Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

One of my all time favorites, Gary Bettenhausen, is sixty-six years old today! Hope you have a have a good one and many more, Gary.

Re: Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

Happy Birthday, Gary! May you have many more in good health.:thumb:

Re: Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

One of the all, all, all, all, all time great open wheel drivers. Wow! What a talent.

Don Moore

Re: Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

And, in addition to that, one of the most fan friendly drivers there has ever been. Gary B. was great on several fronts. Happy Birthday.

Jerry

Re: Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

Happy Bitrthday B. and many, many more.

I was a member of his fan club along with another guy that hangs out here on this board from time to time.

Gary is in my top 5 all-time favorites:

In no particular order -

Sweikert
Foyt
Vogler
Hurtubise
Gary B.

Re: Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY!!! Easily one of the top 5 drivers I ever had the priviledge of watching. I suppose many of us would like to be young again, but I'm not so sure I would trade having witnessed "The Gary and Larry Show" just to be 21 again. The greatest era of sprint car racing IMHO.

Re: Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

Happy birthday Gary. Thank you for all the years of enjoyment you gave my family being able to watch a true master of racing. 1980 was my dad's favorite Indy 500 when you took that POS car and got third in it.

Mine was 1991. Although not the pole winner, you still achieved a greatness by being the fastest qualifier on a very emotional day.

Your family has given so much to racing and to it's fans that can never be repaid.

You, Johnny Parsons, and Mel Kenyon were such a treat to see at Ft. Wayne in 2004. Wished you could have gotten out there on the track and showed them how to do it.

Re: Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

You know it Seadog! :thumb: Happy belated birthday GaryB!
Like Robin Miller wrote, after GB hurt his arm in Syracuse, "Gary has more talent in his one good arm than most have in two". Well said Robin...so true. Were you guys in Ft. Wayne for the midgets when Gary made his comeback after the crash? (January '75 I believe?) Duct taped his left arm to the steering wheel (I have pics to prove it) and he won the 100 lap feature. THAT is guts and determination. Gary said he was actually a better driver after the arm injury. He claimed it taught him to be smooth instead of manhandling the car all the time. He always did extremely well on dry slick tracks after his injury. He did pretty well at Indy too. 1980 and 1991 were very cool years. :respect:
David.

Re: Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

He was and still is the man!

Hey David, do you know if Gary still has those models that you made for him and gave him at Winchester that day? Gotta tell ya, from what I can remember, very nice work bud!

Re: Happy birthday Gary Bettenhausen
 

Thanks Gregg! Not sure if he still has them, after all of these years those cars are probably dust by now. Fun times though! :thumb:
David.