George Reggie "Little George" Amick[1] (October 24, 1924 – April 4, 1959) was an American racecar driver, mainly competing in the American National Championship.[2] He was killed in a crash in a USAC 100-mile (160 km) race at Daytona International Speedway.[2]
Racing career
Amick began racing in jalopies in the Northwestern United States before switching to midget car racing.[2] He competed in USAC National midgets for three seasons, finishing in the top ten points each season, and won 16 feature races.[2] He totaled 38 wins including the 1957 Turkey Night Grand Prix.[2]
He moved to Indy cars and won three times in 43 starts.[2] In his rookie appearance at the Indianapolis 500 in 1958, Amick was assigned a "lay-down" roadster commissioned by car owner Norm Demler, designed by Quinn Epperly, and built by master Indianapolis chief mechanic George Salih. Amick found himself running a comfortable second to leader Jimmy Bryan with just 20 laps remaining. Demler and Salih felt Amick was in a position to catch Bryan and perhaps even win, but decided against pushing their rookie driver into a potentially fatal mistake, and Amick came home an easy second. He was named the 1958 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.[3]
Death
Amick was competing in the only Indy Car race ever run at the Daytona International Speedway and was killed in an accident on the final lap.[2] He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[4][5]
Awards
Amick was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.[2]
Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | INDY |
MIL 7 |
LAN 18 |
SPR 4 |
MIL 20 |
DUQ 3 |
PIK | SYR 3 |
ISF 3 |
SAC 12 |
PHX 3 |
9th | 750 | ||
| 1956 | INDY DNP |
MIL DNQ |
LAN 1 |
DAR 4 |
ATL 13 |
SPR DNQ |
MIL 6 |
DUQ 5 |
SYR 5 |
ISF 12 |
SAC 13 |
PHX 1 |
4th | 1.050 | |
| 1957 | INDY DNQ |
LAN 5 |
MIL 6 |
DET 2 |
ATL 1 |
SPR 3 |
MIL 5 |
DUQ 16 |
SYR 5 |
ISF 3 |
TRE 3 |
SAC 4 |
PHX 11 |
3rd | 1.400 |
| 1958 | TRE 6 |
INDY 2 |
MIL 6 |
LAN 14 |
ATL 2 |
SPR 18 |
MIL 4 |
DUQ 18 |
SYR 2 |
ISF Wth |
TRE 19 |
SAC 4 |
PHX 15 |
2nd | 1.640 |
| 1959 | DAY 4 |
TRE |
INDY |
MIL |
LAN |
SPR |
MIL |
DUQ |
SYR |
ISF |
TRE |
SAC |
PHX |
36th | 120 |
Indianapolis 500 results
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Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Federal Engineering | Snowberger | Offenhauser L4 | ARG | MON | 500 DNQ |
FRA | GBR | GER | PES | ITA | NC | 0 | |||
| 1958 | Norman Demler | Epperly Indy Roadster | Offenhauser L4 | ARG | MON | NED | 500 2 |
BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | POR | ITA | MOR | 15th | 6 |
References
- ^ "George Amick". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Plaque" (Press release). National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. 2009.
- ^ "George Amick Wins Rookie Award Prize". The Star Press. United Press International. June 1, 1958. p. C1. Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
- ^ "Racing Fraternity Pays Tribute To George Amick At Final Rites". The Indianapolis Star. April 10, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved July 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- George Amick driver statistics at Racing-Reference
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