Don Edmunds facts for kids
| Born | September 23, 1930 Santa Ana, California |
|---|---|
| Died | August 11, 2020 (aged 89) |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  American |
| Active years | 1957, 1959 |
| Teams | Kuzma, Kurtis Kraft |
| Entries | 2 (1 start) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1957 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last entry | 1959 Indianapolis 500 |
Don Edmunds (September 23, 1930 – August 11, 2020) was an American racecar driver and a talented car builder. He was known for his skills both on the track and in the workshop.
Contents
Racing Career Highlights
Don Edmunds started his racing journey by changing the design of his first midget car. He made it his own, showing his early talent for car design. Later, a famous Indy car builder, Eddie Kuzma, hired Don. This was to fix a dent in a car belonging to racer Jimmy Bryan.
Indianapolis 500 Debut
Don Edmunds made his first start at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1957. He finished 19th in the race. This strong performance earned him the 1957 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award. This award goes to the best-performing first-time driver. Sadly, his Indy racing career ended after a serious accident during practice in 1958.
Building Amazing Race Cars
After his racing career, Don Edmunds focused on building cars. He started his own company, Autoresearch, Inc., in Anaheim, California. His company specialized in creating midget cars and sprint cars.
Famous Car Designs
Don Edmunds was a key part of building the original Bill Thomas Cheetah sports car. He created the blueprints and did most of the building work himself. His car designs were very successful. Chassis (the car's frame) built by Edmunds won several National Midget Championships in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In the 1970s, he also built many Formula Super Vee cars. Later in his life, Don became a collector and restorer of old race cars.
Working with Evel Knievel
One of Don Edmunds' most unique projects was building the Skycycle for the famous daredevil Evel Knievel. This was the special vehicle Evel Knievel used for his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon.
Career Awards and Recognition
Don Edmunds received several important awards for his contributions to racing:
- He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1991.
- He was also inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1994.
Later Life and Passing
Don Edmunds was born in Santa Ana, California. He passed away in August 2020 at the age of 89 in Gold Beach, Oregon.
