The Jimmy Daywalt Tribute Site » 1956

Southwest Turn Gets Its Evil Reputation Back

Admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:38:03 +0000

By Bill Wildhack

The News

Jimmy Daywalt in the No. 48 Sumar Special struck the wall on the southeast turn in a ball of flame. The car came to rest enar the outer wall. Daywalt’s head was bobbing back and forth as guards ran to his assistance. He is in Methodist with arm and head injuries.

Jimmy Daywalt Hits Wall

Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:46:09 +0000

Jimmy Daywalt #48 hits SE Turn wall on his 135th lap and was injured.

Dick’s Men’s Wear ad

Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:19:38 +0000

From the 1956 '500' Program

Sumar Speed Equipment Ad

Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:17:51 +0000

From the 1956 '500' Program

Daywalt Hospitalized

Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:15:53 +0000

Daywalt in the hospital bed after crashing in the SE turn during the '500'. Photo from The News Photo, Robert Lavelle

Daywalt crowned the Dance Queen

Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:14:00 +0000

Daywalt crowned the dance queen for the Beta Sigma Phi sorority 500 Whirl dance. Here he is in a photo op. before the dance.

Daywalt in one of the Sumar Specials

Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:12:15 +0000

Photo from the 1957 '500' Program

Jimmy Daywalt in the #48 Sumar Special

Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:10:44 +0000

Photo taken by Joe Farkas

1956 Qualifying Photo

Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:09:08 +0000

1956 Indy 500 Qualifying Photo from Paul Johnson.

My First Ride

Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:07:13 +0000

Daywalt Earned 88c First Year He Raced

By JIMMY DAYWALT

My first real racing experience was in 1947. I went to a sprint race at Logansport which George Tichenour won. It looked like a lot of un and I heard that it paid well. I decided right then that racing was for me.

At Logansport I heard that there was a race car for sale in Ft. Wayne. Bob Brown, who lived in my home town of Wabash, and I decided to buy it. We did, the next day, for about $?00. There was only one draw-back. It was completely dismantled. It took us a full month to rebuild it.

The first time I drove it – again at Logansport – I had the fourth fastest qualifying time, but it burned out a rod and I couldn’t race it. I drove in 16 races that summer. I kept track of everything I bought – bolts, paint, etc. I sold it at the end of the season. Counting everything I made exactly 88c on the deal. That was the end of my car ownership.

The fifth time was the charm for me at Indianapolis. I passed my driver’s test in 1949, but didn’t make the race. In ’50 I didn’t get a ride. I crashed in practice in ’51 and failed to qualify in ’52. But I joined the Sumar team in ’53 and placed 6th, winning rookie of the year honors.

I qualified in the middle of the front row in ’54 but crashed while I was running second. Last year I drove the Sumar Streamliner to ninth. This year I’m back in the Sumar roadster and, like everyone else, hope we win.