30 replies to this topic

[LittleChris]

His name has suddenly appeared over the last couple of days, but who was / is he ?

[Buford]

An American driver in the 1950's and 60's. He was a motorcycle racer who switched to Indy Cars and Stock Cars. Damn fine driver.

[LittleChris]

Sort of precursor (?!? ) to John Surtees ?

[Buford]

I suppose but Paul raced American oval track motorcycles rather than road racing cycles like John. Joe Leonard had a similar background. Very few motorcycle racers made a successful transition to 4 wheels in the USA. Those are two who did.

[Don Capps]

Let me put it this way -- Smokey Yunick thought very highly of Paul Goldsmith. One reason that about 13 days after first sitting in a Champ Car, an older Kurtis when the rage was for a Watson or Watson clone, Goldsmith qualifies for Indy in the middle of the field. Doesn't sound like much today, but it was a Big Deal at the time. A real gentleman as well. I once got to hitch a ride in the back of a pickup with Goldsmith and a few others at Darlington and was genuinely impressed by him -- young kid stringer doing the leg work for some other guy who will get the byline, but he treats me as if I were Chris Economacki or Joe Whitlock (my hero at the time).....

[Buford]

He raced a lot in Nascar for Ray Nichols who was also in our Quarter Midget club. His son Terry Nichols was one of the few who could give me a race.

[ensign14]

Goldsmith was 3rd at Indy in 1960 and 5th in 1959. He also won 9 NASCAR races, including one on the beach-road course at Daytona.

[fines]

Originally posted by Buford
I suppose but Paul raced American oval track motorcycles rather than road racing cycles like John. Joe Leonard had a similar background. Very few motorcycle racers made a successful transition to 4 wheels in the USA. Those are two who did.

What about Swede Savage? Ralph Hepburn? Eddie Lawson? Jeff Ward?

[bpratt]

Goldsmith won the 1953 Daytona 200 motorcycle race on the beach course and the last Grand National race on the beach course, 1958. (Source, Speed On Sand, Tuthill, 1978)

Was USAC stock car points champion in 1961 and 1962. (Source, Car and Driver Racing 1970)

Won the USAC race (Peterborough International) at Mosport in 1962. Versatile driver.

[Jim Thurman]

Not only was Paul Goldsmith versatile, having been an AMA Motorcycle Champion, and going on to race at Indy and in Stock Cars, but his off track contribution, while rarely mentioned, was tremendously signifigant.

It was Paul Goldsmith's lawsuit against USAC that led to the "Golden Era" of driver interchange. It was a *very* important ruling and cannot be understated what resulted from it. Not to mention the guts (or cajones) it took to challenge the system.

Remember, not too many years before drivers got lengthy suspensions from the AAA for driving in an unsanctioned race (1949 Indy 500 winner Bill Holland being the most ridiculous example of this iron fist when he was banned for a year after driving a 4 or 5 lap exhibition race at a Florida dirt track as part of a benefit race for an injured driver).

So, to make the comparison to Baseball, he's like the Curt Flood of Auto Racing.

This aspect needs to be mentioned more. Not only a great driver, but what he did off the track was truly signifigant. His court case and pursuing it is likely the only reason drivers like Foyt, Andretti, et al, even had the opportunities to drive in NASCAR, USAC and Sports Cars. Without Goldsmith, this likely wouldn't have happened.

He also was slated to drive a Can-Am car, but decided to scale back his driving around that time (I do believe he did some testing though)

So, to tie in with a discussion in another thread, sometimes it takes lawsuits to make a difference.


Jim Thurman

[Buford]

Interesting.

[Don Capps]

Jim, Thanks for bring that aspect of Goldsmith's contribution to American motor sports to light, especially since so few seem to be aware of it. Goldsmith was one brave hombre to tackle those that ran the sport in those days. However, he did take them on made them blink. Naturally, he was tossed on the rubbish heap as soon as possible by most, but he was that sort of a Stand-up Guy it seems.

