the ones I like solving & telling the world. I find it shocking that Marzio Romano's death was not better reported within the sport - yes he was a F3000 nobody, but he still made it to that level - and that level is of some significance, after all.

But if WATN is going to concentrate on history, it needs just a little padding out, a la Horace Gould. The trouble is, you pad it out for one, you have to pad it out for 700 odd, which is what I've been doing - but it's been quite fun with the more obscurer chappies.



Oh, Trolle sprang from his e-mail.

Well done, Richie!

But, to keep you on your toes ;), I have another query: Dave Evans, listed by John Printz as b. 1898, d. 1974, and by WATN as b. 1898-08-31 in Los Angeles, California, d. 1974-03-31 in Dell, Montana. So far, so fine.

I was trying to determine where he came from, finding him most often listed as Texan or "native Oklahomian", but also as residing in Indiana or Michigan. So, was he really born in California? I decided to check SSDI, and to my surprise I can't find any David Evans born in 1898 and died in 1974 but, lo and behold, I find one b. 1895-08-31, d. 1974-03, with a SSN issued in Massachusetts (!), and last residence as Dell, Montana! Hm.

Questions: is this "your" man? How come he is born exactly three years earlier, a typo in SSDI or WATN? To be honest, I can't see this man to be the right one, as he would appear to be too old (I would have thought him rather younger than older as 30 in 1928!), and from the wrong part of the country - I can't see no connections to New England at all!

For the record, I have his "full" name as David E. Evans, hometowns variously as Dallas or San Antonio (TX), Indianapolis, Evansville, Columbus (IN) or Detroit (MI) and once even Los Angeles!

Good that he's still active. He always seemed a decent sort till his big accident.

Maybe my memory is playing me false but I don't think Dave Evans was his real and actual name. I believe I came across a reference to his real name somewhere, but can't remember where. Something more like "Skoat" for his last name.

Interesting! Do you recall where your "life span data" (1898-1974) came from? An obit? Can we at least "nail" his death date?

Initial response is that I believe most of this info was in the public domain before I got my hands on it, and I simply tidied it up. I also think DD had helped me with the tidying.

Anyway, having researched this, I can indeed confirm that death date - his obituary is in the Billings Gazette, Montana, age listed as 75 (and it most certainly him, not any old DE)- which matches most online data checks bar the SSDI, hence my 1898 date and not the SSDI date in 1895. The date of death is "Sunday", with the paper published as 2nd April 1974.

It was also reprinted in the Frederick News, Maryland the following day.

From that information, the rest was garnered to tidy it all up.

I am sure we have had the discussion before about how you thought he was too old/too young?

Nonono, that was Eddie O'Donnell and Mel Hansen!

Thinking about it, three years isn't that much, and though he looked very young he may have been that old. I am more concerned about the Massachusetts bit! It's confusing! What about the birthplace, was that also from the obit?

and a few more besides I think!

The Massachussetts bit is only where the SSDI Licence was awarded - this can sometimes be a misnomer. Often these were done post-WW2, so it is likely he would've moved - again - after the war for this to be the case.

This is the link to the obituary - on further reading, it actually states he died in Dillon, not Dell, so that's one change you can do!

http://content.ancestry.com/browse/view.as...=67,529,165,558;181,529,246,558;311,529,376,558;392,529,490,558;713,1946,767,1975&pid=510789655&ssrc=&fn=&ln=Record+Dave+Evans+from+1974-1974&st=g

It refers to him as a "Native" of Fort Worth, Texas, but does also mention that before he became a racer, he was an aviator in California & he did this from an early age.. so make of that what you will - but the California early link is there & it is supported by ship passenger info.

A chance finding of an article about a chance meeting, and I can offer a bit of info on one-time Indy 500 starter Art Johnson! Yes, I know you have him listed, but not much detail, and I guess with a name like that there's scope for improvement. My source is The Dothan Eagle from Sunday, Feb 1 in 1948, page 17, and it says that "Johnson is secretary of the Dothan Chamber of Commerce". Dothan is in Alabama, by the way.

