18 replies to this topic

[Philsy]

Hello

I'm trying to find some information on American driver Red Amick (not George Amick) who competed in F1 (Indy 500) in 1959 and 1960.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Cheers

Phil

[Richard Jenkins]

b. 19 Jan 1929 Kansas City, Missouri d. 16 May 1995 Crystal River, Florida. Ran a truck stop nr. Muncie, Indiana before retiring to Florida.

[Philsy]

That was quick - thanks!

Could do with some more info if anyone knows anything.

Phil

[Darren Galpin]

First name was Richard. Comepeted in two USAC races in 1960, getting 100 pts.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Philsy
Hello

I'm trying to find some information on American driver Red Amick (not George Amick) who competed in F1 (Indy 500) in 1959 and 1960.

Any help would be most appreciated.

What sort of information are you looking for Phil?

Richard "Red" Amick began his racing career in track roadsters in California in the post WWII era. Like so many other open wheel drivers, he relocated to the Midwest U.S. to further his career (to the point where he was often portrayed as an Indianan!). He raced on the IMCA Sprint Car circuit with success before joining USAC in an effort to get to the Indy 500.

I don't have his win totals in IMCA or USAC Sprints handy, but I can probably get them easily enough. Until recent years, IMCA totals were lost to history until the efforts of Allan E. Brown to compile them.

Richard "Red" Amick was not related to George and Bill Amick, who were brothers from Oregon. I know you didn't confuse the two, but it happens so often, I just wanted to mention it.

[Philsy]

HiJim

thanks for this, it's very useful. Not being American, I'm not sure why he was confused as an Indian - can you elaborate? I assume that's where his nickname came from.

What did he do in later life?

Thanks again.

Cheers

Phil

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Philsy
Not being American, I'm not sure why he was confused as an Indian - can you elaborate?

Jim didn't say he was an Indian (native of India) but an Indianan (native of Indiana)

[Philsy]

Originally posted by David McKinney

Jim didn't say he was an Indian (native of India) but an Indianan (native of Indiana)

My apologies - tired eyes! How is one portrayed as an Indianan, then?

Cheers

Phil

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Philsy

thanks for this, it's very useful. Not being American, I'm not sure why he was confused as an Indian - can you elaborate? I assume that's where his nickname came from.

More likely to come from his hair colour...

(maybe "color" in deference to the Colonials?)

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Philsy
What did he do in later life?

Thanks again.

I've already told you. During, and after finishing racing, which Jim has already covered, he ran a truck stop, near Muncie, then retired to Florida, where he died. Stayed in touch with the sport for time to time.

[Philsy]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


I've already told you. During, and after finishing racing, which Jim has already covered, he ran a truck stop, near Muncie, then retired to Florida, where he died. Stayed in touch with the sport for time to time.

Sorry, my fault again - I meant did he do any other racing after Indy 500?

Phil

[Philsy]

And did he have red hair?

[Jim Thurman]

"Red" Amick did not have much success in his USAC Sprint Car days, but that was likely due to subpar equipment. He is listed as making 18 feature race starts between 1956 and 1960, with a finish of 11th in 1959 Midwest Division points his highest ranking (that year he made 5 of 11 races).

Thanks to Allan E. Brown, here are Richard "Red" Amick's IMCA Sprint Car wins:

8/24/1958 - Iowa State Fairgrounds, IA - 20 laps - Abbott Chevy #29
9/19/1958 - Nashville Fairgrounds, TN - 20 laps - Abbott Chevy #29
9/21/1958 - Nashville Fairgrounds, TN - 25 laps - Abbott Chevy #29
10/4/1958 - Birmingham Fairgrounds, AL - 20 laps - Abbott Chevy #29

7/21/1963 - Winchester Speedway, IN - 30 laps - Abbott Chevy #81

8/2/1964 - Winchester Speedway, IN - 30 laps - Abbott Chevy #11
8/23/1964 - Iowa State Fairgrounds, IA - 25 laps - Abbott Chevy #11

7/23/1965 - Minot Fairgrounds, ND - 10 laps - Abbott Chevy #11

He also is listed as being ranked 128th in USAC Midget points for 1963. All that means is that he didn't compete often.

This shows Amick did continue racing for at least five years after his Indy 500 appearances. Interesting that four of those IMCA wins were on pavement (Nashville and Winchester), four on dirt (Iowa State, Birmingham, Minot).

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Philsy
And did he have red hair?

And, yes, he did have red hair...and freckles.

I've been told he was a very personable, fun and pleasant man.

[Philsy]

Once again, thanks for your help.

Cheers

Phil

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Philsy
HiJim

thanks for this, it's very useful. Not being American, I'm not sure why he was confused as an Indian - can you elaborate? I assume that's where his nickname came from.

and

My apologies - tired eyes! How is one portrayed as an Indianan, then?

A common language separated by an ocean.

I nearly typed "Hoosier", a slang term for someone born in the state of Indiana, but thought that could cause confusion

To explain, many drivers from the Western United States relocated to Indiana or other Midwestern states to further their open wheel racing careers, with the Indy 500 being the ultimate goal. Often they wind up labelled as being from the places they relocated to. Thus, Pat Flaherty is often referred to as being from Chicago, "Red" Amick and Elmer George as from Indiana and George Amick as from Wisconsin, when in reality Flaherty was born, raised and began his racing career in Southern California, as did "Red" Amick while Elmer George began racing in the Northern California town of Salinas and George Amick was from Vernonia, Oregon, and began his racing career in Portland, Oregon.

I'd like to say it would be like someone from Liverpool or Blackpool moving to London and being referred to as a Londoner, but the British press wouldn't likely make that mistake like the U.S. media routinely do

Thanks for asking about these drivers Phil, I always appreciate someone being interested in U.S. racing history, even more so someone from outside the U.S.

[Philsy]

Jim

It seems that many of these drivers have been forgotten compared with some European ones.

Thanks for helping out - I suspect I'll have some more drivers I need help with.

Cheers

Phil

[Collombin]

Philsy,

Have you tried the nostalgia section at www.trackforum.com?

A superb site with the American slant that you require.

Full of very knowledgeable people with great stories. It's not QUITE as impressive as the standards set here at Atlas, but it's close enough for the comparison to be made - and praise doesn't come much higher than that!

[ensign14]

In the 50s Amick worked as a machinist at the B&K Machine Co. of Muncie. Different world then.