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Aboriginal or indigenous drivers


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#1 275 GTB-4

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Posted 31 March 2013 - 08:44

Reading about the Kelly Bros in V8 Supercars relationship with an aboriginal group....got me thinking that this might be a good thread starter ...

http://www.foxsports...47#.UVf0EBW4YqI

So...worldwide...who were they? not people that were some fraction of native....but full blood, card carrying Aboriginal or Indigenous racing drivers....

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 31 March 2013 - 08:45.


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#2 DJH

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Posted 31 March 2013 - 09:20

Reading about the Kelly Bros in V8 Supercars relationship with an aboriginal group....got me thinking that this might be a good thread starter ...

http://www.foxsports...47#.UVf0EBW4YqI

So...worldwide...who were they? not people that were some fraction of native....but full blood, card carrying Aboriginal or Indigenous racing drivers....

I have a vague recollection of the late Lionel Rose driving a series production Monaro at Sandown long ago. Perhaps it was a promo event for the '68 world champ.

Edited by DJH, 31 March 2013 - 09:59.


#3 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 31 March 2013 - 10:19

I know of a few people of aboriginal blood that have raced at different branches of the sport at various times. Though none near full blood.

#4 275 GTB-4

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Posted 31 March 2013 - 10:33

I have a vague recollection of the late Lionel Rose driving a series production Monaro at Sandown long ago. Perhaps it was a promo event for the '68 world champ.


I think you are correct...

http://nla.gov.au/nla.oh-vn4458102

BTW....this thread is not supposed to be Aussie-centric....for example, any North American Indians that were hot foots? (no pun intended :blush: )

#5 Rob G

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Posted 31 March 2013 - 12:56

Cory Witherill is the most accomplished Native American racing driver. He's the only full-blooded Native American to ever race in the Indy 500.

#6 RStock

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Posted 31 March 2013 - 17:29

There was a David? Daniel? Walking Stick that competed in USAC Sprint/Champ cars back in the 70's. He was at least part Native American.

EDIT : It was Jerry Walkingstick, out of Oklahoma, full Native American, and looks like he was more of a Supermod driver, I can only find him listed in one USAC race. I recall seeing him on one of the televised sprint car races from back in the 70's. Yes, ABC used to show some, as a part of The Wide World of Sports I believe. I could have sworn those were USAC races, so that must have been the one time he competed with them, unless the USAC record is incomplete. I do remember his name well however, he was a strong runner and I'm sure I probably also saw him at Devil's Bowl or another local track.

Edited by RStock, 31 March 2013 - 17:39.


#7 E1pix

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Posted 01 April 2013 - 01:29

There was a midget racer in the Midwest in the '60s named David Whitehorse. I cannot recall the tribe but was often told he was a full-blooded native.

Sadly he was killed in early summer of 1966, at Hales Corners, Wisconsin. I was not quite 6 and it happened right in front of us.

#8 Stinky

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Posted 01 April 2013 - 02:24

Hullo Guys;
Lionel Rose had a couple of runs in the HDT XU1,s too.
One meeting at Oran Park first practice session after around 5 o 6 laps his times were in the Grice,Morris category.
He had never seen the circuit before!!
In the next session he was second in times to Brock (around a second behind him.)
As a driver he was smooth,very quick and his reflexes were unbelievable!! :clap:
Really,it was a pity he did not carry on driving.
With his natural talent he would have gone a very long way I think.
Cheers.
Roger. :wave:

#9 Patrick Fletcher

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Posted 04 May 2013 - 11:47

During the late 80's early 90's a young radio jock by the name of James Daniels started racing MINI7 in Christchurch NZ. James was maori and very keen on his racing.
His co-host Ken Ellis on 91ZM often would have James talking about his racing in between playing music.
One morning not long after James had a big crash at Wigram his co-host was asking James about the colours and meaning of the flags used at all circuits.
All was going very well until they got to the black flag.
There was a silence and the young driver came back with " the black flag now means we own all the circuits"
Still makes me laugh as it was so unexpected but so funny in a city like Christchurch!

Edited by Patrick Fletcher, 04 May 2013 - 11:48.


#10 Doug Nye

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Posted 04 May 2013 - 19:36

Indigenous drivers? Surely Dick Seaman, Jean Behra, Jacques Laffite, Michele Alboreto, Manfred von Brauchitsch, Michael Schumacher, Jensen Button all qualify? :confused:

DCN



#11 GMACKIE

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Posted 04 May 2013 - 20:50

Indigenous drivers? Surely Dick Seaman, Jean Behra, Jacques Laffite, Michele Alboreto, Manfred von Brauchitsch, Michael Schumacher, Jensen Button all qualify? :confused:

DCN

Alan Jones?

Why not pop down to Australia, and and give that argument some air?.....And bring that 'wooden spoon' with you, if it will fit in your luggage. :lol:


#12 Michael Ferner

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Posted 04 May 2013 - 22:10

There was a David? Daniel? Walking Stick that competed in USAC Sprint/Champ cars back in the 70's. He was at least part Native American.

EDIT : It was Jerry Walkingstick, out of Oklahoma, full Native American, and looks like he was more of a Supermod driver, I can only find him listed in one USAC race. I recall seeing him on one of the televised sprint car races from back in the 70's. Yes, ABC used to show some, as a part of The Wide World of Sports I believe. I could have sworn those were USAC races, so that must have been the one time he competed with them, unless the USAC record is incomplete. I do remember his name well however, he was a strong runner and I'm sure I probably also saw him at Devil's Bowl or another local track.


