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Walt Hansgen
Racecar driver

Walt Hansgen

The basics

Quick Facts

Intro
Racecar driver
Work field
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Westfield, USA
Place of death
Orléans, France
Age
46 years
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

Walter Edwin Hansgen (October 28, 1919 – April 7, 1966) was an American racecar driver. His racing career began as a road racing driver, made his Grand Prix debut at 41 and 46 when he died, several days after crashing during testing for the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Racing career

A four-time SCCA Road Racing Champ, Hansgen participated in two Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on October 8, 1961, at Watkins Glen, New York. He scored a total of two championship points. In 1964 he raced the MG Liquid Suspension Special, an Offenhauser-powered car, for Kjell Qvale, at the Indianapolis 500. He finished 13th in that race. He raced there again in 1965, in the MG-Huffaker-Offenhauser, when he finished 14th.

In addition to Formula One, Walt Hansgen was a dominant road racer from the early 1950s and 1960s, winning numerous races at VIR, the famed course at Bridgehampton, and Watkins Glen through to his death at Le Mans in France in 1966.

He drove for Briggs Cunningham and John Mecom. Hansgen won the Formula Junior race at the inaugural United States Grand Prix meeting at Sebring, Florida, on December 12, 1959, driving a Stanguellini. Hansgen won the Monterey Grand Prix, at Laguna Seca Raceway, on October 17, 1965, driving John Mecom's Lola T70-Ford. He participated in several races of the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans as well as the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance races. He also was notable for introducing Mark Donohue to professional road racing.

Hansgen was killed when he crashed a 7-liter Holman & Moody Ford GT 40 Mk2 sports car while driving in the rain during the Le Mans tests on April 3, 1966. "A Ford spokesman said Hansgen's car appeared to have been aquaplaning on the wet track leaving no way for the driver to control it." Ford crew members later said that Hansgen had continued to push hard in the damp weather, although he had been warned by team manager Carroll Smith to take it easy.In Mark Donohue's book, The Unfair Advantage, it is said that Hansgen tried to drive onto an escape road, only to find out too late that a barrier had been built across it for spectator safety.

Racing record

SCCA National Championship Runoffs

YearClassCarPosition
1956C ModifiedJaguar D-Type1st
1957C ModifiedJaguar D-Type1st
1958C ModifiedJaguar D-Type1st
1959C ModifiedLister Jaguar1st

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910WDCPoints
1961Momo CorporationCooper T53Climax L4MONNEDBELFRAGBRGERITAUSA
Ret
NC0
1964Team LotusLotus 33Climax V8MONNEDBELFRAGBRGERAUTITAUSA
5
MEX16th2

Indianapolis 500

YearChassisEngineStartFinishTeam
1964HuffakerOffy1013Kjell Qvale
1965HuffakerOffy2114Kjell Qvale

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859606162NGNCPtsRef
1964LOH Ford46FordCONAUGJSPSVHRSDDAYDAYDAYRCHBRIGPSBGSATLAWSHBOPIFCLBNWSMARSVHDARLGYHCYSBOCLTGPSASHATLCONNSVCHTBIRVALPIFDAYODSOBSBRR
ISPGLN
LINBRINSVMBSAWSDTSONACLBBGSSTRDARHCYRCHODSHBOMARSVHNWSCLTHARAUGJACNA-
1965RSDDAYDAYDAYPIFAWSRCHHBOATLGPSNWSMARCLBBRIDARLGYBGSHCYCLTCCFASHHARNSVBIRATLGPSMBSVALDAYODSOBSISPGLN
BRINSVCCFAWSSMRPIFAUGCLBDTSBLVBGSDARHCYLINODSRCHMARNWSCLTHBOCARDTSNA-

Books

  • Michael Argetsinger, Walt Hansgen, His Life and the History of Post-War American Road Racing, David Bull Publishing, 2006, ISBN 1-893618-54-4
The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Who is Walt Hansgen?
Walt Hansgen was an American race car driver who competed in various racing series during the 1950s and 1960s, including the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC), and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).
When was Walt Hansgen born?
Walt Hansgen was born on October 28, 1919, in Westfield, New Jersey, United States.
What were some notable achievements of Walt Hansgen?
Walt Hansgen achieved several notable accomplishments throughout his racing career. He won the SCCA National Championship in 1959 and 1960. He also clinched multiple victories, including three consecutive wins at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen from 1960 to 1962.
How did Walt Hansgen pass away?
Walt Hansgen tragically lost his life on April 7, 1966, during a testing accident at Le Mans in France. He was driving a Ford GT40 when it collided with another car, leading to his fatal injuries.
What is Walt Hansgen's legacy in motorsports?
Walt Hansgen is remembered as a skilled and versatile driver who excelled in both sports cars and open-wheel racing. He is considered one of the pioneers of American road racing, and his competitive spirit and talent are still admired by racing enthusiasts today.
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Walt Hansgen
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