How do I know it's the right Arthur Johnson? Well, it so happened that a "sales engineer for Studebaker motors" came into town, and Johnson recognised the man from his days as a Duesenberg driver, and vice versa. The Studebaker man was a junior mechanic back in the mid-teens, racing cyclecars in his spare time and sometimes as a riding mechanic with the Duesenberg stars, such as Roscoe Sarles and Eddie Hearne. His name? Harry Hartz...

Cheers, Michael.

All I know of Johnson is his middle name was beginning with H.

Donald Davidson said he died around 1950, but in Chicago, Illinois, where he apparently ran a garage.

So I am confused now - the man above is clearly THE AHJ, but Dothan, Alabama is quite a different destination to what I had! Apparently AJ quit as Dothan Chamber of Commerce head on March 8, 1948, for what it is worth....

With Mel Hansen being brought up...

I spent a few hours each of the two previous days (which would be Wednesday and Thursday ) at the San Bernardino main library.

Amongst the many things I looked up for several people and my own self, was Mel Hansen's obituary. The San Bernardino newspaper didn't have a formal obituary section during that time. Just a listing of births and deaths and a column listing funeral arrangements, strangely titled "In The Shadows". Mel Hansen turned up in both columns, listed as a native of Redfield, South Dakota and a '"36 year resident of the area". Not a mention of his racing career. And his birthdate was given as the one Richard and I came up with.

And, it turns out he was interred less than a mile and a half from where I lived as a child.

And an item in the San Bernardino newspaper on Leon Duray's death places his passing in Twentynine Palms, California. The item, which I eerily cranked the microfilm right to, indicated he'd lived in the Twentynine Palms area for 10 years.

A geographical explanation. San Bernardino County is huge. It is the largest county in the U.S., larger than many states and countries. Thus, someone passing away in an outlying community (like Apple Valley or Needles) would be mentioned in their local paper, but not appear in the San Bernardino newspaper. Duray is an exception due to his fame.

And for a follow-up on Harry Stockman, please see my reply in "The case of Jimmy Davies" thread (even though that really should be over here).

... and was reported seriously ill in June! After that, no trace of him in the Dothan Eagle, although I'm not sure if the paper is complete at newspaperArchive. It's frustrating sometimes, when the collection suddenly stops, or sometimes even has big gaps in it! However, it may be a pointer to his leaving the town, but he definitely spent five very active years in Dotham (AL)!

Btw, does anybody here know what a "sales engineer" is? I know, there are people who engineer sales (figures), but I guess that's a different thing...

Excuse me,
I'm an italian motor racing fan. I discovered WATN 7 years ago and appreciate very you fantastic job.

I have searched many info in last months and now I want to signal some small things in order to give my little contribution in some way.

Excused my schematic exposure of the data and this long post:


SECTION: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVERS

Bandini, birthplace is Barce, Cirenaica (now renamed Al-Marj, province of Al-Fâtîh)
source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/365580/al-Marj

Bianco (Bertetti), died with "esophagus problems" in Rio de Janeiro (there's a little typewriting error with Janiero)
source: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Loge/5955/gbi.htm

Brambilla Vittorio, deathplace is named only Camparada. There isn't in Italy the town of "Camparada di Lesmo". There are "Camparada" and "Lesmo". (I live within 30 kms from Camparada!).
source: http://www.provincia.milano.it/area_metrop...muni.html?id=38
http://www.provincia.milano.it/area_metrop...muni.html?id=91
and a photo: http://www.olmobronzino.net/treni/foto/2004/27_2004.jpg

Broeker, deathplace is Pointe-Claire instead of Point Claire
source: http://www.ville.pointe-claire.qc.ca/

Cantrell Willard, should be 1953 as reported in this source: http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/CantrellBilly.htm and also reported in this forum: http://forums.autosport.com/showthread.php...8976#post838976

Chapman, deathplace is East Carleton, Norwich, Norfolk instead of East Carelton
source: http://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/democracy/...eton_parish.asp

