Nov 16, 2017 fitch finished fifth in his first race at bridgehampton in 1949, driving a stock mg tc, and followed that with a secondplace finish at watkins glen that same year. Hes tall and slightly roundshouldered, with a shock of thinning hair and the brand of articulate good manners that makes it difficult to accept his credentials as one of the finest road racing drivers ever produced in the united states. May 28, 2014 like carroll shelby, john fitch had plans for a lowproduction, factorybacked sports car. During world war ii, he volunteered to become a pilot for the united states army air corps.
Profile for racing driver john fitch from united states. John fitch was not only a great race car driver he was also a great inventor john fitch was the only american on the mercedesbenz racing team, he later served as the first manager for the corvette racing team and he was the first general manager of the lime rock park race track. Racing driver who survived a major crash during the le mans 24hour race and later. John fitch archive, momentos donated to racing research. Only one prototype was made before the nader affair killed the rearengined oddity. John fitch, who passed away shortly after we profiled him in october 2012, was a founding member of that special class. John cooper fitch stuffed a lot of living into his nine decades on this earth, including u. Microsoft excel files detailing john fitchs entire auto racing career from 1948 to. He was the first american to race automobiles successfully in europe in. John fitch, legendary race car driver and an influential figure in developing professional road racing, was born in indianapolis, indiana on august 4, 1917. The amazing life of john cooper fitch hotrod hotline. His parents divorced when he was 6, and his mother married george spindler, president of the stutz motor car company, martin wrote in the new york times an amateur racecar driver, mr. Fitch died at the age of 95 on october 31, 2012, at his home in lakeville, connecticut, near the lime rock track that he helped establish.
John fitch, whose richly diverse life included being a successful sportscar racer. John fitch has led a life that would beggar a scriptwriter. Art evans has written many books on road course racing, especially during the height of american sports car racing in the 1950s. Spindler took young john for spins on the indianapolis. His parents divorced when he was 6, and his mother married george spindler, president of the stutz motor car company. Nov 22, 2012 the american driver john fitch, who has died aged 95, first made his mark by winning the 1951 buenos aires grand prix for sports cars. He walked over the fitch and the had a conversation in which fitch was very aggravatingly giving newman a piece of his mindnewman just nodded sheepishly. Spindler took young john for spins on the indianapolis motor speedway. John cooper fitch, 95, racing car driver and adventurer john cooper fitch, 95, racing car driver and adventurer. John cooper fitch august 4, 1917 october 31, 2012 was an american racing driver and inventor. Click on the site to see john fitchs career results at that track glossary. Sep 22, 2009 thats john fitch i hadnt a clue as to his identity or fame. John fitch memorial a sad goodbye and celebration of life. John cooper fitch august 4 1917 october 31 2012 was a united states racecar driver and inventor.
John fitch a tribute to the legendary race car driver, war hero. After the le mans disaster of 1955 which he was an eyewitness to, fitch became a safety advocate and founded the driver safety company impact attenuation inc. The collection reflects john fitchs remarkable and varied life as a talented international race car driver, an innovative inventor of road and driver safety equipment, a designer of racing and production cars and an author who shared his exceptional story through his books, imrrc archivist jenny ambrose said. This short film marks the high points of the long, respected and multifaceted career of race driver john fitch, who died at his connecticut country home october 31. One, parked in his postandbeam barn beside his daily driver mercedes station wagon, was his consulier gtp, which hes owned since new. Learned much more about him reading sports car digest weekly, a tribute to your good journalism. He was a works driver for hwm, healey, cunningham and frazer. The amazing life of john cooper fitch is his latest work. John cooper fitch born august 4 1917 was a racecar driver born in indianapolis, indiana. John fitchs 1952 mexican road racepart 1 simanaitis. John fitch, sportscar racer, fighter pilot, safety. The vehicles on our lot have the best prices and quality in the area so come by and see us today.
Even if john fitch had never sat in a racing car, his extraordinary life would. He invented the safety sand barrels we all see on the highways, in addition to many other safety devices for the road, after witnessing the carnage at the 1955 24 hours at le mans. John cooper fitch august 4, 1917 in indianapolis, indiana october 31, 2012 was an american racing driver and inventor. John cooper fitch was part of the team who founded lime rock park. Army air corps bomber and p51 pilot during world war ii, racing at le mans in the early 1950s, acting as a chevrolet corvette test driver, to inventing the fitch inertial safety barrier that is now in widespread use on american freeways. An indianapolis native, fitch was born on august 4, 1917. The lady in blue is sheila walters, wife of the great cunningham driver phil walters.
