John Fitch, American Racing and Safety Pioneer Dies at 95
11-03-12, 06:52 PM
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John Fitch, American Racing and Safety Pioneer Dies at 95
John Fitch won the Argentine GP in 1951, and went on to win the production class at the 1955 Mille Miglia, and drove in six Le Mans races, finishing as high as third. All of this while Americans weren't even considered competitive in road racing. From there he became one of the lead engineers on the development of the Corvette from a 6-cyl slug into a V8 sports car.
He demonstrated what American racing was all about to a European audience when he took a couple of Offenhauser midget racers to Lime Rock and kicked the exotic "foreign" cars into the weeds during the first "Formula Libre" race in 1959.
Roger Ward, at the wheel of one of those Offys, whose racing credentials were primarily forged on the oval tracks of the Midwest proved conclusively that both American cars and American drivers were up to the challenge of international racing. He spent a good part of the afternoon waiting to pass the foreign exotics.
But John Fitch was not just a premier driver, he was an engineer of the first order, founding a group of engineers and medical experts to develop safety devices for racing cars, and safety barriers for tracks. He was paired with Pierre Levegh in the ill-fated Mercedes 300 SLR at the 1955 Le Mans, when Levegh ran up on the back of Lance Macklin's Austin-Healey and was flung into the crowd, shedding parts and fuel along the way, killing 83 spectators and Levegh. That incident Fitch viewed from the pits while awaiting Levegh's car to take over the driving assignment, probably had the most profound effect on motor racing in all its history. Everything from crash barriers to crowd control, grew out of that tragedy, and included driver safety considerations like roll cages, helmets, seat belts and fire suits. Fitch was at the center of engineering most of these elements.
Fitch never gave up his love of driving, and as he went to work for Chevrolet in the Sixties, it was his expertise that gave us the Corvair Sprint, the first American sports car that competed successfully against the Porsche, yet was affordable for most enthusiasts. It was a shame that the car was marketed as a "special" and never made a regular production option. There would have been many, many more Corsa Sprints and they might have saved the marque.
In recent years, Fitch could be seen driving at vintage races at Lime Rock, Monterrey, Goodwood and other venues, where he proved he hadn't lost his touch at the wheel.
At the age of 85 he went to Bonneville and driving a 50 year old Mercedes 300 SL, posted a speed of 150mph when he started having fuel pump trouble. He would later note he'd driven the SL faster . . . at night . . . in the rain . . . while sharing a winding track with 50 other cars. He wasn't too impressed with his performance, but everyone else was. Here is one of his final interviews with Jay Leno a couple of years ago, at 91, telling his story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=kTkCo2fRiJ4
He passed this week, and American motorsport has lost a legend. As a driver, he ran with the best, and never sustained an injury. He drove not just Mercedes, but Jaguar, Cunningham, Allard, Ferrari, and a host of other championship marques of the '50's. As an engineer, he developed both cars and tracks to provide both keen competition and safety, while working on some of the pivotal cars of the '50's and ''60's including Corvette, Corvair, and even the Toronado - all engineering breakthroughs. A true renaissance man of motorsport, John Fitch was possessed of a great good humor and a modesty that belied his accomplishments. He leaves an enduring mark on the American sports scene and I like to think he would be pleased to know he made it in parallel tracks of scorched rubber. Our prayers for the peace and comfort of all those he leaves behind.
He demonstrated what American racing was all about to a European audience when he took a couple of Offenhauser midget racers to Lime Rock and kicked the exotic "foreign" cars into the weeds during the first "Formula Libre" race in 1959.
Roger Ward, at the wheel of one of those Offys, whose racing credentials were primarily forged on the oval tracks of the Midwest proved conclusively that both American cars and American drivers were up to the challenge of international racing. He spent a good part of the afternoon waiting to pass the foreign exotics.
But John Fitch was not just a premier driver, he was an engineer of the first order, founding a group of engineers and medical experts to develop safety devices for racing cars, and safety barriers for tracks. He was paired with Pierre Levegh in the ill-fated Mercedes 300 SLR at the 1955 Le Mans, when Levegh ran up on the back of Lance Macklin's Austin-Healey and was flung into the crowd, shedding parts and fuel along the way, killing 83 spectators and Levegh. That incident Fitch viewed from the pits while awaiting Levegh's car to take over the driving assignment, probably had the most profound effect on motor racing in all its history. Everything from crash barriers to crowd control, grew out of that tragedy, and included driver safety considerations like roll cages, helmets, seat belts and fire suits. Fitch was at the center of engineering most of these elements.
Fitch never gave up his love of driving, and as he went to work for Chevrolet in the Sixties, it was his expertise that gave us the Corvair Sprint, the first American sports car that competed successfully against the Porsche, yet was affordable for most enthusiasts. It was a shame that the car was marketed as a "special" and never made a regular production option. There would have been many, many more Corsa Sprints and they might have saved the marque.
In recent years, Fitch could be seen driving at vintage races at Lime Rock, Monterrey, Goodwood and other venues, where he proved he hadn't lost his touch at the wheel.
At the age of 85 he went to Bonneville and driving a 50 year old Mercedes 300 SL, posted a speed of 150mph when he started having fuel pump trouble. He would later note he'd driven the SL faster . . . at night . . . in the rain . . . while sharing a winding track with 50 other cars. He wasn't too impressed with his performance, but everyone else was. Here is one of his final interviews with Jay Leno a couple of years ago, at 91, telling his story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=kTkCo2fRiJ4
He passed this week, and American motorsport has lost a legend. As a driver, he ran with the best, and never sustained an injury. He drove not just Mercedes, but Jaguar, Cunningham, Allard, Ferrari, and a host of other championship marques of the '50's. As an engineer, he developed both cars and tracks to provide both keen competition and safety, while working on some of the pivotal cars of the '50's and ''60's including Corvette, Corvair, and even the Toronado - all engineering breakthroughs. A true renaissance man of motorsport, John Fitch was possessed of a great good humor and a modesty that belied his accomplishments. He leaves an enduring mark on the American sports scene and I like to think he would be pleased to know he made it in parallel tracks of scorched rubber. Our prayers for the peace and comfort of all those he leaves behind.
