George Amick
BornGeorge Reggie Amick, Jr.
(1924-10-24)October 24, 1924
Vernonia, Oregon, U.S.
DiedApril 4, 1959(1959-04-04) (aged 34)
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Champ Car career
43 races run over 5 years
Years active1955–1959
Best finish2nd – 1958
First race1955 Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee)
Last race1959 Daytona 100 (Daytona)
First win1956 Langhorne 100 (Langhorne)
Last win1957 Atlanta 100 (Lakewood)
Wins Podiums Poles
3 14 3
Formula One World Championship career
Active years1957–1958
TeamsSnowberger, Epperly
Entries2 (1 start)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums1
Career points6
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1957 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1958 Indianapolis 500

George Reggie "Little George" Amick[1] (October 24, 1924 – April 4, 1959) was an American racecar driver, mainly competing in the American National Championship.[2] He was killed in a crash in a USAC 100-mile (160 km) race at Daytona International Speedway.[2]

Racing career

Amick began racing in jalopies in the Northwestern United States before switching to midget car racing.[2] He competed in USAC National midgets for three seasons, finishing in the top ten points each season, and won 16 feature races.[2] He totaled 38 wins including the 1957 Turkey Night Grand Prix.[2]

He moved to Indy cars and won three times in 43 starts.[2] In his rookie appearance at the Indianapolis 500 in 1958, Amick was assigned a "lay-down" roadster commissioned by car owner Norm Demler, designed by Quinn Epperly, and built by master Indianapolis chief mechanic George Salih. Amick found himself running a comfortable second to leader Jimmy Bryan with just 20 laps remaining. Demler and Salih felt Amick was in a position to catch Bryan and perhaps even win, but decided against pushing their rookie driver into a potentially fatal mistake, and Amick came home an easy second. He was named the 1958 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.[3]

Death

Amick was competing in the only Indy Car race ever run at the Daytona International Speedway and was killed in an accident on the final lap.[2] He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[4][5]

Awards

Amick was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.[2]

Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos Points
1955 INDY
 MIL
7 		LAN
18 		SPR
4 		MIL
20 		DUQ
3 		PIK SYR
3 		ISF
3 		SAC
12 		PHX
3 		9th 750
1956 INDY
DNP 		MIL
DNQ 		LAN
1 		DAR
4 		ATL
13 		SPR
DNQ 		MIL
6 		DUQ
5 		SYR
5 		ISF
12 		SAC
13 		PHX
1 		4th 1.050
1957 INDY
DNQ 		LAN
5 		MIL
6 		DET
2 		ATL
1 		SPR
3 		MIL
5 		DUQ
16 		SYR
5 		ISF
3 		TRE
3 		SAC
4 		PHX
11 		3rd 1.400
1958 TRE
6 		INDY
2 		MIL
6 		LAN
14 		ATL
2 		SPR
18 		MIL
4 		DUQ
18 		SYR
2 		ISF
Wth 		TRE
19 		SAC
4 		PHX
15 		2nd 1.640
1959 DAY
4 		TRE
 INDY
 MIL
 LAN
 SPR
 MIL
 DUQ
 SYR
 ISF
 TRE
 SAC
 PHX
 36th 120

Indianapolis 500 results

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points
1957 Federal Engineering Snowberger Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500
DNQ 		FRA GBR GER PES ITA NC 0
1958 Norman Demler Epperly Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON NED 500
2 		BEL FRA GBR GER POR ITA MOR 15th 6

References

  1. ^ "George Amick". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Plaque" (Press release). National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. 2009.
  3. ^ "George Amick Wins Rookie Award Prize". The Star Press. United Press International. June 1, 1958. p. C1. Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ^ "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  5. ^ "Racing Fraternity Pays Tribute To George Amick At Final Rites". The Indianapolis Star. April 10, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved July 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
Sporting positions Preceded byDon Edmunds Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year 1958 Succeeded byBobby Grim
Categories