Paul Goldsmith
BornPaul Edward Goldsmith
(1925-10-02) October 2, 1925
Parkersburg, West Virginia, U.S.
Championship titles
USAC Stock Car (1961, 1962)
Major victories
AMA Daytona 200 (1953)
NASCAR Daytona Beach (1958)
AAA/USAC Stock Car career
Years active1954, 1958, 1960–1963, 1965–1967
Starts85
Championships2
Wins26
Podiums44
Poles25
Best finish1st in 1961, 1962
NASCAR Cup Series career
127 races run over 11 years
Best finish5th (1966)
First race1956 Race 9 (Lakewood)
Last race1969 Yankee 600 (Michigan)
First win1956 Race 47 (Langhorne)
Last win1966 Volunteer 500 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
9 59 8
Champ Car career
8 races run over 7 years
Best finish10th (1959)
First race1958 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race1963 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 1 0
Formula One World Championship career
Active years1958–1960
TeamsKurtis Kraft, Epperly
Entries3
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums1
Career points6
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1958 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1960 Indianapolis 500

Paul Edward Goldsmith (born October 2, 1925) is a retired American racing driver. During his career he raced motorcycles, stock cars, and Indianapolis cars, achieving success in each discipline.

Goldsmith won the USAC Stock Car national championship in 1961 and 1962, driving a Pontiac for Ray Nichels. Earlier in his career, he was a successful motorcycle racer within the AMA circuit, capturing the Daytona 200 for Harley-Davidson in 1953. In 1958, driving a Pontiac for Smokey Yunick, Goldsmith won the final NASCAR stock car race on the Daytona Beach road course.

Goldsmith is currently the oldest living veteran of the Indianapolis 500; he and A. J. Foyt are the only living competitors from the 1958 Indianapolis 500.

Early life

Born in West Virginia, Goldsmith relocated to Detroit, Michigan, with his family at an early age.[1]

During the Second World War, Goldsmith served in the Merchant Marine.[2] After the war, he worked full-time at a Chrysler plant in Detroit. He co-owned a service-station in Royal Oak, Michigan, until 1952.[3]

Motorcycle career

Goldsmith began riding motorcycles soon after the end of the Second World War. His racing career began by accident in 1946, while spectating an event at Partington Pastures in Sterling Heights, Michigan. A lower number of riders appeared than had been expected, and Goldsmith was invited to participate, finishing third. He soon began competing locally every weekend.[3][4]

Goldsmith would race Harley-Davidsons throughout his cycling career, possibly inspired by Leo Anthony, a Michigan-born rider at the peak of his career in 1946.[5] During 1947, Goldsmith earned the backing of leading Detroit Harley-Davidson dealer Earl Robinson. Teaming up with Robinson’s chief mechanic, Boots Carnegie, Goldsmith campaigned throughout the county fair circuit of the Midwest.[4] By 1948, Goldsmith had achieved Expert rating from the AMA. In March of that year, he competed in his first Daytona 200, finishing in 5th position.[5]

In 1950, Goldsmith increasingly ran among the leaders. His first Class C podium came at Strawberry Hill Raceway, near Richmond, Virginia, where he finished third in a 10-mile race. During the year, Goldsmith scored two further podiums - third place in a 20-mile event at Bay Meadows, in San Mateo, California; and third in a 5-mile national at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. During the 1951 season, Goldsmith repeated his performance at Strawberry Hill. He later finished second at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, the best finish of his career up until then. Goldsmith scored his third and final podium of the season in an 8-mile national at Williams Grove Speedway, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.[6]

Harley–Davidson relationship, and AMA success

In 1952, Goldsmith competed until midway though the season before scoring his first podium of the year, a third place in the Class C National Championship event, a 25-mile race held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.The following week, Goldsmith scored the first victory of his career, at the Milwaukee Mile, close to the headquarters of Harley-Davidson.[6] In the 15-mile event, extended four extra laps due to a caution, Goldsmith beat Ernie Beckman to the flag.[7] Two weeks later, he finished second in a 5-mile event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.[6] During the season Goldsmith began competing directly for Harley-Davidson. Offered the new KR model, he disliked the handling, and continued competing on an older WR, while working on the handling and tuning of the KR model in order to bring it up to speed.[8]

For the opening race of the 1953 season, the Daytona 200 on the Daytona Beach road course, Goldsmith entered riding the newly-developed Harley-Davidson KR-TT road-racing variant of the KR model introduced the season before.[9] While in Daytona Beach, he would work on his cycles at the race shop owned by famed local racer Marshall Teague. It was on one such occasion that Goldsmith first met and began consulting famed local mechanic Henry "Smokey" Yunick, going on to impress him with his racing style and work ethic.[10] Goldsmith prepared diligently for the event, fine-tuning his engine, and testing repeatedly on local roads.[9]

