[Hawker]

Does anyone know how many seasons he ran USAC? What was his best points finish?

Thanks

[Ovalmeister]

I would guess early 1975 to late 1977. I was one of the unfortunate fans in attendance that witnessed his death in 1977 at Winchester. :crying:
I was really into photography back then and took pictures of everything, including James fatal crash. No one will ever see them.
He and his Dad were trying to become the first father/son to qualify for the same Indy 500, in May of 1977, but James failed to qualify in an underfunded car.
James wasn't on the USAC scene that long, but he was one of the nicest people I ever met.
David.

[Butch47265]

Originally Posted by Hawker Does anyone know how many seasons he ran USAC? What was his best points finish? Thanks

I raced with James the nite before at Manzanita he left about mid nite to fly back to INDY to race next day at Winchester we finished 6/7 it was fun I was driving for Karl Kinser.

[cecil98]

Hawker, his USAC debut was in a Champ dirt car at Springfield in August of 1975. His USAC sprint debut was Sept. 1975. It looks like the last USAC show he made was at Syracuse on Oct. 15 1977 (Champ Dirt). Apparently he died the next day October 16, 1977. Also, the debut dates I'm giving are the first main events he qualified for and not neccessarily his actual debut but, the time frame should be close.

BTW..I got the information on openwheeltimes.com

I was in the infield for my first Hulman Classic to witness James win in 1977.
The kid was sure a gasser that day...:respect:

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by Ovalmeister I would guess early 1975 to late 1977. I was one of the unfortunate fans in attendance that witnessed his death in 1977 at Winchester. :crying: I was really into photography back then and took pictures of everything, including James fatal crash. No one will ever see them. He and his Dad were trying to become the first father/son to qualify for the same Indy 500, in May of 1977, but James failed to qualify in an underfunded car. James wasn't on the USAC scene that long, but he was one of the nicest people I ever met. David.

Yeah David, I was there on that fateful day too. It made me sick. I was in the first turn infield. I think Dr. Dunseth rode in the ambulance with him and tended to him. :crying:

I seem to remember that James had a hand injury at Indy from loading or unloading his sprinter prior to the 500 that year?

[smith19]

As bad of an accident it was they pushed his car back across the track with a wrecker. I believe larry moore got crossed up coming for the green an all hell broke loose. He was in ben leyba's #74.

[Ovalmeister]

Gregg I forgot about the hand injury. It rings a bell now that you mention it. (Check your pm's).
smith19, yeah the car was actually not in bad shape after the accident. He just took a bad hit at some point.
David.

[Hawker]

Thanks guys...

I looked on Kevin's site and saw the USAC races he ran, but I never knew if he had ever ran a whole season with them for points.

Ovalmeister, if you have some action shots of James, or even pit shots, I would sure like to get my hands on them!

I grew up in "Super" land (Oklahoma) and some of my fondest memories were when James would come to Oklahoma for a little extra cash, as it seemed like he always won whenever he would pop in. I remember well when he and Jackie Howerton went to Indiana to race, it was a BIG deal back in Oklahoma at the time. When Howerton did his 21 flips at Terre Haute, it was the "News of the Day" the following week back home.

[Ovalmeister]

[QUOTE=Hawker;85716]Thanks guys...
Ovalmeister, if you have some action shots of James, or even pit shots, I would sure like to get my hands on them!
QUOTE]

I have several Hawker, but I need to scan them. For now though, there is the one in the above post and also this one below.
David.