Mel Hansen
Hansen, circa 1950
Born	Melvin Lloyd Hansen (1911-07-11)July 11, 1911 Redfield, South Dakota, U.S.
Died	June 5, 1963(1963-06-05) (aged 51) San Bernardino, California, U.S.
Champ Car career
21 races run over 7 years
Years active	1939–1941, 1946–1949
Best finish	9th (tie) – 1940
First race	1939 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race	1949 DuQuoin 100 (DuQuoin)
First win	1948 Atlanta 100 (Lakewood)
Last win	1949 Springfield 100 (Springfield)
Wins Podiums Poles 2 3 2

Melvin Lloyd Hansen^[1] (born July 11, 1911, Redfield, South Dakota – Died June 5, 1963, San Bernardino, California) was an American racecar driver. Hansen was nicknamed the "Firecracker Kid" because he loved to throw the explosive devices under chairs and behind people who were gathered in groups.^[2]

Racing career

Hansen grew up in Bloomington, California, and began racing in stock cars in 1931 at the Riverside Fairgrounds. He continued to race these cars at other Inland Empire tracks in Riverside and Colton in the early 1930s. As this early version of track roadsters waned, he switched to midget car racing, where he achieved great success.

Midget car career

Hansen's first big win was the 1939 Turkey Night Grand Prix at Gilmore Stadium in Rex Mays' Offenhauser. Hansen raced his midget car throughout the nation in 1940, and won 53 features that season.^[2] He also claimed the track championship at Fort Miami Speedway in Toledo, Ohio, that season. He won the 1942 track championship at VFW Motor Speedway in Detroit. Hansen raced in the United Racing Association in California, and won the 1945 URA Blue Circuit championship.

Championship car career

Hansen competed in six Indianapolis 500s. He best finish was an eighth-place finish in the 1940 Indianapolis 500. He won the 100-mile AAA Championship race at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1948, and won the 100-mile AAA Championship race at Springfield, Illinois, in 1949.

Accident

Hansen was paralyzed after a midget racing crash on September 8, 1949, at Detroit, and he died on June 5, 1963, in San Bernardino, California, after being a paraplegic for fifteen years.^[2]

Career award

• Hansen was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1993.^[2]

Complete AAA Championship Car results

Indy 500 results