[Buford]

Those AAA/USAC officials of the 50s - 60s - 70s were tough, mean hombres. They were the depression era, board track racing era, WWII generation guys and they had achieved a level of power for the first time in their lives and they wielded it arbitrarily and brutally. I don't think anybody who never met or dealt with those little Hitlers could have any idea what it was like. I wonder if Goldsmith is still alive. I don't recall ever seeing a death notice, but don't recall seeing him at any reunions in many years either.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Don Capps
Jim, Thanks for bring that aspect of Goldsmith's contribution to American motor sports to light, especially since so few seem to be aware of it. Goldsmith was one brave hombre to tackle those that ran the sport in those days. However, he did take them on made them blink. Naturally, he was tossed on the rubbish heap as soon as possible by most, but he was that sort of a Stand-up Guy it seems.

I have to thank my father for even mentioning it to me. I don't even remember how old I was when he told me he remembered reading about Goldsmith's case in the sports section of a newspaper. This was big news to me.

Many years go by and I find myself going through reels of microfilm of newspapers...and what turns up but an article on Goldsmith's lawsuit.

I believe the lawsuit was prompted by Goldsmith being suspended by USAC for competing in a NASCAR race or races.

IIRC, Goldsmith contended that the racing organizations were limiting or interfering with his ability to make a living. And IIRC, it didn't get to the Supreme Court, but a level below where the judge ruled in favor of Goldsmith and told the racing organizations that they needed to work something out. Essentially this brought the racing organizations to the table under ACCUS to formulate a schedule where each sanctioning body would submit a few races for the "International Calendar" that were "open" races.

Goldsmith decided to not return to USAC (at least in Champ Cars, he did race USAC stocks from time to time).

Talk about a magazine article that needs written, someone should try to talk to Mr. Goldsmith, not only about his driving career, but even more so his lawsuit.

Obviously, it didn't put a complete end to all of this sort of nonsense, as there were small flare ups occasionally into the early 70's, but that's for another thread. What it did do was open races to all interested competitors and for all intents and purposes put an end to the most severe of suspensions.


Jim Thurman

[fines]

When would that lawsuit have been?

[Don Capps]

It began in the early 1960's. It was actually rather poorly covered at the time by many of the journals of the day for reasons similar to those that Goldsmith was suing about: write the wrong words and no access.

Plus, quite often these sorts of things were not often considered in the same light then as political maneuverings are today -- back then the American organizations really hated each other's guts and the drivers were often "pawns in their game" as Plastic Man Zimmerman would say, and such bickerings par for the course. Plus, I don't think some in the press really fathomed what was going on to be honest.

I think the case did get to the Court of Appeals since it began in a federal court, but I am not sure which district. I am being forced to do this off the top of my head, but I will try to check it out was soon as I can.

[Richard Jenkins]

Buford, to the best of my knowledge, Goldsmith is still alive or at least was up to January 2002, which is as recent as I can search the records.

[Buford]

Cool. I did not read a death notice for him. But there are often reunions of drivers at various races, usually Indy, from previous years and I have not seen his name listed as attending any. He is never mentioned at Nascar races when they talk about the past. He has really dropped from memory of many people. Glad to hear he is probably still with us. So many from his era no longer are.

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Buford
Glad to hear he is probably still with us. So many from his era no longer are.

So sadly true, just a pitiful 22 survive from all those who raced between 1950-1960 at Indianapolis. All of them are 67 or older too.... Some drivers do just prefer to fade away & not attend reunions, I can think of a few who have just been "forgotten" yet were major players in their day in some respect.

[Jim Thurman]

fines, the case was in the early 1960's (I want to say 1961 or 1962). I'm sorry I don't have the exact year. Normally I would have annotated the date, but this was early in my researching, so I didn't have much experience. Also, I wasn't yet aware of how little the Goldsmith case was covered. It's only as years have gone by that I've realized the rarity of the report I saw (though it was a wire piece, either AP or UPI).

buford, re: AAA/USAC officials. Don't you mean they were WWI generation? And tough hombres...I think hardasses would be a better description.

Don, I think you are right, I believe it went to the Court of Appeals as it started in federal court.

Sorry I can tell everyone so much about this except precisely when this happened.

