Henry Banks

For other people named Henry Banks, see Henry Banks (disambiguation).
Henry Banks
Born June 14, 1913
Died December 18, 1994 (aged 81)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality United States American
Active years 19501954
Teams Maserati, Moore, Lesovsky
Races 5 (3 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums 0
Career points 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First race 1950 Indianapolis 500
Last race 1954 Indianapolis 500

Henry Banks (June 14, 1913 – December 18, 1994) was an American midget car and "big car" driver.

Background

Henry Banks was born in England, but brought up in Royal Oak, Michigan.[1] He was the son of an early European race-driver. Henry began competing in 1932, when he was 19-years-old, and became successful in the midget cars.

Racing career

He was the first driver to pass the qualifying "rookie test" at the Indianapolis 500 in 1936.[1] He also drove as a relief driver in 1937, 1939, and 1940, with a 21st place finish in 1938.

He won the 1941 American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) championship in New England.

After a break during the war, when he worked at Ford’s aero-engine division, Banks’ career took off. In 1947 he won 30 midget car races. In 1950, he was the AAA National Champion and, in the same year, came second in the National Midget points.

Banks later retired from racing and became USAC Director of Competitions, and was also inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. He died at Indianapolis in 1994.

Actor

Also at this time, Banks appeared in two films. The first was To Please A Lady, starring Clark Gable. The second was Roar of the Crowd, starring Howard Duff.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1938 33 31 116.279 31 21 109 0 Rod bearing
1946 3 21 120.220 25 27 32 0 Pinion shaft
1947 43 26 120.923 18 24 36 0 Oil line
1950 12 21 129.646 29 25 112 0 Flagged
1951 1 17 133.899 12 6 200 0 Running
1952 2 12 135.962 12 19 184 0 Flagged
Totals 673 0

Starts 6
Poles 0
Front Row 0
Wins 0
Top 5 0
Top 10 1
Retired 3

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points
1950 Indianapolis Race Cars Maserati 8CTF Offenhauser L4 GBR
MON
500
25
SUI
BEL
FRA
ITA
NC 0
1951 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins Moore Offenhauser L4 SUI
500
6
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
ESP
NC 0
1952 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins Lesovsky Offenhauser L4 SUI
500
19
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
NED
ITA
NC 0
1953 Hopkins / Motor Racers Lesovsky Offenhauser L4 ARG
500
DNQ
NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
SUI
ITA
NC 0
1954 Hopkins / Motor Racers Lesovsky Offenhauser L4 ARG
500
DNQ
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
SUI
ITA
ESP
NC 0

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame