12 replies to this topic

[David M. Kane]

There was an American racer named Charlie Hayes who started out racing his
own Ferrari SWB at Upper Marlboro. Later he tried his hand at a Shelby-Cobra which threw its left rear wheel two races in a row! He was NOT
too pleased about that since it happen at well over 140mph. I lost track
of him when he moved to Southern California to continue his racing on a professional level.

Does anyone remember this racer and do you have any stories to share?

While I was in College I worked part-time as a letter carrier in Chevy
Chase, Maryland. I got my first exposure to Autosport through his subscription. He use to come find me in his SWB to get it! When you've
never seen or heard a Ferrari before that was certainly something I looked forward to each week! Imagine how funny it was to see a SWB pull up next
to a mail scooter!

[antonvrs]

Last time I saw Charlie Hayes he was working as a counterman at Earl's Supply in Hawthorne............maybe 10- 15 years ago.
Anton

[David M. Kane]

Wow! I guess Mose Allison is right! BTW I saw Mose perform in DC two or three times at a club on Columbia Road. I also saw Charlie Bryd there.
They also had a Folk Music thing on Sunday night and I saw The Big Three
(Scott McKenzie, Momma Cass and John Phillips). Cass and John were from
Alexandria, Virginia. The next week Bob Dylan showed up and freaked everybody out.

Thanks Anton.

[Ralliart]

I met him one time but I can't for the life of me remember the circumstances other than it was at a garage he had here in southern California probably 30 years ago. A nice guy.

[Graham Clayton]

This is what Charlie Hayes is doing in 2011:

http://motorsports-s...p.blogspot.com/

He has also written a book about gaining sponsorships:

http://speedtalk.com..._sponsored.html

[raceannouncer2003]

He has also posted on these pages:

http://forums.autosp...w...=92239&st=0

Vince H.

[David M. Kane]

Did Charlie ever race at LeMans? I know his sometime co-driver Ed Hugus did.

[Tim Murray]

According to his race listing on the Racing Sports Cars site, the only race he did in Europe was at Brands Hatch in 1964:

http://www.racingspo...-Hayes-USA.html

[RonPohl]

Charlie had a race shop in Santa Ana California about 1970. He was a dealer for Lola and brabham. I was running my first race car (a lotus 51b) out of a shop in the same indurstial complex. It was always cool to go over and look at the latest cars he had in stock. Mike Hiss (of some indy and formula b fame)was his main employee. Mike was always very kind and helpful to us, a couple of college kids with little money to spend. A truly great guy. I think Steve Jenning , who went on to become a well know engine builder on Cosworth engines was also an employee. Steve is still active building vintage Cosworths-now in Utah I think. The shop closed in 71 or 72 and I think Charlie went into sponsorship sales for racers.

[USA Diligence]

Hi David,

Email me direct at cs@sportscarscan.com and I can get you in direct contact with Charlie if you like.

Regards,

Chad Struer

[E1pix]

Many long-timers here may recall that Charlie Hayes' McKee-Oldsmobile Can-Am car was featured in the opening scene of the movie "Winning." The scene was quite close to my heart being it was at Road America, I was there, and I distinctly recall seeing that unique and innovative Bob McKee creation in its living color of purple, despite being 8 at the time.

James Garner was the acting driver of the McKee in the movie clip. A Google search produced this, a namesake of Charlie's... perhaps his brother?:
http://www.jimhayes....ges/Image4.html

[RA Historian]

Many long-timers here may recall that Charlie Hayes' McKee-Oldsmobile Can-Am car was featured in the opening scene of the movie "Winning." The scene was quite close to my heart being it was at Road America, I was there, and I distinctly recall seeing that unique and innovative Bob McKee creation in its living color of purple, despite being 8 at the time.

James Garner was the acting driver of the McKee in the movie clip. A Google search produced this, a namesake of Charlie's... perhaps his brother?:
http://www.jimhayes....ges/Image4.html

Purple? Must have been a faded print, Eric. Ralph Salyer's McKees of the day ('66 Mk VI, '67 Mk VII, '68 Mk X) all were a medium metallic blue with white trim. The Mk X driven by 'Frank Capua' in the movie was blue. If there was a purple car at the filming it must have been one of Roy Kumnick's
Tero Corvette-prepped cars, which featured various shades of purple along with white and orange trim.

How does Jim Garner get into this? He was not in the movie. It is my understanding that the close up shots in Winning had Paul Newman in the seat, while the in the action shots the car was driven by either Charlie Hayes or Ralph Salyer.

[E1pix]

Whoops, I meant Robert Wagner, not Garner, and meant "actor pretending to be a driver." I think you're right it was Newman in that scene. 44 years musta crossed the color wheel in my memory.

Edited by E1pix, 27 April 2012 - 18:06.