And, on the press of the day not fathoming...gee, how things have changed

As to Goldsmith himself. ESPN's SpeedWeek did a piece on him late in the show's run. And he was in the Elkhart, Indiana area enjoying flying light planes. I have heard he since moved to Florida, but someone ought to check that out.


Jim Thurman

[Buford]

Originally posted by Jim Thurman
[B
buford, re: AAA/USAC officials. Don't you mean they were [b]WWI[/b] generation? And tough hombres...I think hardasses would be a better description.

Jim Thurman [/B]

Well actually yes. The ones in the 50s and 60s were WWI generation hassling the WWII generation. By the time I got there in the 70s it was the WWII generation hassling the Vietnam generation using the same techniques.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Buford


Well actually yes. The ones in the 50s and 60s were WWI generation hassling the WWII generation. By the time I got there in the 70s it was the WWII generation hassling the Vietnam generation using the same techniques.

They had trained under masters


Jim Thurman

[Eagle104]

Very interesting thread. Thanks for the eye-opener, Jim. That story certainly should be known far and wide...it's that important. Watershed.

And, Richie Jenkins: the numbers you laid out were real eye-openers, too!

Another Goldsmith fact: he own's a few "Burger King" fast-food restaurants. One of them is located on Crawfordsville Rd., approx. 1mi. west of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Inside are photographs on the walls. And I remember seeing a nice wooden plaque with an etching of him in one of his "500" cars with information of his career.

[Jim Thurman]

Despite his overlooked and brave battle in challenging USAC, I thought I should list some of Paul Goldsmith's impressive on track accomplishments:

In his motorcycle racing days, won the Daytona 200 on the beach course in 1953. Also won at Milwaukee, Langhorne and Columbus. Last win at Schererville, Indiana.

Won 9 NASCAR Grand National (as it was then known) races. First win at Langhorne in 1956. 6 wins from 1956 into 1958 before he left for USAC and the Indy 500. During those three years, he also won races at Greensboro, Richmond, Lancaster, Raleigh (the one mile paved oval) and the 1958 Daytona beach race (the last auto race held on the beach).

Won 9 poles in NASCAR GN. And the list of tracks he won poles at truly shows his versatility: an airport course in Florida, 2 at Langhorne, Martinsville, Daytona beach course, Riverside International, Daytona International Speedway and North Carolina Motor Speedway (!).

Won two USAC Stock Car championships. 25 USAC Stock wins, and as Brian Pratt pointed out, one of those was at Mosport.

Returned to NASCAR in 1963. In 1966 he had a mathematical chance at the championship despite only running a limited schedule. He still wound up 5th in points. To give you an idea, the fewest races started by those ahead of him in points was 39 (the champion started 42). Goldsmith started 21 . This was back in the era when the NASCAR GN schedule was nearly 50 races and few started every race. In 1966, it was a 48 race season.

Also, keep in mind he lost a prime year on the NASCAR circuit (1965), when the Mopar factory teams pulled out over a dispute with NASCAR on engine rules. That's when Goldsmith returned to USAC Stocks and won the championship. EDIT: Correction, he finished a close second in the championship in 1965 to Norm Nelson.

Won three races after his return, all in 1966: a Daytona 125 qualifier, North Carolina Motor Speedway and Bristol. Led 10 races in 1966. Stayed competitive though, leading 8 races in 1968.

Announced his retirement as a driver after making 11 starts in the 1969 season. On retirement, immediately joined car owner Ray Nichels as co-owner to field the car he stepped out of for the next couple of seasons (primarily with "Chargin'" Charlie Glotzbach as driver).

Best finish in Indianapolis 500, 3rd.

Only driver to win motorcycle and auto race on the Daytona beach course.

It also should be mentioned Goldsmith's strong ties to legendary mechanic Smokey Yunick. His early NASCAR foray, Indy drives and, apparently his motorcycle at least for the Daytona beach race, were with Yunick as mechanic.

Member of AMA Hall of Fame.

All in all, an impressive career.


Jim Thurman

Edited by Jim Thurman, 16 September 2024 - 03:53.

