Ligouri and Hurtubise rush to aid Kenyon. Hurtbuise stumbles as his foot gets caught between the exhaust pipe and the car's body. — at Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA.

Unbelievably, Joe Barzda brought this car under control to finish his qualifying run at Williams Grove (PA) Speedway in 1956.

A very early shot of the legendary Bill Vukovich in a midget. It's a well prepped car, the polished wheels, and the chrome radiator shell. And, what a great name for a race car, The Velvet Ice Cream Special. Vuky's look displays the determination that would win him many races.

In this shot from 1969, the Championship Cars are lined up and ready to go on a California fall day in Sacramento. Al Unser in the #3, glances over at Greg Weld on the pole, in his Grant King Plymouth. That's Jim McElreath in the #14. Bill Vukovich is behind McElreath, and Mario Andretti is directly behind Weld. Unser would go on to win the 100 miler. — at Sacramento (CA) Speedway.

Kenyon's fuel tank splits releasing fuel onto the track. — at Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA.

All three burning cars head for the infield. — at Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA.

Joe Leonard (black helmet), Charlie Mussleman and an unidentified spectator aid the unconscious Kenyon. — at Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA.

The Mel Kenyon accident at Langhorne on June 20th, 1965. Mel Kenyon #21, Jim Hurtubise #88 and Ralph Liguori collide after Kenyon's engine blew spraying the track with oil. — at Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA.

Kenyon has spun into the infield as the cars of Ligouri and Hurtubise erupt in flames. — at Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA.

George Follmer escaped without injury in this fiery crash at Trenton in September of 1967. — at New Jersey State Fairgrounds, Trenton, NJ.

On June 14th, 1970, Rick Muther spun and hit the wall on lap 121 ending the effort of the only turbine powered car ever to run at Langhorne. — at Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA.

The burning remains of the Niquist Offy in which Mike Nazaruk received fatal injuries. May 1st, 1955. — at Langhorne, PA.

Driver Charlie Musselman, who did not make the race goes to the aid of Mel Kenyon as an unidentified specator empties a fire extinguisher on the blaze. Joe Leonard in car #2 is seen coming to at stop to assist. Credit has been given to these three individuals for saving Mel Kenyon's life. June 20th, 1965. — at Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA.

Mel Kenyon, Lebanon, IN 8 time 500 starter, best finish 3rd, 1968 USAC National Midget Champion 1964, 67, 68, 74, 77, 81, 88 1967 Hut 100 winner, Terre Haute (IN) Action Track International Motorsports Hall of Fame Motorsports Hall of Fame of America National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. — at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The pace lap for a 1946 100 mile midget race at the Trenton Speedway.

Wade Morton in his Duesenberg, on the apron of an unknown track. This shot shows just how high, massive and daunting the board tracks were. No wonder they were called, "The Walls." It took brave men to run them. Photo by Joseph Tenschert, from the Library of Congress collection.

Gary Bettenhausen's near fatal accident on July 2rd, 1974 at the Syracuse Speedway. — at Syracuse, NY.

On June 7th, 1964, eight days after he finished 4th and was named Rookie of the Year at the 1964 Indianapolis 500, the career of Johnny White came to an end. He lost control in the 1st turn at the Terre Haute Action Track and rolled over the 2nd turn guard rail resulting in a broken neck and paralysis. He was confined to wheel and still attended many races with the assistance of his children. Johnny passed away on December 24th, 1977. — in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Chuck Taylor survived this horrifying flip, without serious injury at New Bremen (OH) Speedway in 1966.

The Little 500 is a sprint car race consisting of 33 cars on a quarter mile track for 500 laps. It takes place the night before the Indianapolis 500 at the Anderson Speedway. — at Anderson, IN.

Chuck Taylor survived this horrifying flip, without serious injury at New Bremen (OH) Speedway in 1966.

Th Engle Offy after Larry Crockett lost his life on March 20th, 1955. — at Langhorne, PA.

1950 Indianapolis 500 winner Johnnie Parsons took this flip at the Carrell (CA) Speedway. He was not seriously injured.

Bill Vukovich ready to take to the track at Denver, in Troy Ruttman's, 1952 Indianapolis 500 winning car. When Troy broke his arm in a sprint car accident, J.C. Agajanian needed a driver for his Championship car, so he called Vuky. Bill, being a friend of both Aggie and Troy agreed. He drove the car in six races, won two, and finished third in another. Denver was one of his wins. Notice that Troy's name is still on the car. — at Denver, CO.

Eddie Sachs goes over the wall during practice for the September 28th, 1958 Trenton 100. — at New Jersey State Fairgrounds, Trenton, NJ.

Future 1955 Indianapolis 500 winner, Bob Sweikert, early in his sprint car career, at the Terre Haute Action Track in 1952. He was also the AAA Midwest Sprint Car champion, and the National Champion. — in Terre Haute, Indiana.

On June 7th, 1964, eight days after he finished 4th and was named Rookie of the Year at the 1964 Indianapolis 500, the career of Johnny White came to an end. He lost control in the 1st turn at the Terre Haute Action Track and rolled over the 2nd turn guard rail resulting in a broken neck and paralysis. He was confined to wheel and still attended many races with the assistance of his children. Johnny passed away on December 24th, 1977. — in Terre Haute, Indiana.