Christie, birthplace is Grant Pass, Oregon instead of Grant's Pass, Oregon (written also in the biography)
source: http://www.ci.grants-pass.or.us/

De Graffenried, deathplace is only Lonay, near Lausanne, swiss canton of Vaud, instead of Lonay-Lausanne
source: http://www.lonay.ch/

De Portago, deathplace exactly in the town of Cavriana, in which town there is a monument:
http://www.modelfoxbrianza.it/diorami/MMDE...O/cavriana2.jpg

Doornbos, in the biography there is a typewriting error with Klein/Klien

also in D'Orey's biography there is Janiero instead of Janeiro

Dusio, birthplace is only Scurzolengo, province of Asti, not Scurzolengo d'Asti
source: officiale province site http://www.provincia.asti.it/wwwcomuni/paesi.htm
and http://piemonte.indettaglio.it/ita/comuni/...curzolengo.html

Fangio, deathplace should be Balcarce, Buenos Aires as it has been indicated in the biography section

Fraser, birthplace it should be Recife, Pernambuco as suggested by
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Loge/5955/hmf57.htm

Ghinzani, birthplace in 1952 is Riviera d'Adda, city created in 1928 and from 1970 redivided in the two distinct town of origins, Medolago and Solza. Ghinzani born in the section now recalled Medolago. (I live within 15 kms from Medolago and I have accidentally met exactly Ghinzani!!).
source: http://www.comune.solza.bg.it/cenni_storici.asp

Goethals, birthplace is Heule instead of Huele
source: http://users.telenet.be/johan.roelstraete/hkheule.htm

Guelfi, birthplace is El Jadida instead of Al-Jadida
source: http://www.eljadida.com/ (temporarily offline)
and http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1058

Heath, birthplace should be Saskatoon, province of Saskatchewan as indicated in
http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/HeathAllen.htm
and also in this forum http://forums.autosport.com/showthread.php...6351#post766351

Krakau, birthplace in 1911 is only Felgeleben, indipendent city until 1923 (Merged with Schönebeck). There are several Schönebeck in Germany. The one that incorporated Felgeleben is in the collective municipality of Schönebeck (Elbe), in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, therefore the birthplace it should be "Felgeleben (now Schönebeck (Elbe))"
source: http://www.schoenebeck.de/09/pdfdata/Broschfelgeleben.pdf
and http://www.felgeleben.de/ (in the Historie section)

Lucienbonnet, killed at the scene in the circuit of Pergusa during the "Gran Premio Pergusa Formula Junior"
source: http://www.formula2.net/FJ62_E49.htm

Maggs, in the biography section, the crash of Maggs was in 1965 instead of 1966, precisely 20 June during the Natal Winter Trophy at Pietermaritzburg (Roy Hesketh) circuit
source: http://grandprix.com/gpe/drv-magton.html
and http://www.sundayindependent.co.za/index.p...ticleId=2390910

Martini, birthplace is only Lugo, province of Ravenna. There isn't the town of "Lugo di Romagna"
source: http://www.comune.lugo.ra.it/

Munaron, in the biography section, "his home in Castelnuovo Belbo", near Asti. There are several Castelnuovo in Italy.
source: http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2001/ap...104211060.shtml
(in this article there is also a short biography of Munaron after F1). It's in italian, if you want I translate it in english.

Oakes, deathplace is Huntington Beach, instead of Huntingdon Beach
source: http://www.surfcity-hb.org/

Pace, deathplace should be exactly Mairiporã, near Sao Paulo
source: http://grandprix.com/gpe/drv-paccar.html
and http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Loge/5955/f1arq/joc.htm

Rees, birthplace is Langstone (or Llangstone is a welsh syntax?)
source: http://www.langstonecc.org.uk/

Regazzoni, deathplace exactly is Fontevivo, near Parma
source: http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/di...061216029.shtml
and http://www.repubblica.it/2006/11/motori/di...-ragazzoni.html

