By the mid-50s, he was winning races all over the West Coast and attracted the attention of an Indy car owner in Southern California. Henry Martin always admired Bob Christie. "He said, 'You don't want to see it.". Caskey is 81 and Green is 85. When a race driver is killed on the track the first thing everybody says is,"That's too bad, he was a hell of a guy." In the obituary the next day, his past performances are listed and any other worthy achievements are mentioned. READ MORE. So it was being a good father, a good man, and a person of integrity that I admire, Dippell said. [6][7], Art Pollard's cousin Brad Pollard and Art Pollard's son Mike Pollard both competed in various types of racing.[8][9][10]. "It's a sad thing to say, but it is.". A month later, after Savage's kidneys had failed, he died of pneumonia. The rear of the car slipped out in Turn 4, and when Savage caught the car it was Walther struggled with addiction to pain medicine after his fiery wreck. More than 70 gallons of burning fuel sprayed into the grandstand and puddled on the track as cars scattered down the front stretch. Last Updated: Jan 24, 2023 Article History Table of Contents Jackson Pollock See all media Born: January 28, 1912 Cody Wyoming Died: August 11, 1956 (aged 44) East Hampton New York Notable Works: "Mural" Movement / Style: Abstract Expressionism Action painting automatism modern art Notable Family Members: spouse Lee Krasner Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Mud and sodden trash was everywhere. Pollard raced a wide variety of both cars and other machinery; this included hydroplanes, micro midgets and super modified stock cars. On the west coast, daughter Judy (then 23-years-old) and son Mike (25-years-old) heard this shocking and unwelcome news on radio and television in the early morning hours. "He came off the wall and almost landed on the front of my car," said Lee Kunzman, whose first Indy start carried him only a few hundred yards. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. But, hell, that 150 was a hell of a lot harder than that 250, you know what I mean? Pollard was born in Dragon, Utah, but spent much of his youth in and around Los Angeles. It wasnt big money, but enough to do what we needed to, Judy Dippell said. Art Pollard: The Life and Legacy of a Gentleman Racer. Drag images here or select from your computer for Art Lee Pollard Jr. memorial. And I think it was a tribute to him and the fact that he cared. Johncock said. Art Pollard (born 05 May 1927 Dragon, Utah; died 12 May 1973 Indianapolis, Indiana). Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Note: Prior to 1965 Artwon 83 championship events in the Western Statesand Canada and became one ofSouthern Oregons biggest stars. First published in 2016, this is an expanded version of Art Pollards biography that includes more content and photos. Please select which sections you would like to print: Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. "This is why there has been such a terrible atmosphere of fear here, all weekend long.". "I would do my racing, get in an airplane and go A 10 car pile up on the opening lap eliminated Art and the #40 car. Pollard dominated racing on the super modified circuit on the West Coast in the late '50s and early '60s. Characteristic paintings from this period include Bird (c. 1941), Male and Female (c. 1942), and Guardians of the Secret (1943). Another Southern Oregon racer began his career at Indianapolis just a few years after Bob Christie retired. Mike lives in Reno, Nev., and works at a jewelry shop. By Wednesday, tension and exhaustion infected the track. Art had little practice time in the car, but late in the afternoon, Art pulled onto the track in his #20 turbine, and his average speed of 166.297 was good enough to earn the 11thstarting spot in the middle of the fourth row. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Oops, something didn't work. If there is anything good that came about from the 1973 Indianapolis, it was a new For the third turbine, Granatelli lost the services of Jackie Stewart; he was suffering from a hairline fracture in his wrist and was forced into a cast, making him unavailable as a driver. . He died of natural causes last year, at the age of 85. As they were being Like Christie, Art Pollard of Medford began his racing career in midgets and stock cars. Racing Accident Of Art Pollard Matthew Cipolla 3.25K subscribers Subscribe 7.6K views 1 year ago INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY He died in Indianapolis, Indiana as a result of injuries sustained in. I'd lost fifty pounds or so. He was killed during practice on Pole Day for the 1973 Indianapolis 500 when his car hit the wall and caught fire. It was a lot of fun.. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Pollard, a 1945 graduate of Roseburg High School, began his racing career in Roseburg. Art Pollard: The Gentleman Racer Paperback - September 13, 2019 by Bob Kehoe (Author) 9 ratings See all formats and editions Paperback $25.00 1 New from $25.00 First published in 2016, this is an expanded version of Art Pollard's biography that includes more content and photos. Upon his death, Pollard's family established the Art Pollard Fund with a $25,000 bequest. I do not immediately recall the year, but one of our local motorcycle shops hosted him and his Indy car for a promotion. "Swede wasn't much older than my son (Steve)," Patrick said. He never looked back. A fire truck traveling at an estimate 60 mph in the wrong direction hit Teran, who suffered crushed ribs and a fractured skull. google_ad_width = 728; During one period in 1961, he won 22 of 28 main events. because the 200 mph barrier was within the sights of drivers and on the minds of trackside https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jackson-Pollock, National Gallery of Art, Washington - Biography of Jackson Pollock, Guggenheim - Biography of Jackson Pollock, The Art Story - Biography of Jackson Pollock, Jackson Pollock - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Jackson Pollock - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The impact tore off two wheels immediately, and the wings were also torn off during the slide. It began on this day in 1973 when American race car driver Art Lee Pollard, Jr., died in an accident while running practice laps for the Indianapolis 500. I couldn't walk at all. It was a May to forget. Johncock's celebration wasn't much of a party. He didn't get to race in 1972 although he qualfied his STP Lola in 10th spot. | Art qualified in 6th spot in 1970. This browser does not support getting your location. By Lap 42, Savage, the 26-year-old charger from California, had taken the lead, a And he always made time for both kids and adults!. The racing thing interested me also.. Paul Jackson Pollock was the fifth and youngest son of Stella May McClure and LeRoy Pollock, who were both of Scotch-Irish extraction (LeRoys original surname was McCoy before his adoption about 1890 by a family named Pollock) and born and raised in Iowa. | recalled pole-sitter Johnny Rutherford. . Plump organized charity basketball games that Pollard helped promote with other drivers, in addition to his own charity work at an Indianapolis hospital. In 1961, Art won one of his favorite races, The Western States Championship in Fresno Ca. