andy granatelli biography
While digital content may be restricted, SOVA collection descriptions and catalog records are available CC0 for re-use. It was here that they honed their garage tinkering skills to become master mechanics who worked on Ford V8engines. Hurricane events, according to Granatelli in his autobiography They Call Me Mister 500, included drivers who were experts at executingand survivingroll-over and end-over-end crashes, and also an ambulance that not only got caught up into the race but also ejected a stretcher (with a dummy on it) into the way of the racers. The Novi engine that Andy Granatelli brought to the 1963 Indianapolis 500 had 734 HPin contrast to other cars that had approximately 400 HPand it wasalso lighter in weight at 1,680 lbs. He won it again in 1973 with Gordon Johncock as his driver. With all three becoming master mechanics, their wallets began to thicken with cash. Two years later, Studebaker management wanted Granatelli to work his magic on an under-performing division called Chemical Compounds Corporation. He'd raced hot rods with some success in his twenties and set a number of land speed records in Avantis years later, but as a rookie driver in the Indianapolis 500 in 1948, he crashed during his qualifying run, breaking an arm and losing 11 teeth. It was his work ethic that seemed to catch fire in the hearts of his young sons. By the time Granatelli's turbine came within three laps of winning the 1967 Indy 500 with Parnelli Jones behind the wheel, he'd witnessed the track's renovation and re-emergence as the epicenter for automotive advancement. These files detail the internal workings of the company during this period, and include papers relating to such things as strategic planning, sales, marketing, advertising and competitors' products. He was a man worthy of note in the world of cars and the world of business. At right is Andy Granatelli, President of Paxton Products, and at left is his brother Vincent Granatelli, builder of car No. Andy Granatelli has been a part of the Business list. The collection consists primarily of files, photographs, scrapbooks, and drawings. Two of his cars, a 1967 turbine engine race car and the 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner, are in National Museum of American History's Division of Work & Industry collection. Something. His STP Corporation became a high-profile sponsor of Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR race cars, with Granatelli appearing in ads and commercials. "Mr. 500" was unafraid to innovate, and the sport was better for it. He lives in Montecito, CA. Again they pooled their cash and opened up Andys Super Service at 4506 N. Clarendon, just off Lake Shore Drive. Granatelli was a member of the famous racing family that made its name through "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," including his father, Andy, the flamboyant owner of the car that. Later, Andy became a brilliant promoter. Andy Granatelli at the 2011 Indianapolis 500. 28 October 2013. Andy made most of the business decisions. Collection is open for research. Although an accurate image of Andy Granatelli, it is a far, far cry from what the Granatelli name really means to the legacy of American motorsports. The Novi did everything but win races. (They Call Me Mister 500,page 227). Ottum, Bob. Two Indianapolis entries sponsored by STP for 1965 were the all new STP Oil Treatment (No. Anthony "Andy" Granatelli (March 18, 1923 December 29, 2013) was an American businessman, most prominent as the CEO of STP as well as a major figure in automobile racing events.[1]. Departing pit lane after his last stop, Guerreros faulty clutch caused him to stall twice, handing Penskes Al Unser his fourth Indy 500 victory. A larger than life personality, and a genuine character, Granatelli's two Indy 500 wins as an owner were in many ways overshadowed by . Admission is included in the price of admission for the Daytona International Speedway tour. Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History (AC1403-0000033). Freebase ID /m/0bpvbm. See the DIS tours page for admission prices and hours of operation. Granatelli eventually became visible in the racing world in the 1960s as the spokesman for STP oil and gasoline treatment products, appearing on its television and radio advertisements as well as sponsoring race cars. Month of May Reports from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with auto racing news & commentary during the year , Ed Carpenter fastest on Fast Friday at 230.522 mph . Even today, Andretti's win is rarely mentioned without the inclusion of Andy's amorous gesture. biography/Andy-Granatelli. Biography. Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar. Skip to main content New Search Gallery Their best showing was a second place with Jim Rathmann in 1952. For the uninitiated in racing carengines, including myself, its important to know that a Novi is a supercharged engine, meaning thatan aircompressorincreases the pressureordensity of airsupplied to aninternal combustion engine. A larger than life personality, and a genuine character, Granatelli's two Indy 500 wins as an owner were in many ways overshadowed by . And with the Novi project officially parked, the Granatellis worked in secret on a vehicle they dubbed "Turbocar.". By reducing the air intake, the turbine engine was on more equal footing with the piston engine in terms of horsepower, reducing it to 480 HP and torque. Andy Granatelli Collection | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution Search millions of objects in the