21 replies to this topic

[Megatron]

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Sad News: According to reports at NSSN, longtime midget car driver Stan Fox of Janesville, Wis. was killed in a highway accident Tuesday night in New Zealand. While he was not racing, Fox was in the country as part of a U.S. contingent competing at Western Springs Speedway. Fox competed with USAC and the Badger Midget Auto Racing Ass'n for many years, winning countless races in midget cars. Fox went on to make eight Indianapolis 500 starts, with a best finish of seventh in 1987. Fox, driving for Ron Hemelgarn at Indy in 1995, was involved in a violent crash in turn one early in the race. Fox survived but was never able to compete again despite his many efforts to gain doctor's approval(National Speed Sport News) AND Well known race driver, Stan Fox, originally from Janesville, WI, was killed yesterday in a traffic accident in New Zealand. Fox was a familiar face to all who followed IndyCars, midgets and many other forms of racing. Stan started the Indianapolis 500 eight times, won the Badger midget championship in 1979, the Belleville Midget Nationals in 1979-80, the Copper World Classic in 1980 – 90 and 93 and a huge number of local short track races in between. Many will recall Stan's frightening crash at Indy several years ago that left him broken, but not down. There currently is no word on services(Speedway Illustrated)(12-19-2000)

[John B]

Sad news. I remember that Indy crash; I spent most of the race thinking that he had been seriously injured or killed (his legs were exposed on the concrete as the front of the car disintegrated). His name was indeed familiar to those who followed American racing.

[AyePirate]

A traffic accident?

Life is full of cruel ironies.

[Richard Jenkins]

Very sad news. How old was he, late '40's? I remember that crash & regretted his fine & enthusiastic performances of the past would not be seen on the brickyard again. I was surprised, not only to learn of his early demise but the fact that he raced again after that crash.
With Kirsty MacColl dying after being hit by a boat today, today is a very sad day for the world.
RIP, Stan

[EVL29]

Don't mean to sound Insensitive here Richie but...Who is Kirsty MacColl?

[AyePirate]

a damn fine singer

This will help bring you up to speed
http://www.freeworld.demon.co.uk
[p][Edited by AyePirate on 12-19-2000]

[Richard Jenkins]

It's when people you remember from the eighties & nineties start dying, like the two today, even in tragic circumstances, that you realise 1) you're getting old & 2) how lucky you are to be alive.
Kirsty McColl wasn't the biggest hit in America, so it doesn't matter if you hadn't heard of her, she wasn't a favourite of mine, particulary, just as Aye Pirate put it, a damn fine singer.
Fox, I looked up on some sites. It seems so unfair after learning everything from scratch again - walking; talking etc that this should happen - Fox was the first man to do a lap in the new Millennium - did you know that - part of a celebration held in New Zealand.

[EVL29]

As I said,I didn't mean to Be Insensitive to anyone,I just hadn't heard of Her before.
I Do,however,understand your feelings.It was a Big Kick in the Balls to me when I heard Ofra Haza died (this past February).I know she was "just a Pop Singer" to some,but I Really like her music(though I don't understand a single word of Hebrew).

[felix973]

That sucks!!! This is first I've heard of this,I'am from Janesville,WI. will keep ears and eyes open and relay whatever I may find out on services,etc.

[nigel red5]

Sad to hear about Stan Fox.
I did`nt see the `95 Indy 500......but i sure remember the photos from turn 1 in the British newspapers the next day.
Personally i think it is a shame, especially as he had gone through the rigours of the rehab with his legs.

[Gil Bouffard]

Hey folks,

Here is the official notice:


Ex-racer Stan Fox killed in New Zealand accident
Associated Press
December 19, 2000

Stan Fox, whose racing career ended five years ago in a gruesome crash at the Indianapolis 500, has been killed in an auto accident in New Zealand.

The death Monday night of the 48-year-old driver from Janesville, Wis., was confirmed today by the U.S. Auto Club and a spokeswoman for Fox's brother.

USAC spokesman Dick Jordan said Fox was killed in a head-on collision on a stretch of highway about 200 miles south of Auckland known as "The Desert Road."

Fox was in New Zealand working for head-injury support units in that country. Last New Year's Day, he turned a ceremonial first lap at an event billed as "The First Race of the Millennium."

His racing career ended May 28, 1995, with a six-car crash on
the first lap of the Indy 500. His car was sheared virtually in half, and he was sent hurtling into the Turn 1 wall with his legs unprotected in front of him. There were photos of the remains of Fox's car flying through the air with the driver's legs dangling near the wall.

Fox suffered a severe head injury and was in a coma for five days, finally regaining consciousness June 2. By July, he was out of the hospital and at an Indianapolis rehab center.