[ReWind]

From another thread:

"Indianapolis 500 veteran Paul Goldsmith, a winning competitor on two and four wheels, died Sept. 6 in Munster, Indiana. He was 98, the oldest Indianapolis 500 starter at the time of his passing."

 

https://racer.com/20...mith-1925-2024/

 

[D28]

I just read an article about Paul's exploits at the 1963 American Challenge Cup race, ran at Daytona for GT cars. He drove a Pontiac Tempest with a 421 V8. Needling with Foyt before the start  who was in a Corvette, he promised to wave when he lapped him. This he did... twice as he completely dominated the race. R&T called it one of the most dominating races ever run at Daytona. A versatile racer to the core.

 

I believe he was the oldest living WDC driver being a couple of months older than Nano da Silva Ramos, who is still with us.

 

Godspeed  Paul.

[WINO]

Paul Goldsmith's car in the 1963 American Challenge Cup at Daytona was a Ray Nichels-prepared Pontiac Tempest Le Mans. It featured two four-barrel Carter carburetors and a semi-automatic transmission.

 

His main competition would be two 427 c.i. Sting Rays entered by Mickey Thompson, for Bill Krause and Rex White, and a 327 c.i. Nickey Sting Ray driven by A. J. Foyt. And then there were the Ferraris, with five GTOs entered for Fireball Roberts, David Piper, Innes Ireland, Bob Grossman and Pedro Rodriguez. But when the forecast promised rain, Ireland, Grossman and Rodriguez decided to forego a wet tri-oval experience.

 

And rain it did, with the frontrunners on slicks, not rain tires. Goldsmith kept to the driest part of the track, right up against the fence, and won over Foyt and Krause, with Roberts and Piper finishing next. The winner's purse was $$6,500. Paul remarked this was his first victory in a speed boat.

Edited by WINO, 07 September 2024 - 19:03.

[d j fox]

Sadly Paul Goldsmith passed away Sept 6th-he was 98

 

See Paul Goldsmith 1925 – 2024 | RACER

[Tim Murray]

(posted on behalf of Willem Oosthoek; the following words are his)

Paul Goldsmith on two and four wheels. The Pontiac shot shows the start of the 1963 American Challenge Cup, with Paul next to pole sitter Rex White in Mickey Thompson's 7-liter Sting Ray.

[WINO]

There are some good shots of Paul Goldsmith on a wet Daytona tri-oval in 1963 on page 2 of the Bill Krause thread.

[Bob Riebe]

 https://www.chicagot...ith-dies-at-98/

Longtime Griffith airport owner, race car driver Paul Goldsmith dies at 98

 

 

...Jim Butts, who worked with Goldsmith for over 50 years at the airport, said his knowledge and teaching skills made him one of the finest teachers around. Butts finished his tenure at the airport as a bus driver. He’d pick up the kids who were going to flight school at the airport and take them home when their day was over.

“He was the best flight instructor you could get anywhere,” Butts said.

But his national reputation was as a race car driver.

Goldsmith was the oldest living Indy 500 driver at the time of his death....

 

...

Goldsmith’s initial foray into racing was with motorcycles. He won the American Motorcycle Race in 1952 in Milwaukee on a one-mile track at the state fair. It was the first of Goldsmith’s many racing victories.

Goldsmith raced motorcycles until 1956, winning two more times, before moving into stock car racing.

In 1959, Goldsmith teamed up with Ray Nichels, a legendary Indy 500 mechanic, who had shops in Griffith and Highland, to jump-start his stock car racing skills. Nichels was one of the top auto-racing mechanics in the country.

With Nichels as his mechanic, Goldsmith dominated stock car racing in the early ’60s, winning the United States Auto Club Stock Car Championships in 1961 and 1962. Goldsmith won an incredible 26 USAC stock car races in 85 starts. He also had 44 finishes in the top three. He also won nine times in NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing). Goldsmith was the only driver to win on the beach course in Daytona on a motorcycle and a stock car. Goldsmith won the Daytona Beach 200 in 1954 and the Grand National Race at the beach course in a stock car in 1958.

From 1958 to 1963, Goldsmith raced in the Indy 500. His top finishes were third in 1960 and fifth in 1959.....