My request about single-seater Maseratis raced in US road races post-war did not yield much - perhaps an inquiry about one of the more prominent drivers of one example brings a better result ...
George Weaver -
What was his full name? (George B(riggs) Weaver, I think, was his father)
When and where was he born?
When and where did he marry his wife Barbara?
When and where did he die?
George Weaver
Started by
O Volante
, Jul 30 2002 15:49
8 replies to this topic
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#2
cabianca
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Posted 31 July 2002 - 16:27
George Briggs Weaver, Jr. Born Newport, Rhode Island, 3 March 1931. Father was Chief Engineer at Indian Motorcycle Company in Springfield, Massachusetts. The elder Weaver also worked on the Le Mans DuPont cars before WWII and also on the early Briggs Cunningham Le Mans entries.
Young George took an engineering course at Rhode Island State University, but didn't finish the program. Bought an Austin driven by Malcolm Campbell at Daytona Beach in 1931 and transformed it into an American special. He was part of the Automobile Racing Club of America, a group that successfully reintroduced road racing into America, mostly in the Northeastern states. Weaver was the club champion in 1939.
After the war, he became involved with the Sports Car Club of America, which was originally founded to "preserve" sports cars. At the time this meant cars like Lancia Lambdas and Mercer Raceabouts. The SCCA had no interest in racing at the time, expecting the ARCA to be revived (it had temporarily dissolved at the time of Pearl Harbor). When it became obvious that the ARCA would not be reincorporated, Weaver was among a core group of racers who pushed the SCCA into road racing. He was the manager of Thompson Speedway at the time. He ran his V8Ri in early SCCA events. One of the most important individuals in getting road racing started in America.
I do not have a date of death nor any information on his wife Barbara.
Young George took an engineering course at Rhode Island State University, but didn't finish the program. Bought an Austin driven by Malcolm Campbell at Daytona Beach in 1931 and transformed it into an American special. He was part of the Automobile Racing Club of America, a group that successfully reintroduced road racing into America, mostly in the Northeastern states. Weaver was the club champion in 1939.
After the war, he became involved with the Sports Car Club of America, which was originally founded to "preserve" sports cars. At the time this meant cars like Lancia Lambdas and Mercer Raceabouts. The SCCA had no interest in racing at the time, expecting the ARCA to be revived (it had temporarily dissolved at the time of Pearl Harbor). When it became obvious that the ARCA would not be reincorporated, Weaver was among a core group of racers who pushed the SCCA into road racing. He was the manager of Thompson Speedway at the time. He ran his V8Ri in early SCCA events. One of the most important individuals in getting road racing started in America.
I do not have a date of death nor any information on his wife Barbara.
#3
O Volante
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Posted 31 July 2002 - 18:31
Many, many thanks, Michael! 
I hope we'll also find out about the missing dates ... I'm a little surprised George was so young; had rather thought he was of the same age as Phil Cade ...
I hope we'll also find out about the missing dates ... I'm a little surprised George was so young; had rather thought he was of the same age as Phil Cade ...
#4
David McKinney
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Posted 31 July 2002 - 18:47
I think precocious is the word - ARCA Champion at the age of eight 
#5
cabianca
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Posted 01 August 2002 - 03:36
Weaver's correct birth date is 1911. Sorry 'bout that.
#6
Richard Jenkins
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Posted 31 January 2005 - 22:15
George, who must be one of the few racers ever from Rhode Island, died on the 28th February 1970, in Thompson, Connecticut.
He married Barbara Francis Weisse in Elizabeth City, North Carolina but I have no date.
George Briggs Weaver Sr. , just for your info, was born on the 22nd Dec 1884 in Newport
He died in 1965, in Suffield, Connecticut. George Jr had a sister, but she too barely outlived her father, dying aged only 62.
He married Barbara Francis Weisse in Elizabeth City, North Carolina but I have no date.
George Briggs Weaver Sr. , just for your info, was born on the 22nd Dec 1884 in Newport
He died in 1965, in Suffield, Connecticut. George Jr had a sister, but she too barely outlived her father, dying aged only 62.
#7
Cris
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Posted 01 February 2005 - 02:58
George and Barbara were married in 1951. Their honeymoon was taken at that year's Le Mans 24 hrs. race.
#8
xkssFrankOpalka
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Posted 01 February 2005 - 03:20
I had a collection of dash badges registering his Austin and another car for racing, they are now in the Joel Finn collection.
#9
marty8405
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Posted 01 February 2005 - 12:12
Some nice photos of him and the car in the 3 Watkins Glen books....the 50th anniversary hardcover, Watkins Glen from Griswold to Gordon, and Watkins Glen 1948-52 by Phillippe Defechereux, also a nice painting by Robert Gillespie can be seen on www.glenspeed.com. I saw the Maserati he raced in the original street races at the Watkins Glen library a couple of years ago, I believe the car is still owned by his wife.
Rich
Rich
