Jan opperman race car driver

Speedway that required him to be under roundtheclock care for the. Died at his mothers home after being a virtual invalid for 16 years after a crash at jennerstown, pennsylvania. Jan opperman speedway motors museum of american speed. Opperman, who competed in one sprint cup event, died on september 4, 1997. Its hard to argue how talented jan opperman was behind the wheel of a race car. While jan opperman was a legend to so many, he was even more than that to me.

Unfortunately for jan, he blew an engine on his qualifying attempt and missed the race. Kenny weld was a great driver but his true talent was as a car builder and mechanic. The famous jan opperman california hippie sprint car. He returned to racing early in 1978, but never captured his previous brilliance as a driver. Jan opperman sprint car racing, dirt track racing, auto racing, nascar. Reminiscences of jan as driver, friend, and adversary come from a wide variety of people in racing. Nssn archives photo jan opperman was one of the most colorful characters in the history of auto racing. Jan opperman racing career profile driver database. The race happened in 1974, when opperman competed at pocono raceway. Auto racings original outlaw straggled into western ohios eldora speedway. Opperman, the quintessential outlaw sprintcar racer, was battling for the lead in the nations most prestigious dirttrack race when he was. One year later, opperman moved to beaver springs, pa. Click on the year to see the standings for that year.

Opperman races to eat but steers for other goals the new. Jan opperman right chats with his racing buddy bubby jones at indianapolis in 1977. Born in long beach, california, opperman died in fountain, florida, 16 years after suffering critical injuries from a crash during a race in jennerstown, pennsylvania. Sometimes it seems like dirt racing is another world, one where drivers find long term success away from national attention. Mar 1, 2012 jan opperman, best sprint car driver of all time. Janssen brought jan to lincoln and oppermans career took off.

Jan oppermanthe original racing outlaw bleacher report. Jan opperman sprint car racing, dirt track cars, old race cars. Sprintcar star opperman suffers violent usac crash speed sport. Free spirit of a man, immensly popular with fans, who was critically injured and left braindamaged after a series of crashes. Known primarily as a sprint car driver, he also drove in the usac championship car series, racing in the 1974 and 1976 seasons. The racing hippie carved a legend on the dirt tracks of pennsylvania in the early 1970s winning 44 of 90 races in 1972. Jerry janssen, spotted him in california racing a ranger airplane engine sprint car.

Many times a champion he won the knoxville nationals in 1966, he raced against many of the notable drivers, such as a. Joe also started making some indy car connections in 1975, crewing for a. Jan oppermans 4x sprint car speedway motors museum of. See more ideas about sprint cars, sprint car racing, race cars. He won the 1971 knoxville nationals, the premiere event in sprint car racing. Jan opperman nationality american born february 9, 1939 hometown long beach, california died september 4, 1997 place of death fountain, florida racing highlights. Two weeks later, he returned to the car for the southern 500.

In 1975, ray lee goodwin was hired to pilot the machine and won several features throughout the midwest before crashing at knoxville, ia, midway through the year. I knew he was a famous race car driver, but i didnt really like racing. In 1976, he won the hulman classic at terre haute,ind. Jan opperman did a lot of amazing things in sprints, midgets and dirt. Opperman was plucked from obscurity in 1968 when a speedway motors employee, jerry janssen, spotted him in california racing a ranger airplane engine sprint car.

From the 1975 narc yearbook courtesy of a cool race fan that gave us the book at hanford jan opperman wins the dirt cup points, winning at elma, and sky valley, 2nd at skagit. Jan went out, ran a couple of laps and told ted the car was really nervous from the middle of the corner out and the car lacked straightaway speed. Sep 06, 2008 as with most racing legends, jan opperman had an interesting childhood. This car was built in 1974 by don maxwell for speedy bill smith. It had all the ingredients for the creation of a great race car driver, including a generous helping of a vagabond family, a. This is the kind of track i like, opperman said, referring to the tacky condition of the halfmile oval. Goodwin suffered an eye injury which ended his driving career in that crash. February 9, 1974 longhaired jan opperman won his second consecutive imca winternationals sprint car feature at the florida state fair on saturday, but it wasnt easy. Jan opperman february 9, 1939 september 4, 1997, was an american racecar driver. Aug 10, 2019 eldon, iowa august 10, 1975 jan opperman of beaver crossing, neb. Eastern museum of motor racing, latimore valley duration. Sprintcar star opperman suffers violent usac crash. Opperman, the quintessential outlaw sprint car racer, was battling for the lead in the nations most prestigious dirttrack race when he was. A natural driving talent with shaggy hair and a battered cowboy hat, jan.