On March 14, starting in the second row, Goldsmith took the lead heading into the North Turn, before being passed by John Hicks on the back stretch. By the ninth lap, Goldsmith had settled into third place, behind the Triumphs of Hicks, and Ed Kretz. For the duration of the event, Goldsmith would adhere to a remarkably consistent pace; his lap times for the duration of the 48-lap event on the 4.1 mile course varied by less than three seconds of one another.[9] On the tenth lap, a serious accident occurred, which bunched up the field, allowing Kretz and Goldsmith to pass Hicks. On lap 21, shortly before the midpoint of the race, Goldsmith passed Kretz for the lead heading into the north turn.[4][9] Goldsmith would run the remainder of the event unchallenged, setting a new record time of 94.45 MPH.[9] His victory was Harley-Davidson's first at the event since 1940.[4]

Goldsmith followed up his victory in Daytona with a third place at the Ohio State Fairgrounds 10-mile event.[6] At Dodge City Raceway, in Dodge City, Kansas, Goldsmith had built up a two-mile lead by the quarter mark of the 200-mile event, before running out of gas.[5] Later in 1953, he won a 100-mile event at the grueling Langhorne Speedway cinder track.[5] He was voted the AMA Most Popular Rider of the Year Award for his efforts during the season.[4]

During the 1954 Daytona 200, Goldsmith again took the lead on the opening lap before settling into a consistent pace, running second behind Joe Leonard. Goldsmith inherited the lead on the eighth lap, as Leonard dropped out with a mechanical issue. On the following lap, coming out of the south turn onto the beach, Goldsmith was caught by the surf, ending his race.[5] That season, the first in which the AMA adopted a championship point system, Goldsmith took a victory in the Charity Newsies, the 10-mile national at the Ohio State Fairgrounds half mile. He also scored a second at the San Mateo 20-mile event, and took third place at a 5-mile event at Portland Meadows in Portland, Oregon. He finished second on the half mile oval at the Meade County Fairgrounds' 5-mile event in Sturgis, South Dakota.[6] Goldsmith concluded the season second in the AMA National point standings, behind Leonard, his former pupil.[11] During the season Goldsmith continually finished in points and prize-paying positions.[5]

In 1955 he won his final AMA event, an 8-mile competition at Illiana Speedway, in Schererville, Indiana. He was frequently racing stock cars by this time.[4] He recorded the final national podium of his career, a third at the Milwaukee Mile 9-mile event on August 27, 1955.[6] Goldsmith finished the season eighth in points.[11] Sometime before the 1956 AMA season, Goldsmith had signed with Yunick, to race Chevrolets during the 1956 NASCAR Grand National season. Goldsmith would soon leave motorcycle competition because he was pressured to run only stock cars by General Motors.[8]

Goldsmith's final event of his motorcycle career was the 1956 Daytona 200. Goldsmith would later say that, "Ed Cole was on my fanny pretty good for riding. He told me I shouldn't be riding the bikes but driving full time for Chevy."[8] Goldsmith said he "hated" giving up motorcycle racing,[4] but made the decision because auto-racing was "much bigger than Harley-Davidson."[8]

Stock car career

Goldsmith first began racing automobiles in 1950, competing in regional events. He experienced quick success, winning his first ever event driving a modified Ford roadster, in a race in Detroit.[12] Later, he scored a second-place finish in a 250-mile stock car event held during the 1953 Michigan State Fair.[13] Goldsmith competed in his first top-level automobile race during 1954, a AAA Stock Car national championship race at the Milwaukee Mile. Starting 22nd in a field of 38, Goldsmith finished in 21st.[14]

Early NASCAR career (1956–1958)

During the 1956 Daytona Speedweeks, Goldsmith was competing in that year's Daytona 200 when he interacted with Yunick.[8][10][12] Goldsmith had previously impressed Yunick by acing an improvised series of tests developed by Yunick. Yunick would offer prospective drivers a bit of candy from a snake nut can. Yunick later wrote in his autobiography, "[Goldsmith] caught the son-of-a-bitch snake coming out of the can. I've never seen anybody else that could catch it, even knowing what was going on."[10] Yunick then asked Goldsmith to drive him around a race course set up on the Titusville-Cocoa Airport, located south of Daytona Beach. By Yunick's recollection, Goldsmith's performance lapping the course, as well as in a third test deigned to gauge reflexes under braking, exceeded that of the previous record holders of Yunick's tests.[10]

