Bud Lindemann
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Gordon Lindemann (a.k.a. "Bud" Lindemann) was a pioneer in motor sports broadcasting. Born August 22, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, and graduating from high school in 1940, he joined the Coast Guard during World War II, and was stationed on the Eastwind in the North Atlantic. While in the service, Gordon met his future wife Kay and they were married on February 9, 1945. Lindemann worked briefly in radio in Boston following the war before moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1946.
"Big Bud" (another nickname) then became actively involved in motor sports in the mid-fifties as an announcer at the now-defunct Grand Rapids Speedrome. He later worked at the Berlin Raceway and the Kalamazoo Speedway until the mid-sixties.
In 1964, while working for the WZZM-TV broadcasting company, he developed a program called "Autoscope". The show featured local races as well as some national events. "Autoscope" became a local success, and in 1967 Lindemann expanded by forming his own production company, "Car & Track Productions", owned by Lindemann himself and operated by many of his own family members. Subsequently, he sought to produce the first nationally syndicated television show devoted to motor sports and many additional auto forums. Entitled "Car and Track", the show was carried by over 160 stations across the country and covered over 250 racing and auto events. In 1975 "Car and Track" ended its eight-year run on CBS. It is unknown whether it was canceled by the network or removed by Lindemann himself to pursue other projects. Also unknown is if the show was syndicated for re-runs until it was resurrected on the cable network "Speedvision" in 1996.
In 1976, "Car & Track Productions" began producing racing features for major sports shows, including "ABC's Wide World of Sports" and "CBS Sports Spectacular". Lindemann also initiated another new trend by producing ten-minute motor sports-related theatrical shorts. It is believed that he continued these until his next creative venture in 1979 when he produced a new series featuring author George Plimpton of "Paper Lion" fame in 1979. Entitled "The Ultimate High", the program followed George as he participated in various sporting endeavors. Some of these included skydiving, hang gliding, kayaking and windsurfing. Plimton was also filmed driving a Carl Haas Can-Am car and sharing an Indy car ride with a rookie driver named Bobby Rahal. The series popularity and cancellation date is unknown.
Little is stated of Lindemann's career after this time. It is presumed that he continued to narrate racing events around the United States and produced television content in various forms from time to time.
The Grand Rapids Press makes reference to the passing of Gordon "Bud" Lindemann in 1983.
In 1991, Gordon "Bud" Lindemann was inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Lindemann's career was a major contribution to American automotive racing. Laying new boundaries for the popularization of American racing, his achievements were magnificent to say the least.