collections including photographs, artworks, artifacts, scientific specimens, manuscripts, sound records, and transcripts. Mathews, Barbara E. "Profile of a Phenomenon," American National Business Hall of Fame. He was previously married to Dolly. Afterward, USAC banned the car. See repository for details. They bought new cars and souped them up, racing on rural roads for money. (Merriam-Webster). IMDb ID. Andy Granatelli began his quest for Indy 500 fame at the age of 20 in 1943, when he and his brother pooled their meager, hard-earned money and purchased a Texaco gas station on the north side of Chicago, which he called Andy's Super Service. He sold it for $60 million in 1986. But its Granatellis return to the Indy 500 in 1963 with a supercharged engine called the Novi that set him apart from other race car designers. It wasbuilt by Fred Offenhauser. They raced at the Brickyard over the course of the next three decades. More than 40 years removed from 1969 Indy 500 win, Granatelli was treated as royalty by those who revered the open-wheel pioneer. MI #~__ Q$.R$sg%f,a6GTLEQ!/B)EogEA?l kJ^- \?l{ P&d\EAt{6~/fJq2bFn6g0O"yD|TyED0Ok-\~[`|4P,w\A8vD$+)%@P4 0L ` ,\@2R 4f The Granatelli Brothers founded the Hurricane Hot Rod Racing Association and put tens of thousands of racing fans in the seats of Chicagos Soldier field, night after night. A man who had worked for Andy had bought dads Morgan, for example. Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History (AC1403-0000030), Grantellis love affair with the Novi heated up inMarch 1962, when Major Anthony Peter Roylance "Tony" Rolt, managing technical director of Harry Ferguson Research, Ltd. in Coventry, England, wrote to Granatelli, "Stirling Moss has told me that you are interestedin the possibilities of a four-wheel-drive race car for Indianapolis, and he suggested that I should write to you direct if we were prepared to consider some form of cooperation. Granatelli agreed. Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. At the age of 62 in his street legal passenger car, he drove to an amazing record of 241.731 mph on pump gasoline. There are no positive barriers in racing, just hurdles you have to clear. At seasons end Guerrero departed, and Granatelli switched to the Buick engines for 89 but the ageing Tom Sneva, John Andretti and Didier Theys could barely muster a top 10 finish, and 1990 would prove little better. He led 171 laps but broke a bearing with four circuits remaining. Usage conditions may apply for digital images, video, and sound recordings linked within SOVA collections. Anthony "Andy" Granatelli (March 18, 1923 - December 29, 2013) was an American businessman, most prominent as the CEO of STP as well as a major figure in automobile racing events. Barnum style it was no wonder that the station was prosperous, and just two years later, in 1945, he formed the Granatelli Corporation, known as Grancor Automotive Specialists. /CreationDate (D:20221213155122-05'00') Along with his brothers Vince and Joe, he first worked as an auto mechanic and "speed-shop" entrepreneur, modifying engines such as the flathead Ford into racing-quality equipment. Through the 1950s and 1960s, Andy Granatelli worked as an. The collection documents Granatelli's lifelong involvement with automobiles, from his youth through his career as an auto industry executive, and as a racing car owner, designer and promoter. Granatelli went to Indianapolis with the Turbine car with Parnelli Jones as his driver. "Because regardless of the handicaps, I'll race again," he wrote. Andy Granatelli never won at Indy with a Novi engine. More than any other racing figure, Granatelli bridged the realms of garage tinkerers and professional motorsports, and he stimulated public interest in auto racing on a national level. He was married to Dolly. With virtually no advertising budget, Andy created a four-pronged approach to turn the company around: a recognizable corporate logo (the STP oval), a product (oil treatment), a product spokesman (himself) and a reason for existence (racing). Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCars next winning match-up? and Carmela Minnie Cardinale (19021936). Its a race filled with technological innovations, engineering creativity, mechanical prowess, entrepreneurial aspirations, danger, and sadly, tragedy. Logos appeared on uniforms, cars and just about every school book. He was 78. (Joe reacquired the company years later, serving as president until 2003.). For many years he ran a successful grocery business in Dallas. The Granatelli Brothers, with Andy as the ringleader, fit in perfectly at Indy during a period in the great race's history where mechanical innovation and creativity went unchecked. Vincent Joseph Granatelli, son of charismatic STP promoter Andy Granatelli, started at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1961 as a mechanic on the Novi-powered machines his father brought to. /Creator (Apache FOP Version 1.1) We certainly are, because we are convinced that not only the fastest but the SAFEST way to drive anycar is to drive allthe wheels allthe time." Vincent Joseph Granatelli, son of charismatic STP promoter Andy Granatelli,started at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1961 as a mechanic on the Novi-powered machines his father brought to the 500 that year. Relocating to California, Andy got the bug to get back in business and he and Joe purchased the supercharger business of Paxton Products Corporation. Our car experts choose every product we feature. 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