Starting 14th in the event, opperman drove a solid race and came home four laps down. He had to contend with a tricky track, but more important, he had to contend with a charging driver most of the way. After a long recovery, jan opperman who was now living in noxon, montana, and working with troubled youths returned to racing in 1978. It only raced one time during that season and was wrecked in its first race by bob moore. Empa hall of famejan opperman eastern motorsport press. The following from the internet column on 10 dirtiest drivers. Foyt, johnny rutherford, jan opperman, mario andretti, parnelli. Jan opperman nascar results, statistics and car numbers. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year.

Get the latest race results, news, videos, pictures, win record and more for jan opperman on. He was a legendary sprint car and super modified driver, with a career spanning the mid 1950s to early 1980s. Jan opperman, born february 9, 1939 is a former sprint car driver from beaver crossing, ne. Licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of rca records label nashville. Jan opperman did a lot of amazing things in sprints, midgets and dirt cars but his performance at indianapolis in may of 1976 was just confirmation of his badass calling. Sometimes it seems like dirt racing is another world, one where drivers find longterm success away from national attention.

If having a mechanical advantage is cheating, weld dominated the category. Smith hired jan opperman to take over driving duties and they did very well together. Customers who bought this item also bought langhorne speedway throwback tee. Jan opperman with images sprint car racing, dirt track cars, old. Two time starter of the indianapolis 500, finishing 21st in 1974 and 16th in 1976. Bills biggest win of his career came on may 1, 1976 when opperman steered the car to win the nationally televised, tony hulman classic over a stellar field. Jan opperman born 09 feb 1939 long beach, california. In august, he won three midget races in three different cars, a sprint race on the high banks of dayton, came from 20th to first at springfield in a. As with most racing legends, jan opperman had an interesting childhood. Preserving the history of sprint car racing one photo at a time. Opperman and trostle raced much of the season together, and shortly thereafter opperman landed in the no. Alas, his illustrious career ended in 1981 after a united racing club sprint car accident at the halfmile asphalt jennerstown pa. He was my idol, the recipient of my teenage crush, and my uncle dick bogars race car driver. Joe ran solidly in the top ten until the 51st lap, when a crash involving several front running cars, caused a red flag.

A man of strong spiritual belief, jan opperman was very popular with his fellow drivers, the media and fans. September 1976 saw saldana record the biggest win of his career in the hoosier hundred dirt champ car race. Opperman, the quintessential outlaw sprint car racer, was battling for the lead in the nations most prestigious dirttrack race when he was involved in a five car crash that left him in. After a brief driving stint in midgets with the bcra, opperman began racing a sprint car in california. Mar 23, 2015 long before the world of outlaws came to life, there was jan opperman. He was also one of the best racers to ever throw a sprint car into a turn. Dale earnhardt in cronkites car in 1978, opperman drove the car in 1979 im just not used to these cars. Sep 03, 2008 while jan opperman was a legend to so many, he was even more than that to me. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Ted, along with rouths chief mechanic, todd gibson, who was also a helluva race driver removed the shocks and found the bump rubbers were bottoming out on the left side before the right.

The racing hippie carved a legend on the dirt tracks of pennsylvania in the early 1970s winning 44 of 90 races in 1972 before embarking on the united states auto club. Jan opperman was one of the most colorful characters in the history of auto racing. Jan opperman, one of the best sprint car drivers of all time. Jan opperman became known as one of the original outlaws. Opperman was born in california, but lived in three different. Sprint car racing dirt track racing west fargo because race car vintage race car car and driver car stuff race cars badass tim shaffer is low, while paul mcmahan goes high at the duel in the dakotas. He won the 1971 knoxville nationals, the premiere event in sprint car. Sprint car driver jan opperman, left, mechanic ralph heintzelman sr. Jan opperman the racing pastor public group facebook. May 03, 2020 jan went out, ran a couple of laps and told ted the car was really nervous from the middle of the corner out and the car lacked straightaway speed.