On my birthday each year, I always remember one of my favorite racers, Rex Mays. My dad saw him race at Indy in 1940... he skipped graduation at Clemson for the chance to watch the big race where Rex finished 2nd. Rex was a racers racer... and is better known for his willingness to put the welfare of others before his own than for his actual racing ability. Mays never managed to win the at Indy, but he placed second in 1940 and 1941, the same two years that he won the national titles for champ-car racing. In 1941, Mays had to give up motor racing to serve his country as an Air Force pilot during World War II. I always imagined what he must have felt... having that success and skill and love of racing and suddenly be flying missions in war zones, wondering if he would ever see home, family and loved ones... much less race. After the war, Mays returned to racing. Although he was not as winning a racer as before the war, he continually demonstrated his character and guaranteed his place in the racing history books. In June of 1948, while competing in a champ-car race at the Milwaukee Mile in Wisconsin, Mays deliberately crashed into a wall, nearly ending his life, in order to avoid hitting racer Duke Dinsmore, who was thrown from his car a moment before. On November 11, 1949, Rex Mays was killed during a race held at Del Mar, California, when he was run over by another car after being thrown from his vehicle in a mishap. His death and that of another driver (Ted Horn) were instrumental in helping drivers realize that safety belts were vitally important. In addition to his place in the Motorsports Hall of Fame, Rex is honored with a special plaque at the Milwaukee Mile, at the exact spot on the Turn One wall where he nearly gave up his life to save another. Never met him but Im sure I would have liked this guy. Heres to you Rex. ;)
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 12:16:49 +0000
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