Mercedesbenz remembers legendary race car driver john fitch. Oct 28, 2016 the collection reflects john fitchs remarkable and varied life as a talented international race car driver, an innovative inventor of road and driver safety equipment, a designer of racing and production cars and an author who shared his exceptional story through his books, imrrc archivist jenny ambrose said. John fitch, a cunningham c4 and two movie stars my car quest. John cooper fitch, 95, racing car driver and adventurer. The man many believe to be the worlds greatest living racing driver has spent the last halfcentury regaling his fans with stories of a golden decade of speed. Otherwise, when you see the prices mentioned, youll be tripping over things to get to the phone to place a call to. Racing safety john fitch biography racing safety with john fitch. For over 44 years, racer, safety engineer and inventor john fitch has been involved with the myriad aspects of motorsports safety. After the corvette got the new small block chevy v8 engine in 1955, chevrolets chief engineer ed cole asked fitch to make the boulevard cruiser into. One of americas leading drivers in europe during the 1950s, the young john fitch was introduced to the sport by his stepfather george spinder who worked as sales manager at stutz. Fitch lived with his wife, the former elizabeth huntley, in. Nov 19, 2012 for those of us kids in the 50s who were just catching on to sports cars, john fitch was an idol.
For those of us kids in the 50s who were just catching on to sports cars, john fitch was an idol. As the first time chevy corvettes were represented in the race, the brand had a lot to prove and under the talented hand of fitch and his co driver bob grossman, corvette took the gt class win. This is a virtual cemetery for those some time forgotten heroes. John fitch has the sort of wispy gentleness more often associated with a high school english teacher than a great racing driver. He invented the fitch barriersthose yellow impactabsorbing barrels on the highway that lessen the severity of collision with imovable objects. Fitch finished 4th overall and 3rd in class at linden on august 21, 1949. He began racing sports cars in 1949 and eventually earned a spot on the mercedes racing team, sharing a codriver spot with pierre levegh at the infamous 1955 24 hours of le mans. Sep 28, 2015 1950 fitch model b, the fitch bitch john fitch was a race car driverslash engineer who, among many other things, invented the fitch barrier systemthose sandfilled barrels you see near overpasses that are designed to dissipate energy in a crash. Like carroll shelby, john fitch had plans for a lowproduction, factorybacked sports car. John fitch a tribute to the legendary race car driver, war. John fitch and john walters after winning the sebring 12 hours in 1953. As a corvair enthusiast as well as a british car enthusiast, i mourn the passing of john fitch. At the age of 91, legendary race car driver john fitch is still racing, most recently at the bonneville salt flats. Fitch was present at the creation of american sports car racing, driving in.
Racing across italy in the mille miglia in a 1955 mercedes. One of those patents was for a system fitch created to steer hot air balloons. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Even if john fitch had never sat in a racing car, his extraordinary life would still be the stuff of legend. He was the first american to race automobiles successfully in europe in the postwar era. He was the sports car club of americas first national champion. Mercedesbenz remembers legendary race car driver john fitch the photos in this obit were taken on september 7, 2001 at the watkins glen vintage gp.
Driving john fitchs heritage car in italys mille miglia in a mercedesbenz 300 sl gives you a deep appreciation for the iconic rally race and the man who won his class 60 years ago. Fitch was a great driver in the golden age of sports car racing and he is a true hero. John fitch automotive car dealer in south windsor, ct. He raced competitively for the next 15 years, after what he. John fitch memorial a sad goodbye and celebration of. Any wish to race had to wait until after world war ii during which fitch served in the united states air force with distinction but he ended the conflict as. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. An hour later, family, friends, associates, racing and automotive enthusiasts alike packed the trinity episcopal church of lakeville, connecticut for a celebration of fitchs life, eulogized by one of fitchs sons, john h. John fitch a pictorial rememberance sports car digest. That performance led to an opportunity to drive a more powerful cadillacallard at an international sports car race in buenos aires argentina, which fitch won.
