Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

Joe Leonard, former Indy 500 driver,USAC champion and AMA motorcycle champion, had a heart attack over the weekend.

http://www.flattrack.com/index.php?o...=87530&catid=3

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

I doubt that there are very many IOWers who can say they watched Joe Leonard race..........
I recall one time he pissed off the bikers at Springfield when he publicly said that the bike crowd at the fair races were an embarrassment to the motorcycle community in general.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

Well, here's one IOWer who saw him race! He was driving one of those infernal turbines at Indy in '68. Man, I hated those things!
But now I see them in the museum and realize just how beautiful they were and feel a little ashamed.

Hope Joe is OK. He was a tough competitor.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

In my very first Indy 500 Joe was close to giving the Coyotes a 1-2 finish. And then there was the suitcase special. Joe has to be among the very best that never won the Indy 500.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

And here's two! Remember the Samsonite suitcase car too. Get well Joe! :6:
David.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

And here's three. I saw Joe win his two USAC titles. Nice guy and good driver.

Prayers to Joe and his family.

Hey Ovalmeister, that was the VPJ Samsonite Special that he ran with the car number painted on a suitcase?

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

I always thought Joe was underated.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

I saw Joe race several times. One year he started on the front row at Indy.Anybody remember what year that was?

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

1968 iirc.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

I saw him race many times. I'll never forget the 1968 Indy 500 when the turbine flamed out while he seemed on his way to certain victory. They had even called for his wife to come to victory lane when the car failed.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

I will always consider Joe a hero for coming to Mel Kenyon's aid at Langehorne.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

I first saw Joe race back about 1958 at Belmont spdwy in ca > A winner no matter how many wheels it had!
That night he did an exhibition of Rear wheel riding went around that 1/4 mi track several times. He had the worlds record for doing that at one time.
I saw him on bikes and also midgets, supers and indy cars. He could drive, ride anything:6:. and win!
aXe

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Amen Den!!....very nice!!...as he was a Hero of mine,growin up in his HomeTown of San Jose!!...and I, also in da Two Wheel sport,back in da day....he n' Evil Kneivel would come by the Neat little Greek Bar n' Grill called Creekside Inn,which is where I got a SnootFull last Sat Nite,to BS their BarTender Bud n' shake Dice!!....durin the time da IRS was lookin for Evil!!.....Talk bout some Ole' Racin' stories from them two!!....
_____________
Brucer':32:

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

I believe that I saw Joe race a Ray Nichels Dodge on the USAC stock car circuit also, if memory serves me correctly.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

http://assets.speedtv.com/images/art...img_large1.jpg

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...heel-notebook/

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

Get well Joe. I always admired how you always seemed to get the very best out of whatever you were driving. Best wishes to you.

Re: Joe Leonard USAC National Champion
 

http://derbycityspeedway.com/images/...Leonard-vi.jpg
1965 picture