Rosier, his fatal accident should be during the race not practice as reported in
http://www.wspr-racing.com/wspr/results/no...amp1956.html#76
http://grandprix.com/gpe/drv-roslou.html
http://forums.autosport.com/showthread.php...810#post1428810

Ryan, deathplace is Paris or however not Reims circuit infact the race was held on 01/07/62 and he died the next day 02/07/62
source: http://www.formula2.net/FJ62_E37.htm

Scarfiotti, first name it could be "Lodovico" instead of "Ludovico". His nicknames are "Lulù" and "Dodo". His first name should be given in order to remember the grandfather and first president of FIAT, Lodovico Scarfiotti, born in Torino (21/01/1862), dead in Torino (19/05/1924), also driver in the early racing.

Solana, deathplace exactly in the town "Donato Guerra", near Valle de Bravo
source: http://www.jsolana.com.mx/moises/

Weyant, birthplace is St. Marys, Ohio, instead of St. Mary's
source: http://www.cityofstmarys.net/

Zanardi, birthplace is Castel Maggiore instead of Castelmaggiore
source: http://www.comune.castel-maggiore.bo.it/

in the biography of Caffi, the exact names are Duilio Truffo and Franciacorta

There are two Winkelhock Joachim in the section, completely similar in birthdate and biography

Winkelhock Markus, birthplace is Bad Cannstatt instead of Bad Canstatt, the same place of the driver Lang

The three drivers Daigh, Hahn e Schroeder Bob (he is the other Schroeder) are in the Indy 500 drivers section with respectively: 1959, 1952 and 1959 years of activity. They would not have to be correct/inserted also in the world championship drivers?

and finally from various site, not confirmed source I have found:
Nakajima Kazuki, birthplace is Okazaki City, in the prefecture of Aichi, the same city of father
Yamamoto, birthplace is Toyohashi, in the prefecture of Aichi
Hoshino, birthplace is Shizuoka (city), in the prefecture of Shizuoka

and last but not least, Liuzzi, birthplace it could be Locorotondo instead of Bari
source: (Liuzzi website) http://www.suttonimages.com/fotoweb/liuzzi/about.asp
but in this site the birthyear is 1980 instead of correct 1981...
-------------
I do not have the pretension of the truth but I at least hope not to have bored you.

Goodbye

Re : Bob Simbel's post -

Wow!

Great work.

Now all he needs to do is show Ferrari how to stop making mistakes!

Rick Kelly
Oklahoma City

Hi Bob, thanks for the kind words and the information here - most of it is quite rightly, spot on, but a couple of comments with some of them:-



Yes, this seems like a website gremlin, because I checked my database where the information comes from & there's only the one entry. I'll have a word with Allen on this one.



When Rees was born there, Llangstone, in Monmouthshire, was still known as Llangstone in the parish records & Newport's birth certificates. Indeed, the town is now Langstone - you are quite right. However, the birth certificate, which I have in front of me (given to me by Adam Ferrington who may be able to scan a copy?), it says born 12th January 1938, Cartry Llangstone Magor & St. Mellons R. D., Caerleon, Monmouthshire. It is typed as well, so it's not a human mistake or flourish with the pen. So, both are correct, to be honest, but I have to go by what it says on the birth certificate.


Yep, this one has been pointed out by Jim Thurman recently, but thanks for a second pair of eyes checking it.



My understanding, backed up by this article is that both Cyrenaica & Cirenaica can be used. Cirenaica was only used when the Italians occupied it, but Cyrenaica is the long-time historical name of the area, named after Cyrene, the colony from where it all evolved?

Christie, birthplace is Grant Pass, Oregon instead of Grant's Pass, Oregon (written also in the biography)

Just to clear this one up, it should be Grants Pass, spelt without the apostrophe. I think that’s what you meant though.

Doornbos, in the biography there is a typewriting error with Klein/Klien

Thanks. Again I noted this just after the last update – I have to change his entry to a more up to date version anyway, but that’ll help remind me.