Yunick offered Goldsmith a ride driving his Chevrolet on the NASCAR Grand National circuit.[8][10][12] Goldsmith's first appearance came on March 25 at Lakewood Speedway. Starting seventh, Goldsmith was involved in an accident on the 36th lap, ending the race 23rd.[15] During the Southern 500 that year, Goldsmith started and finished the race in the top 5. The next event at Langhorne saw Goldsmith considered a dark horse, due to his strong performance at Darlington, and his previous motorcycling experience at Langhorne.[16][17] Starting on the outside of the front row, Goldsmith dominated the 300 mile event. Leading 182 of 300 laps, Goldsmith beat runner-up Lee Petty by a seven-lap margin.[18] In addition to his victory, Goldsmith recorded 3 other top 5 finishes in 9 races during 1956.

After continuing with Chevrolet for the first few rounds of the 1957 season, Yunick switched to Ford following the Daytona Beach race. Competing with them for the first several months of the season, their factory-backing was cut off after the Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) instituted a ban on factory programs in June, in response to increasing public concern over highway safety.[19] During the 1957 Southern 500 held on September 2 at Darlington Raceway, which he had been favored by many to win,[20] Goldsmith sustained serious injuries in an accident which also seriously injured Fonty Flock and killed Bobby Myers.[21] Running for Yunick and occasionally Pete DePaolo, Goldsmith would finish the season with 4 wins and 6 other top 5 finishes in 25 events that season. Most notable was the Raleigh 250, run on July 4.[22]

In 1958, Goldsmith was the winner of the final Grand National race at the famous Daytona Beach Road Course. His victory would make him the only racer to win the Daytona Beach road course both in a stock car and on a motorcycle. Driving a Pontiac in the event, he led the race from start to finish. A few weeks later, Goldsmith quit the NASCAR circuit, motivated by a desire to race in the Indianapolis 500, sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC).

Association with Ray Nichels

Goldsmith's win at Daytona had attracted the attention of Semon Knudsen, the general manager of GM's Pontiac division.[23] Knudsen, seeking to change Pontiac's stodgy image with the public, had recently hired Ray Nichels, until recently an Indianapolis car mechanic, to begin building Pontiac into a performance brand.[24] That fall, Knudsen arranged a meeting between Nichels and Goldsmith, after which the latter was hired to be Nichels' Pontiac development driver.[25]

Working well together, Nichels soon hired Goldsmith directly, where he replaced Pat O'Connor as Nichels' Firestone test driver.[23] Goldsmith would begin putting in thousands of miles of testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Southwestern track.[26] For most of 1958 and 1959, Goldsmith's commitment to break into the Indianapolis establishment, and later his business commitments with Nichels meant he had little time for a robust racing schedule, competing in only a handful of Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) sanctioned stock car events in the Midwest.

USAC career (1960–1965)

1960

Goldsmith returned to racing in 1960, competing on the USAC circuit. While he recorded 4 poles, and finished near the front with regularity, he did not reach victory lane until the final race of the season, in Dayton. Taking the lead from Don White on the opening lap, Goldsmith dominated the event, leading from flag to flag, and only briefly being challenged by Tony Bettenhausen.[27] Goldsmith earned a significant bonus for laps lead during the event, which took place on his 33rd birthday.[27] The conclusion of the season saw Goldsmith and Nichels finish second in points, a significant margin behind the champion, Norm Nelson. In addition to his earnings from the Indianapolis 500, Goldsmith's prize money accrued during the Stock Car season saw him finish sixth overall among earners of all USAC-sanctioned series.[28]

1961

Goldsmith opened the 1961 season with a victory in the Jimmy Bryan Memorial, held in Phoenix. Starting on the pole, Goldsmith was challenged by Rodger Ward during the early stages, before taking the lead for good on the 21st lap.[29] In DuQuoin, Goldsmith, again on pole, dueled again with Ward, before taking the lead for good on the 63rd lap as Ward bobbled.[30] At the 250-mile event at the Milwaukee Mile on September 17, the most prestigious event of the season, Goldsmith had a difficult race. Dropping out on lap 60, he took over teammate Len Sutton's car, only to drop out again on lap 130. Taking over the year-old Pontiac of Whitey Johnson, Goldsmith was able to fight to a leader lap finish of 5th place.[31] In the final race of the season, at Trenton, Goldsmith came from behind to win the race as well as the championship, edging out Nelson, who finished fourth, for the title.[32] Goldsmith won the 1961 USAC Stock Car national championship, with 7 poles, 10 wins, 16 top-five finishes in 19 races.

