Fred Wacker facts for kids
| Born | July 10, 1918 Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Died | June 16, 1998 (aged 79) Lake Bluff, Illinois |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  American |
| Active years | 1953–1954 |
| Teams | Gordini |
| Entries | 5 (3 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1953 Dutch Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1954 Italian Grand Prix |
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Frederick G. Wacker Jr. (born July 10, 1918, in Chicago; died June 16, 1998) was a talented American engineer and a leader of two big companies in Chicago. He was also well-known in Chicago's social scene, a jazz musician, and a racing driver. He took part in five Formula One World Championship races, starting his first race on June 21, 1953. He did not score any championship points during his Formula One career. He also raced in other Formula One events that were not part of the championship.
Fred Wacker was the grandson of Charles H. Wacker. Charles H. Wacker was the first chairman of the Chicago Plan Commission. A famous road in Chicago, Wacker Drive, is named after his grandfather. Fred Wacker went to The Hotchkiss School and then to Yale University. Before joining the United States Navy, he worked for AC Spark Plug, a company that makes car parts.
Racing Career and Safety Changes
Fred Wacker was involved in a serious accident during a race in 1952. This happened at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix. At that time, the race was held on public streets. As he was getting ready for a turn, his Allard J2 race car came very close to another car. Both drivers swerved to avoid hitting each other.
Wacker's car moved slightly towards the left. This brought it closer to many spectators who were sitting along the side of the road. Several people were hurt in the accident. This sad event led to a big change in racing. After this, street racing was stopped at Watkins Glen and in other parts of the United States. This change helped make racing much safer for both drivers and fans.