Fangio, deathplace should be Balcarce, Buenos Aires as it has been indicated in the biography section

Actually I think I am a bit confused now. I seem to remember the original reports saying Buenos Aires, then someone in Argentina said “No, he died at home”, but most sources say a hospital in Buenos Aires? Does anybody know?

Ghinzani, birthplace in 1952 is Riviera d'Adda, city created in 1928 and from 1970 redivided in the two distinct town of origins, Medolago and Solza. Ghinzani born in the section now recalled Medolago. source: http://www.comune.solza.bg.it/cenni_storici.asp

So Riviera d’Adda is correct because he was born there before 1970, but perhaps a note in the birthplace column would be right, is that what you’re saying?

not confirmed source I have found:
Nakajima Kazuki, birthplace is Okazaki City, in the prefecture of Aichi, the same city of father
Yamamoto, birthplace is Toyohashi, in the prefecture of Aichi
Hoshino, birthplace is Shizuoka (city), in the prefecture of Shizuoka

and last but not least, Liuzzi, birthplace it could be Locorotondo instead of Bari
source: (Liuzzi website) http://www.suttonimages.com/fotoweb/liuzzi/about.asp
but in this site the birthyear is 1980 instead of correct 1981...
-------------

I tend to go by drivers websites if at all possible. But I think you’ve got a good point because its similar to say London, or New York – just because it’s Japan doesn’t mean I can be any lazier.

Liuzzi though.. hmmm… The one problem with the websites is that often drivers will fudge their ages. I have also seen Pescara as his place of birth? What would you suggest, Bob? Or what do you think your gut instinct is?


All of the below though, fine, many thanks, no probs & I'll change at the next update - probably within the next month.

Yes, you’re right.

Guilty!

That wasn't the word I was going to suggest to you, Allen!


I think there are already too many Winkelhocks in WATN without starting to add identical twins

Juan Manuel Fangio died in a hospital in Buenos Aires.

He was hospitalized with pneumonia, and had been suffering from kidney failure for several months.

Source - NYT, 18 July 1995. Their source, Marcelo Gaffoglio, who represented Fangio in the U. S.

Rick Kelly
Oklahoma City

Richard, per your request, here is Alan Rees' birth certificate

Oakes:

perhaps the misunderstanding was born because "Huntingdon" name is famous to be the Lola's home...

Bandini:

yes, Cyrenaica or Cirenaica can be used, I agree. I would only notify the new name of the city (now Al-Marj, province of Al-Fâtîh) as you wrote for Mitter (Schonlinde (now Krasna Lipa))

Fangio:

effectively my memory sayd "in hospital" but i didn't know if there is an hospital in balcarce....

Ghinzani:

exactly! like for the case of Mitter it should be Ghinzani born in "Riviera d'Adda (now Medolago)"
moreover he is a customer of the bank in which I have a job!! he's filed as Monte-Carlo's resident but this info is years old and is years old that he doesn't appear in the bank...

Liuzzi:

some thoughts:
1)in 1980/81 in Italy the birth happened by now in the hospitals and very rarely at home... and there isn't hospital in Locorotondo...
2)there are 68kms from Locorotondo to Bari (it takes over 1 hour by car)
3)in the phone guide there are several "Liuzzi" in Bari, but also several "Liuzzi" in Locorotondo (there also a phone number of a "Liuzzi Vitantonio"... Liuzzi F1 number?!? http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi?bt...ocorotondo&ind=)
but
I agree with you when you said that generical (international) info is London, detailed is a town near London, so generical info is Bari, detailed is Locorotondo.
I think, I believe that Liuzzi's birthplace is Locorotondo, province of Bari.


cheers

Thanks for that Bob. I'll update it as per necessary.

