Henry Banks

Henry Banks (June 14, 1913 – December 18, 1994) was an American midget car and "big car" driver. "Married Roseanne Eisamann, two children, John Allen Banks, and Kathryn Roseanne Banks, three grandchildren Allen Edwin Banks, Jeffrey Henry Banks and Gavin Working "

For the politician and author, see Henry Bankes.
Henry Banks
Born(1913-06-14)June 14, 1913
DiedDecember 18, 1994(1994-12-18) (aged 81)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality American
Active years1950–1954
TeamsMaserati, Moore, Lesovsky
Entries5 (3 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1954 Indianapolis 500

Background

Henry Banks was born in England, but brought up in Royal Oak, Michigan.[1] He was the son of an early European race-driver. Henry began competing in 1932, when he was 19 years old, and became successful in the midget cars.

Racing career

He was the first driver to pass the qualifying "rookie test" at the Indianapolis 500 in 1936.[1] He also drove as a relief driver in 1937, 1939, and 1940, with a 21st-place finish in 1938.

He won the 1941 American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) championship in New England.

After a break during the war, when he worked at Ford’s aero-engine division, Banks’ career took off. In 1947 he won 30 midget car races. In 1950, he was the AAA National Champion and, in the same year, came second in the National Midget points.

Banks later retired from racing and became USAC Director of Competitions, and was also inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. He died at Indianapolis in 1994.

Actor

Also at this time, Banks appeared in two films. The first was To Please A Lady, starring Clark Gable. The second was Roar of the Crowd, starring Howard Duff.

Racing record

Indianapolis 500 results

Complete AAA Championship Car results
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points
1946 INDY
27		 LAN
DNS		 ATL ISF MIL GOS - 0
1947 INDY
24		 MIL LAN ATL BAI MIL GOS MIL PIK SPR ARL - 0
1948 ARL
13		 INDY
DNQ		 MIL LAN MIL SPR MIL DUQ ATL PIK SPR DUQ - 0
1949 ARL INDY
DNQ		 MIL TRE SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR DET
DNQ		 SPR
DNQ		 LAN SAC DMR - 0
1950 INDY
25		 MIL
5		 LAN
2		 SPR
DNQ		 MIL
2		 PIK SYR
DNQ		 DET
1		 SPR
18		 SAC
3		 PHX
12		 BAY
4		 DAR
3		 1st 1,390
1951 INDY
6		 MIL
11		 LAN
10		 DAR
7		 SPR
4		 MIL
5		 DUQ
6		 DUQ
5		 PIK SYR
6		 DET
9		 DNC
2		 SJS
3		 PHX
2		 BAY
3		 2nd 1,856.6
1952 INDY
19		 MIL
DNQ		 RAL
10		 SPR
7		 MIL
4		 DET
6		 DUQ
7		 PIK SYR
8		 DNC
8		 SJS
17		 PHX
5		 10th 700
1953 INDY
DNQ		 MIL
Wth		 SPR DET SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX - 0
1954 INDY
DNQ		 MIL LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX LVG - 0

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Pts
1950 Indianapolis Race Cars Maserati 8CL Offenhauser 3.0 L4s GBR MON 500
25		 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0
1951 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins Moore Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500
6		 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0
1952 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500
19		 BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0
1953 Hopkins / Motor Racers Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 ARG 500
DNQ		 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0
1954 Hopkins / Motor Racers Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 ARG 500
DNQ		 BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0
Source:[2][3]

References
  1. Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Archived March 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Henry Banks – Involvement". StatsF1. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  3. "Detail – Tipo 8 CL". barchetta.cc. Retrieved April 24, 2019.


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