Nov 19, 2012 johns new girlfriend, elizabeth huntley, was also his pit crew. And, for the race car proper, the fitch driver capsule is a protective troughlike seat that incorporates a helmet tether to reduce exposure to basal skull fracture and hyperextension of the neck, with a shearpin mounting that provides energyabsorbing forward travel, among other novel features. The cars of celebrated driver john fitch get their own celebration at. In addition to his legacy as a driver and race car builder, he also had 15 patents, mostly related to automotive safely. American sportsman, yachtsman, fighter pilot, champion sports car driver, and safety advocate. When i think of john fitch, he says, i think, here is one guy on the planet who has never needed, and will never. He built the corvette racing program, palled around with jfk, raced for mercedesbenz, and was almost famous. Many, many racing drivers have lost their lives, often whilst at the wheel. He was the first american to race automobiles successfully in europe. Fitch, john sports cars 2007 inductees hall of fame.
John lee paul born hansjohan paul, march 12, 1939 in the netherlands was an american racecar driver, convicted felon and fugitive. Prnewswire john fitch, legendary race car driver and an influential figure in developing professional road racing, was born in indianapolis. Fitch was present at the creation of american sports car racing, driving in the earliest races at longlost places like bridgehampton and in the. John fitch racing 2000 corvette hall of fame national. The american driver john fitch, who has died aged 95, first made his mark by winning the 1951 buenos aires grand prix for sports cars. We are proud to offer these values in our sales and business practices so our customers keep coming back. The worst crash in racing history compelled a racing driver. In the course of a driving career which spanned 18 years, fitch won such notable sports car races as the.
Oct 19, 2018 driving john fitch s heritage car in italys mille miglia in a mercedesbenz 300 sl gives you a deep appreciation for the iconic rally race and the man who won his class 60 years ago. Nov 02, 2012 this short film marks the high points of the long, respected and multifaceted career of race driver john fitch, who died at his connecticut country home october 31, 2012. When i think of john fitch, he says, i think, here is one guy. John fitch was a genius inventor, with many patents, besides being an acclaimed international racecar driver. Find out more about his contributions to safety, including the fitch safety barrier, driver capsule, displaceable guardrail and more automotive safety innovations. Please keep in mind as you read the following article, that it was written in 1965. The sports car club of americas first national champion, john fitch, has authored one of the most extraordinary accounts of openroad racing ever written. John fitch is well known as a true pioneer in corvette racing, and is. John cooper fitch was an american racing driver and inventor. His service took him to north africa, where he flew the a20 havoc and then on to england. John fitch only built one phoenix prototype, and its for sale. John fitch a tribute to the legendary race car driver. In 1953, fitch and codriver phil walters beat the aston martin team at sebring in a chryslerpowered cunningham c4, much.
The fitch sprint in car and driver its real grand touring on a shoestring, thanks to the old pro, john fitch car and driver, september, 1965. John keeps the phoenix in a onecar garage attached to his 1767 house, but had a couple other cars he wanted to show me. Newman came in after a few hot laps and got out of the car as the teams worked it over. John fitch automotive is founded on trust, integrity, and respect. John cooper fitch was already a decorated world war ii fighter and bomber pilot, and expow, when he started racing after world war ii. He was the sports car club of americas first national champion, in 1951. Learned much more about him reading sports car digest weekly, a. Fighter pilot, sailor, inventor, farmer, prisoner of war, car designer, safety campaigner, race track director. The worst crash in racing history compelled a racing. Fitch was the only american member of the famous fiftiesera mercedesbenz team. Fitch lived with his wife, the former elizabeth huntley, in an apartment in paris, a villa in northern italy and a house in switzerland. You should definitely spend your quarantined time learning more about him. He was a race car driver, an inventor and a war hero.
Contemporary auto executives like to pass themselves off as car guys but they couldnt hold a candle to fitch. Im splitting matters into background with todays part 1 and the actual race as tomorrows part. Nov 09, 2012 former formula 1 and transam driver sam posey has known fitch since he was 14. As it was, his 18 racing seasons included drives for mercedes in the carrera panamericana, the mille miglia and the targa florio, as well as the fateful 1955 le mans 24 hours. After obtaining an engineering degree from lehigh university, he began racing in europe. His goal was to win the worlds most demanding endurance race with an american car and driver, and fitch was to play a. The cars of celebrated driver john fitch get their own. He began racing sports cars in 1949 and eventually earned a spot on the mercedes racing team, sharing a codriver spot with pierre levegh at. Former formula 1 and transam driver sam posey has known fitch since he was 14. Besides serving as a wwii fighter pilot, kickstarting corvette racing, and. Fitch, actor edward herrmann, friend don klein, and fellow automotive legend sam posey. As a race car driver, he was the sccas first national champion in 1951 and had race wins driving for the mercedes benz factory team and for briggs cunningham.