Al Blixt Auto Racing History

I Remember Vicente

Of all my father's auto racing friends, none made  a bigger impression on me growing up than Dr. Vicente Alvarez.  To the world, his contribution to racing was enormous as a photographer, journalist, historian and collector.  For me personally, it is the memory of his warmth, grace and generous personality that abides.  To hear more about this remarkable human being, read on.

Duke Nalon - Racing Legend

Most race fans remember Duke Nalon from his many Indianapolis races.  They remember how he tamed the powerful and legendary Novi's. They remember the track records he set, the 500-mile races he nearly won and the fiery crash that he miraculously survived.  But to race fans in 1940, the Duke was already a legend.  While he raced midgets and big cars coast to coast, Duke spent a lot of time at Detroit's Motor City Speedway.  He was a friend to my father and to many who were part of the racing scene before and after WWII.  For more about the Duke's early years, read on.

Henry Banks: Driver, Offical and..Movie Star?

Henry Banks in his #16 midget owned by Mike Caruso about 1939 at Motor City Speedway.

Henry began racing in 1932 and retired in 1954.  He won several championships including the 1941 ARDC Midget Championship in 1941 and the 1950 AAA National Championship.  He appeared at Indianapolis seven times as a starting or relief driver.  In 1959, he became the second Director of Competition for the fledgling United States Auto Club that replaced AAA as the primary national sancioning body in 1955.  But, read on to find out about Henry's brief career as a movie star.

Indy in 1939

This is a view of the start/finish line at Indy during the 1939 Indianapolis 500 mile race.  As this photo was taken, Wilbur Shaw was in the process of winning the second of his three 500 mile races. Shaw was responsbible for saving the brickyard from being turned into a subdivision after the war when he got Tony Hulman to purchase the track. He became president and was the architect of the revival of the 500 after WWII. But in 1939, no one was thinking about war. Notice the Borg-Warner trophy in the foreground?