George Snider tangled with Darl Harrison (14) in the 2nd turn and became the first USAC Sprint Car driver to go over the wall at the Winchester Speedway. He suffered two broken arms. George was the Sprint point leader at the time of the crash. July 27th, 1975. — at Winchester, IN.

Jim Rigsby was killed on August 31st, 1952 at the Dayton Speedway when he could not avoid the spinning car of Gene Force. His climbs up and over Force. With it's throttle stuck wide open the car heads up the high banked turn and flies approximately 200 feet in the air. — at Dayton, OH.

Jungle Park season opener, 1939. Everett Saylor and the Pop Dreyer built car with which he had won the 1937 CSRA Championship. Before he went racing he was a school teacher. He had just rebuilt the car and didn't have time to paint it. Saylor drove in the 1941 Indianapolis 500 before being killed in a Missouri big car crash on May 31, 1942 in what was one of the very last auto races held before the government banned racing because of World War II. Photo and info from Jon Noggle. — at Marshall, IN.

Andy Linden, ready to run at Winchester. Though extremely dangerous, the high-banks of Winchester, Salem, and Dayton, were where the Indianapolis drivers were born in the 1950's. — at Winchester, IN.

No roll bar, minimal headgear, but on three wheels, and the knobbies churning the clay. Wally Campbell in the famed Sam Traylor Offy. Wally was leading the 1954 AAA Midwest Sprint Car championship, when he died at Salem on July 17th, 1954. Wally Campbell of Trenton, New Jersey was a stock car, midget, and sprint car driver. He was the 1951 NASCAR Modified champion and the 1953 AAA Eastern Division Sprint car rookie of the year. Wally was killed practicing for an AAA Midwestern Division sprint car race at Salem, Indiana on July 17, 1954. He was one day past his 28th birthday. Campbell began his stock car career at Flemington Fairgrounds in New Jersey in 1947 where he promptly rolled the car over. By the end of 1947 he was the champion of the newly formed American Stock Car Racing Association. He finished 6th in points in 1948, then won the title in both 1949 and 1950. 1951 brought the NASCAR Modified title and in 1952 he finished second in points to Buck Baker in the NASCAR Speedway Division. In 1953 he won five AAA sprint car races after getting a late start in August. He attempted qualifying at Indianapolis in 1954 but was sent home to get "more experience". He made two AAA Championship Car race starts later that year at Langhorne (PA) Speedway and Darlington (SC) Speedway. He failed to finish in both races. National Sprint Car Hall of Fame

A.J. Foyt poses in the Dean Van Lines dirt car at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway in 1958. That's Allen Crowe's car in the background. A.J. qualified 5th, and finished 11th. Bob Scott photo. — at Atlanta, GA.

A young A.J. Foyt smiles for the camera at Anderson, Speedway, Indiana, on June 10th 1960. Driving John Zink's midget, Foyt started 7th and led 29 laps of the 50 lap feature. Thanks to Jimmy DeJarnette. — at A

Racing has never been a safe endeavor. Certain eras have been more dangerous than others. The 1920's, with incredible speeds on the board tracks, was one. Here's the remains of 1920 Indianapolis 500 winner, Gaston Chevrolet's fatal accident after he collided with Eddie O'Donnell at the Beverly Hills Speedway, November 25, 1920. This shot also shows the tremendous banking of the boards . Eddie O'Donnell and his riding mechanic, Lyall Jolls were also killed in this accident. — at Beverly Hill, CA.

This shot of the board track at Laurel, Maryland, shows the massive size of these popular speedways, and the height of their banking. Can you imagine the board feet of lumber used in these tracks? In their heyday, speeds of 150 mph were typical. It took brave men to run them at speed.

The start of the 1975 Hoosier 100 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. — at Indianapolis, IN

1954 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, Larrett "Larry" Crockett, smokes the right rear on Salem's high banks, in October of 1954. Only the bravest ran the "Hills" with only rudimentary safety equipment. — at Salem, IN.

Don Freeland survived this nasty looking flip, in the Bob Estes Special at the Indiana State Fairgrounds mile in 1954. He'd qualified for the Hoosier Hundred, but crashed after the run. — at Indianapolis, IN.

Jim Rigsby was killed on August 31st, 1952 at the Dayton Speedway when he could not avoid the spinning car of Gene Force. His climbs up and over Force. With it's throttle stuck wide open the car heads up the high banked turn and flies approximately 200 feet in the air. — at Dayton, OH.

Mike Mosley survived this wicked crash on September 3rd, 1967 at the Dayton Speedway to make 15 starts in the Indianapolis 500. He was knocked unconscious and was back in a race car two days later. — at Dayton OH.

Bill Horstmeyer of Madison, WI was fatally injured in this accident during the Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on August 22nd, 1964. — at Springfield, IL.

Mike Mosley survived this wicked crash on September 3rd, 1967 at the Dayton Speedway to make 15 starts in the Indianapolis 500. He was knocked unconscious and was back in a race car two days later. — at Dayton OH.

Parnelli Jones (1), and A.J. Foyt, in A.J. Watson's (9) sprint car, duke it out at Allentown in 1962. Parnelli won, A.J. finished 2nd. — at Allentown, PA.

How would you like Lucille Ball as your driver, and Betty Grable as a riding mechanic?!? Don't know how well they'd perform, but they look good in this Gilmore Oil promotional shot from the 1930's.