Danny Oakes

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Danny Oakes (? – January 13, 2007) was a midget car hall of fame driver.

Contents 1 Driving career 2 Crew chief 3 Career award 4 References

[edit] Driving career

Oakes raced at Ascot Park in the mid 1930s. Oakes was one of the drivers who was unable to race in the prime time of his life during the four years of World War II. ^[1] Oakes won the first race after the war at Gilmore Stadium, the 1945 Turkey Night Grand Prix. He won the 1947 Pacific AAA midget car championship. He later won the 1959 Pacific Coast USAC championship. He drove for 25 years in the midget cars and championship cars, but he was unable to qualify for any Indianapolis 500 races as a driver. He attempted from 1952 to 1955. He was bumped from the field in 1954, and he did not complete his attempt in 1952. He stood by as a relief driver for his friend Alberto Ascari, but Ascari's Ferrari was eliminated before his first pit stop. ^[2]

[edit] Crew chief

He did set up the Jim Hurtubise's car in 1960, which won the pole for the Indianapolis 500 by three miles per hour. Hurtubise won the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award. Oakes was also crew chief for Johnny White his 1964 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year performance.

[edit] Career award

• Oakes was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1996. ^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame; Retrieved February 4, 2007
2. ^ Noted Indianapolis 500 Chief Mechanic Oakes Dies At 95; Donald Davidson; indianapolismotorspeedway.com; January 17, 2007; Retrieved February 4, 2007