Indy 500: A Race for Heroes - Jimmy Bryan 

My dad saw that race at Langhorne. Jimmy had done a promotion at the nearby shopping center to celebrate his return. Said Jimmy 'hooked a rut, car rag-dolled him'.

Just to finish one of these races in one piece even in last place is noteworthy.

A very dangerous era of American racing....

One of Americas greatest talents. After his death the torch was passed to Ward, then Foyt with Parnelli winning on occasion. RIP

i grew up going the races in the late 50's it was a great childhood even though i seen racers lose there lives there nothing like open wheel racing!

The Balad of Jimmy Bryan was one of the lullabies my father used to sing to me growing up. "Cigar smoking, always joking, big man Jimmy Bryan." I never got the pleasure of seeing him race being born well after his death. But always wanted to know just how true the song was. Interesting to hear that he was indeed a bit of a jokester.

Back in my teen days at junior high and high school years in the mid 60's to 1970, there was a friend of mine during those years that had his all-time racing hero as the great Jimmy Bryan. I had Jim Clark as mine (and still do along with Foyt). Little did I delve into Bryant's career over the past several decades, but, this video narrated by Bob Jenkins of the 1980's ESPN days told some interesting facts about Bryan. I did not remember that Bryant won the Champ Car title three times. I wish as many true Indy classic fans of the 1950's & '60's that Jimmy had seriously taken the advice of the great Rodger Ward to not drive at the dangerous Langhorn (PA) dirt track in 1960. He might have claimed one more victory at Indy. Now...the only "cheesy" thing about this episode was the fake sound effects of the people and at times, the cars going by. A few times, there was a blowing whistle at the beginning of each Indy event that sounds like it should have been for a football game. Strange.

The day that he died was a black day in racing.There were two grand prix drivers killed in Belgium on the same day.

Bob Jenkins! Great voice.

Almost all the drivers back in that day drove for money. Unfortunately there wasn't much money in racing those days. Even most NFL players in the 1950s had to get a job in the off season. It wasn't until the 1960s when national TV broadcasting became normal, that big money came into sports.

thanks jimmy bryan. i want to break the age barrier at indy and the fairgrounds . best wishes to your family and friends. hope to meet all of you someday. all for now eric stewart american trucker daydreamer biker. happy trails to all happy thanksgiving