Latest updates:

2008/2009 WATN
Auinger, Mic. Andretti, Briscoe, Badoer, Caffi, Campos, Dalziel, Dixon, de Montzemolo, Doornbos, Franchitti, Gommendy, Ganassi, Grasotto, M Gene, Heidfeld, Kerr, Kessel, Klien, D Martinez, Magnussen, Menu, Montoya, Magnussen, N Phillippe, Perera, Pastorelli, Pizzonia, Rosa, G Rahal, Rinland, Rangoni, T Suzuki, Schie, Speed, Toccacelo, Tagliani, Viso, Yeley, Vettel, Verdonck, Van Hool, Zakowski

General WATN
Colotti, Aspen, Frere, Guilpin, R Harris, Hahne, Knycz, Kraus, Lancia, Livengood, T Martini, Merkel, Morton W, Manzon, Marmiroli, Palmer, Perrot, M Shaw, Toleman, Valentini, Van Rooyen

DIED
Colotti, P Hill

NEW
Barrett, Matos

NEW INFO
Birthdate details: Valentini, Marmiroli, Tolentino, R Harris, Kraus, Schmid

Deathdate details: R Harris, Kraus, Schmid

Birthplace details: A Brown, T Martini, Marmiroli, Wall

Deathplace details: de Portago, Lucienbonnet, Pace, Regazzoni, Solana

CHANGED INFO
Birthplace K Nakajima, Yamamoto, Hoshino, Liuzzi, Fraser, Heath, J rose, Bandini, Ghinzani, Krakau, PL Martini, Dusio, Strang
Deathplace P Ryan, Carey, L Duray, A Gordon, D Evans, Dn Murphy, Mosley, E Meyer, Stockman, V Brambilla
Birthdate Strang

Spellings changed in birth or deathplace: Birth: Christie, Goethals, Guelfi, Weyant, Zanardi, Mrk Winkelhock
Death: Oakes, Broeker, Chapman, de Graffenried.

OTHER
Spellings etc. A lot of Bob's post above has been incorporated in.
GP totals updated.
FINALLY - all WATN blanks or basic info have been added - wherever possible, every single entry has a much more fuller profile, without it being a full biography. Hopefully this will enhance the whole thing, especially some of the more obscure names.

THANKS
Dan Axelsson, Reinhard "Rewind", Adam Ferrington, Ingrid Merkel, Bob Simbel, Michael Ferner, Rick Kelly, Gergely, Ralf Friese at Audi, Tweddell, Jim Thurman, Frank de Jong & Paolo Colotti

Has the case of Al Theisen been cleared?

I see that the Champcarstats.com website gives his birthday as 05 January 1906.

Nit-picker at work:

Eddie Rickenbacker: (Not Rickenbacher)

Born: Edward Reichenbacher (no middle name or initial)

Changed spelling of surname to Rickenbacker

added middle name of Vernon to endow some "class" to his name.

- - - -

Wiki is wrong, and should never be relied upon for correct facts; a good starting point, but their writers rely on other unreliable sources.

Example, date of birth of John Moisant (1870) is based on a bronze plaque (1868), not on a grave marker. True date of birth is on his first passport application. Being a person of international intrigue, with the U.S. Navy called upon to save his butt, his second application used the birth year and identity of a cousin of same name (1874), but four years younger. They didn't have computers in 1910, but I wouldn't be surprised if his name is on the current list of "persons of interest" used to clear airline passengers of security risks.

{Moisant was an air racer, not an Indy racer, so don't look for him in WATN. The New Orleans airport was named in his honor for a number of years, but was re-named after a trumpet player.)

Rick Kelly
Oklahoma City

Hmmm.. how intriguing.

Well, Champ Car Stats does bring a fair bit of new info up - Larry Wall's birth info was from there, so one presumes it is reliable.
Certainly that project mentioned has been extremely thorough, so if it's a by-product of that, I wouldn't be surprised.

Richard,

A couple of items...

On Mike Mosley's entry, it's near Aguanga (no 'a' between the n and g) for place of death.

Look at it as making up for my missing Grant's Pass

And I neglected to mention that in my research at the San Bernardino library, the obituary for Mel Hansen did not clarify whether he died in hospital or at home. If he passed away at home, it would be Bloomington, CA, where he had resided for several years. If it was a hospital, it could be any number of communities around the San Bernardino area. A death certificate would be the only likely confirmation. Sorry :\