A month later -- 10 weeks after the crash -- he walked out of the center and went home for outpatient therapy. But his career was over and he had to make adjustments as he slowly began to heal.

"I started from scratch," he told The Associated Press last year. "I started like a 4-year-old. I had to learn everything."

Fox started racing in 1972 and made eight starts in nine years at the Indy 500.

But he became a star driving the lighter open-wheel midget cars on USAC's Midwest circuit. Fox won 19 times in 184 starts in a 23-year career. He also took prestigious Copper World Midget division races in 1980, 1990 and 1993.

Fox finished a career-best seventh as a rookie in the Indy 500 in 1987.

A spokeswoman for LeMans Corp., a motorcycle parts distributorship owned by Stan's brother, Fred, said the family, including the former driver's ex-wife, was distraught and planned no immediate comment.

The spokeswoman, who declined to be further identified, said
Fred Fox confirmed that his brother had been killed.

"His recovery from critical injuries at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was an inspiration to us all," Jordan said. "A great representative of our sport, he will be deeply missed.
We remember his many significant triumphs but will most of all remember Stan the Man, whose presence was always joyous."

Survivors include his ex-wife, Jean; a daughter and a son; and a brother, Fred. Funeral arrangements were not announced.

[Jackman]

I remember that crash, and thinking that he had to be dead, and later being stunned that he wasn't. I still see his legs dangling out of the open cockpit as he ran along the wall.

I saw Kirsty had died this morning, and I was shocked as I was trying to explain Fairytale of New York (her song with The Pogues) to someone last night.

I hadn't heard Ofra Haza had died - I loved that song Im Nim Allu (sp?), even though I didn't have a clue what she was singing about.

Sad losses, all.

[Slademordain]

He will be missed, he had alot of talent.

[Eric McLoughlin]

Just to prove a point - who's Ofra Haza? A lot of who you know, like and remember depends on your age.

On a related matter to the original post - how many racing drivers have been killed in road (or other non racing) accidents? I can think of the following straight away:

Mike Hawthorn - car crash 1959
Giuseppe Farina - Car crash 1966
Graham Hill - light 'plane crash 1975
Carlos Pace - light 'plane crash 1977
Bobby Allison - helicopter crash 1991(?)
Wilbur Shaw - 'plane crash
Tony Brise - killed in same crash as Graham Hill.
David Purley - crashed while aerobatting his Pitts Special
Didier Pironi - powerboat accident
Mike Parkes - car crash 1977(?)

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Eric McLoughlin

On a related matter to the original post - how many racing drivers have been killed in road (or other non racing) accidents? I can think of the following straight away:

Car Crash: Emilio Zapico - 1996; Juan Jover 1960; Guy Tumner (on motorbike at time) 1999; Mike Hailwood 1981; David Murray 1973; Piero Drogo 1973; Jorge Daponte 1963;
Died on public roads whilst in F1 Car: Gulio Cabianca who hit a taxi in Modena after plunging down open gateway near circuit after stuck throttle (1961)
Aeroplane crash: Lance Reventlow 1972; John Cannon 1998; Ron Flockhart 1962; Harald Ertl 1982; Jose Dolhem 1988
Helicopter crash: David Prophet (1981)
If you count sucicide as accidents: Hap Sharp 1993, Willy Mairesse 1969
That's all the F1 drivers - I know there are many more non F1 drivers but I can't think of them right at this minute. Maybe I'll post again later - one that I've just remembered - Tony Bettenhausen 2000 Air Crash

[felix973]

Stan Fox obituary appeared in today's Janesville Gazette(my home town)Aged 48 Funeral services at 11am 12-29-00,states that a memorial service will be held in 1st part of May 2001 in Indianapolis. Memorials may be directed to University of Wisconsin foundation for benefit of UW Children's Hospital
P.O. box 8860
Madison,WI. 53708-8860

or

Children's Foundation Hospital
P.O. Box 1997
Milwaukee,WI. 53201


Online obituary info. can be found at http://www.schneiderfuneral directors.com

[John B]

Eric,

Davey was the Allison who died in a 1993 helicopter crash at Talladega. Several months before, defending NASCAR champ Alan Kulwicki died in a private plane crash. They had finished 1-3 in the 1992 points standings.

[Eric McLoughlin]

A few hours after I posted "Bobby Allison" I realised I probably had the wrong one!

[Nasty McBastard]

i remember that indy crash...right up there in the "looks bad" list along with martin donnelly...

funny how things work out

[Dudley]

Fox was the first man to do a lap in the new Millennium - did you know that - part of a celebration held in New Zealand

But the new millenium doesn't begin for 9 days.

[HP]

Dudley,

Why start the entire millenium argument over again (altough I'm on your side of the argument)?

I've settled to take the year 2000 as one big year long millenium celebration. Good for me in every way