Eddie Sachs

Edward Julius Sachs, Jr, born May 28, 1927 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, died May 30, 1964 in Speedway, Indiana was a United States Auto Club driver who was known as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing." He coined the phrase "If you can't win, be spectacular."

His career included eight USAC Championship Trail wins, 25 top-five finishes in 65 career AAA and USAC starts, including the 1958 USAC Midwest Sprint Car Championship. He was an eight time starter, of the Indianapolis 500, 1957-64, winning the pole position in 1960 and 1961, with his best finish being second in 1961.

Death at Indianapolis

Sachs and sports car driver Dave MacDonald, a 500 rookie, were killed in a fiery crash involving seven cars on the second lap of the 1964 Indianapolis 500. MacDonald was driving a car owned and designed by Mickey Thompson, the #83 "Sears-Allstate Special".^[1] It was badly designed, poorly built and difficult to drive. In all fairness to Mickey Thompson, he requested USAC officials to visit his shop in California to inspect the car while it was under construction. Thompson had decided to have USAC inspect the car early so he would not invest money in the car if there was a chance that it would be disqualified at the Speedway. USAC accepted the request and passed the car. By the time the car reached the Speedway in May USAC had changed their mind and did not pass it. Working in the cramped spaces of the garage area Thompson and crew practically rebuilt the car to meet the new USAC specs.^[2] Graham Hill tested the vehicle before Indy, but refused to drive it in 1963. Masten Gregory crashed earlier in the month due to aerodynamic lift. Other drivers took the advice of Gregory, and stayed away from the Thompson cars. Jim Clark told MacDonald on Carb Day, "Get out of that car mate, just walk away."

On the second lap, MacDonald lost control coming off the fourth turn. As the car began to slide, he came across the track and hit the inside wall, igniting the 80 gallons of gasoline in his fuel tanks which erupted into a massive fire. His car then slid back across the track, causing seven more cars to be involved. Ronnie Duman crashed, spun in flames and hit the pit lane wall, and was burned. Bobby Unser hit another car, and Johnny Rutherford's car on its left rear tire, and crashed into the outside wall. Chuck Stevenson and Norm Hall also crashed.

Sachs, aimed for an opening along the outside wall that was soon closed by MacDonald's burning car. He hit MacDonald's car broadside causing a second expolision and died instantly of blunt force injuries. Despite being trapped in a flaming inferno his drivers suit was only scorched and he received slight burns on his face and hands. The car was covered with a tarp before being taken to the garage area for removal of his body. A lemon that had been on a string around Sachs' neck was found inside of Rutherford's engine compartment after the crash.^[3]

The crash was well-documented on film and shown worldwide. For the first time in its history, the Indianapolis 500 was stopped because of an accident. Partially in response to media pressure, USAC required that cars carry less fuel, a change that also led every team to switch from gasoline to methanol prior to the next year's Indy 500; as of 2008, the race has been run using methanol or ethanol based fuels every year since then.^[4]

Indy 500 results

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Eddie Sachs participated in 4 World Championship races. He started on the pole once, but scored no World Championship points.

Award

He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1999.

Family

Sachs married Nance McGarrity of Coopersburg, Pa on June 3, 1959 at the home of his car owner, Peter Schmidt in Indianapolis, In. Their son, Edward Julius Sachs, III was born on February 6, 1962. Nance Sachs died on September 28, 2005 at her home in Clinton Township, Mi. She is survived by her son Edward III, and grandchildern, Edward IV and Meagan Sachs. After 41 years, she was buried next to her beloved Eddie in the Holy Savior Cemetery, Colesville, Pa. Using the name "Eddie Sachs, Jr," Eddie III became a race car driver racing on the local dirt tracks in the Midwest, unlike his famous father, he never raced in the Indianapolis 500. In recent years Eddie III has been a part-time car owner in NASCAR's Busch Series.

See also

• List of fatalities at Indianapolis

References

1. ^ Mickey Thompson @ 1963 Indy 500
2. ^ American Driver, Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford - Columns - Automobile Magazine
3. ^ Motorsport Memorial
4. ^ IndyStar.com: Indy 500
5. ^ Eddie Sachs Indy 500 Race Stats [1]