4 replies to this topic

[sabin_24]

Hi, this is my first post. I was directed here by ensign14 at Trackforum.com. Anyway, I'm trying to find some information on a relative.

I asked my Grandma about the relative who was a mechanic at Indy on Christmas. His name was Martin Strichek, he was my great grandpa. She said he worked on the car for a "Jimmy Van-something". I did a little digging at indy500.com, and came up with the name Charles Van Acker. The thing that tipped me off as this possibly being the guy, was in 1948 he was entered in a car from South Bend, and Martin was from Chicago. Van Acker raced in '47-'49, the time my Grandma said Martin was a mech. Van Acker's highest finish at Indy was 11th in 1948, while he wrecked the other two races. He won a 100 mile race at Milwaukee in 1948, although I don't know if Martin was a mech on the car for the whole season. If anybody has any more info on either of these two it would be greatly appreciated, although I know not many, if any, of you remember these races. It's just awesome to have a piece of Indy history in my family, no matter how small it is.

[fines]

Originally posted by sabin_24
It's just awesome to have a piece of Indy history in my family, no matter how small it is.

Right you are, it's a treat!

Sadly, I don't have much chief mechanic info on races that old. Plus, consider your grandpa could've been one of the countless hired-for-a-day mechanics at Indy. All I can give you is a rundown of Charles VanAcker's AAA Indy Car performances:

1946/5/30 Indianapolis 500 DNS #62 Singer
1947/5/30 Indianapolis 500 29th #44 Tucker Partners
1947/6/8 Milwaukee 5th #44 Tucker Partner
1947/6/22 Langhorne 6th #44 Tucker Partner
1947/7/4 Atlanta 6th #44 Tucker Partner
1947/7/13 Bainbridge 3rd #44 Tucker Partner
1947/7/27 Milwaukee 1st #44 Tucker Partner
1947/8/17 Goshen 3rd #44 Tucker Partner
1947/8/24 Milwaukee 10th #44 Tucker Partner
1947/9/28 Springfield DNS #44 Tucker Partner
1948/5/31 Indianapolis 500 11th #4 South Bend
1948/6/6 Milwaukee 5th #4 South Bend
1948/6/20 Langhorne 7th #4 South Bend
1948/8/15 Milwaukee 9th #4 Redmer
1948/8/21 Springfield 5th #4 Redmer
1948/8/29 Milwaukee 6th #4 Redmer
1948/9/4 DuQuoin 4th #4 Redmer
1948/9/6 Atlanta 9th #4 Redmer
1948/9/19 Springfield 12th #4 Redmer
1948/10/10 DuQuoin 10th #4 Redmer
1949/5/30 Indianapolis 500 31st #31 Redmer
1949/6/5 Milwaukee DNS #56 Truchan
1949/8/20 Springfield 11th #10 Redmer
1949/8/28 Milwaukee 9th #10 Redmer
1949/9/3 DuQuoin 10th #10 Redmer
1949/9/11 Detroit DNS #10 Redmer
1949/9/25 Springfield 8th #10 Redmer
1950/5/30 Indianapolis 500 DNS #29 Redmer

[TMH]

I am looking for information regarding my grandfather. He was a mechanic that worked on the #10 car at the Indianapolis 500 in 1946 (I believe). Redmer Automotive was the car owner or something like that. His name was James Strahan from South Bend. I am looking for information and maybe even a picture. My grandfather passes away many years ago and my father would really love to find the picture of my grandpa standing next to the #10 car. If you can help or know someone you can, I would appreciate it.

 

Thank you.
 

[D-Type]

The first poster says he was referred here from Trackforum. I suggest you try going the opposite way and post the same query on there.   By and large it's a different set of members from here.

[TMH]

Thank you. I totally missed that.