1962

Goldsmith again started strong for 1962. In a two-heat event at Riverside to open the season, Dan Gurney was disqualified from the first for lightening of his car. Goldsmith won the second heat over Gurney, as was declared the overall winner.[33] Goldsmith's won his second consecutive road-course event, the Peterborough Invitational Trophy at Circuit Mont-Tremblant, in Canada. The 250-mile event consisted again of two heats. The combined highest average time of the two heats determined the winner. Goldsmith finished second behind Ward in the first heat, and beat Ward in the second. His combined time was two-seconds faster.[34] He won the USAC championship in 1962 with 6 poles, 8 wins, and 15 top-five finishes in 20 races.

1963

Goldsmith and Nichels did not record as much success during the 1963 season, which saw Nichels Engineering transition from Pontiac to Plymouth factory support. Although they recorded three wins during the season, they also skipped several events, and suffered numerous mechanical DNFs. The end of the season saw Goldsmith seemingly ranked ninth in the points standings.

Suspension from USAC

While a USAC regular, Goldsmith and Nichels occasionally participated in NASCAR-sanctioned events. Due to compete in the 1963 NASCAR season-ending Golden State 400 at Riverside on November 6th, USAC informed Goldsmith's team at the end of October that USAC would not permit their drivers to participate in the event, despite it having an FIA-affiliation.[35] This effective ban lead to all USAC drivers, except Goldsmith, to withdraw. Goldsmith, who later claimed never to have been notified directly by USAC, declared that as an employee of his team and Plymouth, he intended to uphold his obligation to compete.[36]

Goldsmith did not participate in the original day of qualifying, instead setting his time during a last chance session on November 3rd. His time broke the recent track record set by Dan Gurney during the main qualifying session held on October 31st.[36] Despite being the quickest of all drivers, Goldsmith was forced to start from the middle of the field.[36] Gurney, along with fellow USAC drivers A. J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, and Rodger Ward did not compete in the event. During the race, Goldsmith was taken out on the 42nd lap after being hit by Bob Bondurant.[37]

The day following the race, Henry Banks, USAC official and a former driver, announced that Goldsmith had been suspended by USAC for a period of one year, and stripped him of his points earned during 1963.[38] Goldsmith threatened to relocate to Mexico, which he claimed would allow him to compete as an FIA-licensed foreign driver. USAC responded by affirming that such an action would lead to no change in Goldsmith's status. Goldsmith and Nichels were soon rumored to be competing in NASCAR during the 1964 Grand National Season.

1965

In 1965, having returned to USAC, Goldsmith lost the championship to Norm Nelson during the final event of the season.[39]

Championship Car career

Goldsmith competed in 8 races in the USAC Championship Car series, between 1958 and 1963 with 6 of those starts in the Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top five twice at Indianapolis, following up a 5th-place finish in 1959 with a 3rd in 1960.[40]

Personal and later life

During his racing career Goldsmith became one of the first drivers to become a pilot, often flying to and from races. After his retirement from driving, flying primarily a Cessna 421, he transported engines and parts to and from races.

For several decades following racing, Goldsmith owned a series of ranches and restaurants.[41]

He remains an active pilot and worker, and is the owner-operator of the Griffith-Merrillville Airport in Griffith, Indiana.[41][25]

Awards and honors

Indianapolis 500 results

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Paul Goldsmith participated in three such World Championship races, finishing fifth in 1959 and third in 1960, earning him a total of six World Championship points.

He is currently the oldest living driver to have participated in a World Drivers' Championship calendar event.

