Perry Grimm
Encyclopedia
Perry Grimm was an American
racecar driver who raced midget cars in California
and Australia
.
dirt track racing
team. He raced on the West Coast of the United States
in the URA(United Midget Racing Association), and won the 1946 and 1949 Turkey Night Grand Prix
at Gilmore Stadium
, and place second and third in two others. Also, in 1949, he won the Pacific Coast Midget title, as well. After a few years of driving and several major crashes, racing in the Southern California
circuit had begun to take a toll on him. He recommended to Vic Edelbrock
that he replace him with a young driver named Rodger Ward
. Ward took over for Grimm late in the 1949 season and went on to a glorious career, including 2 wins of the Indianapolis 500
.
forced the 1946 update to American standards. The performance of these two completely outstripped the competition when they arrived with their Kurtis-Kraft V8-60 cars. However, it was Grimm who is credited most and considered the patron
of midget car racing in Australia. He allowed fame racer Stud Beasley to copy every aspect of his car and even arranged the delivery of the engines and Edelbrock
components. Beasley then went on to dominate the local scene and lap the entire field in its first major feature race, the World Derby on Dec 6, 1941.
Roosevelt Raceway open competition show in 1939 is still talked about as he drove the last 55 miles of the 150-miler with a flat tire. That race was watched by a crowd of 61,256.
He passed his drivers test for the Indianapolis 500
Mile Race in 1952 but never earned a spot in the starting field.
He died of a heart attack in Los Angeles
at the age of 57.
He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
in 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
racecar driver who raced midget cars in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
midget car
Grimm drove midget cars for the EdelbrockEdelbrock
Edelbrock, LLC is a specialty performance automotive and motorcycle aftermarket parts manufacturer based in Torrance, California. The company has five locations, including four in Torrance: its headquarters, a distribution center and museum, the Russell division , and the exhaust plant...
dirt track racing
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
team. He raced on the West Coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
in the URA(United Midget Racing Association), and won the 1946 and 1949 Turkey Night Grand Prix
Turkey Night Grand Prix
The Turkey Night Grand Prix is an annual race of midget cars. It has been held on Thanksgiving night most years since 1934. It is currently held in Irwindale, California.-Drivers:The event is considered a major event in the midget cars series...
at Gilmore Stadium
Gilmore Stadium
Gilmore Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Los Angeles, California. It was opened in May 1934 and demolished in 1952, when the land was used to build CBS Television City. The stadium held 18,000. It was located next to Gilmore Field...
, and place second and third in two others. Also, in 1949, he won the Pacific Coast Midget title, as well. After a few years of driving and several major crashes, racing in the Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
circuit had begun to take a toll on him. He recommended to Vic Edelbrock
Vic Edelbrock
Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr. Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr. Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr....
that he replace him with a young driver named Rodger Ward
Rodger Ward
Rodger M. Ward was an American racecar driver who won the 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500. He also was the 1959 and 1962 USAC Championship Car champion.-Early history:...
. Ward took over for Grimm late in the 1949 season and went on to a glorious career, including 2 wins of the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
.
Australian midget car racing
Grimm is credited with transforming the scene of Australian midget car racing when his appearance with fellow racer Cal NidayCal Niday
Cal Niday was an American racecar driver. He lost his leg in a motorcycle accident after high school, but it did not affect his race car driving career. Cal is also noted as the first racer to wear a modern style Bell helmet in the Indy 500...
forced the 1946 update to American standards. The performance of these two completely outstripped the competition when they arrived with their Kurtis-Kraft V8-60 cars. However, it was Grimm who is credited most and considered the patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
of midget car racing in Australia. He allowed fame racer Stud Beasley to copy every aspect of his car and even arranged the delivery of the engines and Edelbrock
Edelbrock
Edelbrock, LLC is a specialty performance automotive and motorcycle aftermarket parts manufacturer based in Torrance, California. The company has five locations, including four in Torrance: its headquarters, a distribution center and museum, the Russell division , and the exhaust plant...
components. Beasley then went on to dominate the local scene and lap the entire field in its first major feature race, the World Derby on Dec 6, 1941.
other events
His third-place finish at New York'sNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Roosevelt Raceway open competition show in 1939 is still talked about as he drove the last 55 miles of the 150-miler with a flat tire. That race was watched by a crowd of 61,256.
He passed his drivers test for the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
Mile Race in 1952 but never earned a spot in the starting field.
He died of a heart attack in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
at the age of 57.
He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame and museum for midget cars. The Hall of Fame is located at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and can be accessed during weekly Sunday races during the summer.-A-C:...
in 2005.