Henry Banks
Born | June 14, 1913 |
---|---|
Died | December 18, 1994 81) (aged |
Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | American |
Active years | 1950–1954 |
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
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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 |