A Report On The Accident That Killed Bill
Vukovich In The 1955 Indianapolis 500-Mile-Race
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A Report On The Accident That Killed Bill Vukovich In The 1955 Indianapolis 500-Mile-Race
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"Vukie" Wants 3-4 More Victories By Ed Orman Fresno Bee Bill Vukovich, the hard-luck driver of the 1952 race who came roaring back last year to win the "500" and rewrite a large portion of the record book, will not be satisfied until he scores three or four more victories in the famed blue-ribbon event of international automobile race. The climb to the top hasn’t been easy for the 35-year-old Fresno (Calif.) pilot. And now that he’s riding the crest he is determined to stay there for a few years before settling down on a 40-acre grape "ranch" near Fresno with his wife, Esther, and their two children – nine year old William (Billy) Jr. and 12-year-old Marlene. Vukovich, a native of Alameda, Calif., had a most unusual start in the field of racing – not the horseless carriage type, either. While he was still a youngster, his family moved from Alameda to a small farm at Kerman, California., a few miles west of Fresno. Bill’s dad had acquired a Shetland pony and Bill took a liking to the animal. He built himself a two-seated racing buggy and soon had Black Diamond taking sprints on the country roads and through the rows of grape vines in their vineyard. He scared his brother, Eli, a midget driver now, and Mike, a mechanic, and his sisters half to death taking the turns on two wheels. Bill’s father finally took the pony and buggy away from his son and sold it. "Too dangerous," the dad told Bill. That forced Bill to turn to the automobile, which appeared here to stay, even though Black Diamond and the buggy had to go. Then at the age of 14, Bill and his brothers stripped down an old Model T Ford car and converted it into a hot rod, burning up the country roads and improvised race ovals near the home. The Vukovich family moved across the countryside to Sanger, southeast of Fresno, and there Bill and his brothers took over another family car, an old Chevrolet, which they tore down and rebuilt into a dir-track racer. With this creation, Vukovich made his debut in racing the rugged way, on the dusty bumpy tracks in the San Joaquin Valley. All he did for several years was to eat the dust – and there was plenty of it – from more experienced leadfoots. Midget automobile racing began to win popularity in California during the mid-thirties and "Vukie" was quick to try his hand at this new form of competition. Again he had to learn the tricks of the trade from older hands and didn’t share in much of the "loot" before World War II. After the second international conflict, it was different. Driving thousands of miles up and down the Golden State, racing six or seven nights a week and twice on some Sundays, Vukovich became the scourge of the West Coast. He captured the Pacific Coast championships in the midget field in 1946 and 1947; and his star kept zooming until he finally won the 1950 National midget title. "It was a rough and rugged way to learn the game, but I have no regrets." says Vukovich. "I think auto racing needs more of the same training experiences for the kids today. In order to become champions they have to learn the hard way – in racing, fighting, baseball, or any other sport." One year after winning the National midget title, "Vukie" made his first start at Indianapolis and ran only 29 laps before an oil leak forced him to the side lines. In 1952, he led almost all of the way, but was stopped eight laps short of victory when his steering gear failed. Last year in Howard Keck’s same Fuel Injection Special, Bill’s ability and perseverance finally were rewarded. Ignoring the tortures of the elements – high humidity and a blistering sun, which force many other driver to call for relief – he led from start to finish except for a five-lap period at the time of his first pit stop. In regard to the extreme heat, Vukie believes he had an edge on mot of the field in that department. "I came from a hot climate and I’ve raced countless times under the blazing sun in interior California," he explained. "I wasn’t the most comfortable guy in the world, but the heat really didn’t bother me too much. I had made up my mind to take the lead at the outset and keep it all of the way. My ankle was scorched a bit in the late stages," he added. "but all I was worrying about was crossing the finish line first. "After I passed the 192nd lap, I just sort of relaxed and said to myself, "We’re in." I could have gone on pushing my car many more laps after the finish if necessary. The car was in perfect condition and my pit crew certainly did a masterful job." |
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