I have two USAC appearances for Walkingstick: June 5, 1981 at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City/KS, finished 14th for $275, and June 6, 1982 at I-70 Speedway in Odessa/MO, finished 15th for $310. He also competed with the WoO, 1980 - '82, with a best result of 9th (May 8, 1981 at 81 Speedway in Wichita/KS).

#13 275 GTB-4

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Posted 04 May 2013 - 23:26

Indigenous drivers? Surely Dick Seaman, Jean Behra, Jacques Laffite, Michele Alboreto, Manfred von Brauchitsch, Michael Schumacher, Jensen Button all qualify? :confused:

DCN


Ho Ho Ho....well said Douglas :up:

#14 Team Result

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Posted 05 May 2013 - 00:35

Rally driver Marty Roestenburg used to promote himself as 'the world's fastest Maori' I just saw him as a mid-field runner in an Evo III. I see from this article that he graduated to more potent machinery. Is he still competing? http://experienceque...ace-to-the-sky/

#15 austmcreg

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Posted 05 May 2013 - 11:13

Tasmanian drivers of late 1960s , brothers Brendan and Maurice Tapp, were I think, of part aboriginal descent. Maybe Ellrosso can add more?

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#16 RStock

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Posted 05 May 2013 - 16:06

I have two USAC appearances for Walkingstick: June 5, 1981 at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City/KS, finished 14th for $275, and June 6, 1982 at I-70 Speedway in Odessa/MO, finished 15th for $310. He also competed with the WoO, 1980 - '82, with a best result of 9th (May 8, 1981 at 81 Speedway in Wichita/KS).


Ah, thanks Michael, that explains some things, as I knew I had seen him compete in a dirt track race (I recall he crashed) so that must have been the one from 1-70 Speedway. I was puzzled because the only USAC entry I could find for him was the one at Lakeside, and Lakeside is an asphalt track (and where Doug Wolfgang had his nasty crash) and I distinctly remember it was a dirt race that I saw. Being of Native American descent myself, I always pay attention when I see them involved in anything, particularly auto racing, so that race and name stuck with me.

#17 E1pix

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Posted 05 May 2013 - 16:16

Being of Native American descent myself, I always pay attention when I see them involved in anything, particularly auto racing, so that race and name stuck with me.

Very cool, Rstock. :wave:

Can I ask what your tribal roots are?

#18 Michael Ferner

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Posted 05 May 2013 - 16:49

Ah, thanks Michael, that explains some things, as I knew I had seen him compete in a dirt track race (I recall he crashed) so that must have been the one from 1-70 Speedway. I was puzzled because the only USAC entry I could find for him was the one at Lakeside, and Lakeside is an asphalt track (and where Doug Wolfgang had his nasty crash) and I distinctly remember it was a dirt race that I saw. Being of Native American descent myself, I always pay attention when I see them involved in anything, particularly auto racing, so that race and name stuck with me.


I'm pretty sure that Lakeside was still dirt in 1981. All five results I have for him are dirt track results, and he was always running at the finish, so you may remember a different race. Many of the WoO results I have are only top ten, so he may have competed in a number of other races, too. Or, maybe he crashed in a heat race?

#19 Risil

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Posted 05 May 2013 - 18:47

Danny Ongais was native Hawaiian, no?

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#20 David M. Kane

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Posted 05 May 2013 - 19:49

Danny Ongais was native Hawaiian, no?


Correct, he was called "The Flying Hawaiian". :up:

He was a fairly good all around racer and fearless!


#21 RStock

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Posted 06 May 2013 - 02:38

I'm pretty sure that Lakeside was still dirt in 1981. All five results I have for him are dirt track results, and he was always running at the finish, so you may remember a different race. Many of the WoO results I have are only top ten, so he may have competed in a number of other races, too. Or, maybe he crashed in a heat race?


Hmm, yeah, could have been a heat race. I seem to recall he and another driver tangled and both rolled, however they were those slow speed "tommy tip-over" type rolls. I also remember them interviewing him after the crash, but not much more. I suppose it could have been an early WOO race. I know they were not running wings, but quite a few early WOO races were run without wings.

I wonder if it could have been a dirt champ car race. I'm pretty sure Walkingstick competed in the NCRA, and they had a Champ Car class, they even had a "challenge" series against USAC for awhile.

#22 RStock

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Posted 06 May 2013 - 02:45

Very cool, Rstock. :wave:

Can I ask what your tribal roots are?


My dad was almost 100% injun. My grandfather was full blood Cherokee. My grandmother was 1/4 Cherokee, 1/4 Choctaw, 1/4 some other tribe I can't recall, an odd one, some plains tribe, and 1/4 Dutch. Thanks for asking.

I've read that Richie Ginther has a strong interest in Native Americans, I always wondered if he was of Native American descent. Does anyone know?

#23 E1pix

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Posted 06 May 2013 - 04:28

Thanks R. :)

One reason I ask is I want to do anything I can to erase the 19th century errors we made (I'm sickened by them, especially each time we cross any Res. out West, where we live). A large part of what I shoot is Native ruins, on large-format film, so I'm always looking for business models to aid Native kids through my work. I was in the process of co-producing an interesting book where the kids would be published both here and in Nepal — when a family medical trauma brought everything to a stop. It's a project I'd like to rework soon.

Thanks Again, and for this thread. :up:

#24 275 GTB-4

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Posted 06 May 2013 - 10:48

My dad was almost 100% injun. My grandfather was full blood Cherokee. My grandmother was 1/4 Cherokee, 1/4 Choctaw, 1/4 some other tribe I can't recall, an odd one, some plains tribe, and 1/4 Dutch. Thanks for asking.


Thanks RStock...Didn't know that the Dutch were an American Indian tribe....hey...ya learn something everyday!! :)