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. He made every race from then on until 1979 with a best finish of 9th in 1976. Make a life-giving gesture A popular super-modified champion in the Western States in the 1960s to ultimately the Championship Car Series achieving the pinnacle of racing at the famed Brickyard in Indiana. Again on Wednesday, after another rain delay, the teams tried again. placed in ambulances, driving rain hit again. Try again later. "Very sad, about as sad as you can get," Pat Patrick said 40 years later. Ken Glass, a long-time Roseburg resident, sponsored Arts car until Indianapolis came calling and the rates simply got too expensive. He grew up in California and Arizona, where his father worked on a string of unprofitable truck farms. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Just didn't go that way.". There is a problem with your email/password. Of course, he got along with everyone real well.. The car was demolished. During a subsequent practice lap, a wheel came off in the NE corner and he crashed, breaking his leg. In 1948, Green and Caskey traveled with Pollard to race tracks all over the West Coast and Canada to compete in micro-midget and hard-top events. The. He went on to qualify for six races, but broke his leg in a qualifying accident in 1972 and had to sit out that race. During one period in 1961, he won 22 of 28 main events. A. Colin Chapman had returned to Indianapolis and Parnelli Jones was lending his expertise to the Granatelli team. Judy is an author, speaker and publishing consultant. Pop-off valves cut boost and the horsepower generated by turbochargers. Fletcher warned Smiley. "By then, I could laugh about it. Not a single lap was complete when the race was halted. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. He served time in jail. Walther clipped Grant's left front tire, and the car jumped violently into the fence, Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. If I can find it, I will attach a shot of it in another e-mail. I told 'em I was at the Indy 500. I remember, though,that when they pulled me out of the car right after it happened, they asked me first, what was my name? I've been lifting weights since I was sixteen years old. No matter. 1954 Art competes in Bob and Ollies Micro-Midget at the Roseburg Fairgrounds in Oregon. overturned, flaming car came to rest right in front of Dallenbach, who helped firefighters His father, LeRoy Pollock, was. Smiley died instantly from massive trauma inflicted by the severe impact. He liked and understood people, and he gave of himself to his fans and friends - some of whom called him "Roberto" because of his dark heavy-bearded complexion. Fuel capacity was reduced from 75 to 40 gallons. Only a couple of hundred yards past the flag stand, Smiley's funeral was held on May 20, 1982 and he was buried in his birth location in Nebraska. Sunday marks the 99th year of what many call the greatest spectacle in racing, the Indianapolis 500. Christie was born in Grants Pass in 1924 and helped his family raise hops. The car slammed into the outside wall coming out of turn one, burst into flames, and spun as it headed to the grass on the inside of the short chute. Cars were on the edge. Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA. "After the second day, you started thinking: 'Who's next?'" After 1 lap, Art replaced Weld in the #57. POLLARD--Barbara, who retired in 2002 as the English Department Chairperson at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City . preparations four times. Coming out of Turn 4 on the next lap, the rear of his 1,500-pound Eagle, heavy with 500 pounds of methanol, twitched. And I looked like a skeleton walking in them because they didn't come close to fitting. "I tried to keep an upbeat conversation: 'The seat's here for you, Swede, I'm just At the Brickyard, back in Indianapolis, they always knew him as the kinda guy that looked out for the other drivers. | Driver Art Pollard was killed in an accident during pole day practice. google_color_bg = "ECF8FF"; They said it was my fault. He was rushed to Methodist Hospital, but died shortly afterward. He hit it head-on with enough force to rip the machine in two Pollard's volume of art in the past seven years came after a five-year period when he stopped drawing after the death of his grandmother. Plain and simple. Magazine and eBay Motors. The original comment we heard on the radio was Veteran driver Art Pollard was killed at the Speedway this morning. Our mom, Bobbie Pollard, called after the announcement, asking if what she heard was true. google_ad_width = 728; The organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500, which Pollard raced in five times. His work and example had enormous influence on them and on many subsequent art movements in the United States. Pollard, away from racing, worked as a car dealer and mechanic and worked with mental health charities. He pulled into his pit and climbed out of his car. People came to see the storied track's first 200-mph laps. Richards writes for The Indianapolis Star, a Gannett property. People in the pits recall the searing intensity of the heat. His death was the first at Indy since 1973 when Art Pollard and Swede Savage were killed and, to date, the last driver to die during qualifying. At Indy, the closest grandstand seats were moved back from the fence, and the wall Mike couldnt believe what he was hearing. And so that helped. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Art Pollard (7232111)? Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Using hardened brushes, sticks, and turkey basters, and household enamel paints, Pollock squirted, splashed, and dripped his paint onto canvas rolled out over his studio floor. Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites. driving through a river of flaming methanol," recalled David Hobbs, now a Party But more often than not, car trouble kept him from winning the big prize at Indy. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. From the time I was a little girl, I never thought it would happen to him. Commerce City, Colorado. Granatelli had always watched the race from the pits but that year for the first time was in a penthouse suite overlooking pit lane from across the track. From massive trauma inflicted by the severe impact he cared it, I could laugh about.. 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