References

  1. 1 2 "Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame - Goldsmith, Paul 1986". www.mmshof.org. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  2. ↑ Burt, William (2004). NASCAR's Best: Stock Car Racing's Top Drivers, Past & Present. St. Paul, MN: Motorbooks International. p. 277. ISBN 0-7603-1797-6.
  3. 1 2 Lovelander, Martin L. (August 1953). "He's the "Golden Boy" of Motorcycle Racing". Popular Science. 163 (2).
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame | Paul Goldsmith". hof.motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Neal, Don (April 1956). "Go, Go, Goldsmith". Speed Age.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1950-1959 AMA Podiums". www.dairylandclassic.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  7. ↑ "Paul Goldsmith – Harley-Davidson Champion …". Speedway Sightings. 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kiesling, Mark (November 27, 1998). "NASCAR, motorcycle legend recalls early glory days". The Times (Munster, IN). p. 14.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Paul Goldsmith on a Harley-Davidson K wins Daytona 200 Mile National Championship at new Record of 94.45 mph". The Enthusiast. April 1953.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Yunick, Henry (2004). Best Damn Garage in Town: My Life & Adventures (1st ed.). Daytona Beach, FL: Carbon Press. pp. 279–280. ISBN 0-9724378-3-5.
  11. 1 2 "Grand National Top 10 Point Standings". www.dairylandclassic.com. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  12. 1 2 3 "Paul Goldsmith Looms as Threat in Stock Car Racing". Florence Morning News. April 29, 1956. p. 17.
  13. ↑ "Detroiter Captures 250-Miler". The Detroit Free Press. September 14, 1953. p. 37.
  14. ↑ "AAA Stock Car race". www.ultimateracinghistory.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  15. ↑ "NASCAR Grand National race". www.ultimateracinghistory.com. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  16. ↑ Webster, John (September 16, 1956). "Sportscope". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 74 (S 10).
  17. ↑ "Goldsmith Capable Of 'Horne Upset". Bristol Daily Courier. September 21, 1956. p. 9.
  18. ↑ Dougherty, Dick (September 24, 1956). "Goldsmith Wins Langhorne Race". Bristol Daily Courier. p. 12.
  19. ↑ "The Foot Is Off the Throttle". The Detroit Free Press. June 8, 1957. p. 4.
  20. ↑ Muhleman, Max (September 2, 1957). "Darlington Poll Gave Goldsmith Favorite Spot". The Charlotte News. pp. 18 (8B).
  21. ↑ Muhleman, Max (September 3, 1957). "Hospitalized Flock: 'Myers Never Even Looked At Me'". The Charlotte News. pp. 17-18 (5B-6B).
  22. ↑ Elmore, Grady (July 5, 1957). "Goldsmith Drives to Victory in Raleigh 250". The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC). p. 15.
  23. 1 2 ""Region Racer" and Hall of Famer Paul Goldsmith – A Man for all Raceways …". Speedway Sightings. 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  24. ↑ "Nascar Racers Paul Goldsmith & Ray Nichels Interview - Mopar Muscle Magazine". MotorTrend. 2005-03-01. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  25. 1 2 Dust, Lucille (2021-05-17). "Catching Up with Paul Goldsmith, Oldest living Indy 500 Veteran". AutoRacing1.com. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  26. ↑ O'Reilly, Don (May 14, 1959). "Cycle Champ Came to '500' Via Stocks". The Indianapolis News. p. 52.
  27. 1 2 Bright, Lee C. (October 3, 1960). "GOLDSMITH WINS: 'Coiled' Right; Happy Birthday!". Dayton Daily News. p. 9.
  28. ↑ Fuson, Wayne (December 22, 1960). "1960 Was Finest Year for Racing". The Indianapolis News. p. 33.
  29. ↑ Gianelli, Frank (February 6, 1961). "Goldsmith Wins Bryan Memorial". The Arizona Republic. p. 22.
  30. ↑ "Goldsmith, Foyt Win Du Quoin Auto Races". Southern Illinoisan. September 5, 1961. p. 9.
  31. ↑ "Gerken Wins-250 Mile Race". Wausau Daily Record-Herald. September 18, 1961. p. 16.
  32. ↑ Kiser, Jack (October 30, 1961). "Goldsmith Wins Trenton 100-Miler". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 66.
  33. ↑ "Gurney Disqualified After USAC Teardown". The Indianapolis Star. March 19, 1962. p. 20.
  34. ↑ "Goldsmith Cops Mosport Race". The Indianapolis Star. June 24, 1962. pp. Page 4, Sec. 4.
  35. ↑ Thomas, Bob (October 30, 1963). "RIVERSIDE STOCK CAR RACE HIT BY USAC, NASCAR 'WAR'". The Los Angeles Times. pp. Part III, Page 4.
  36. 1 2 3 Thomas, Bob (November 3, 1963). "Goldsmith Erases Track Mark in '400' Qualifier". The Los Angeles Times. pp. Section D, Page 10.
  37. ↑ Thomas, Bob (November 4, 1963). "Dieringer, Mercury Score 'Firsts'". The Los Angeles Times. pp. Part III, Page 1, 8.
  38. ↑ "USAC Suspends '62 Stock Champ". The Indianapolis News. November 4, 1963. pp. unknown.
  39. ↑ "Plymouth Racing Team Sure to Win USAC Title". The Hanford Sentinel. November 26, 1965. p. 6.
  40. ↑ "Paul Goldsmith". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  41. 1 2 3 "Paul Goldsmith". www.mshf.com. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  42. ↑ "Paul Goldsmith". IMS Museum. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  43. ↑ "PAUL GOLDSMITH - USAC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2018 - USAC Racing". usacracing.com. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
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