Red Amick

Red Amick is an American racecar driver known for his participation in the USAC Championship Car series and multiple appearances at the Indianapolis 500 during the late 1950s and early 1960s. ^{[1] [2]} Born Richard Amick on January 19, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri, he began racing in track roadsters in California following World War II and later competed successfully in short-track events before advancing to sprint cars and national championship competition. ^{[1] [3]} He made starts in the Indianapolis 500, with his final appearance in 1960 resulting in an 11th-place finish. ^[4] Amick was not related to fellow Indy 500 competitor George Amick. ^[1] Amick passed away on May 16, 1995, in Crystal River, Florida. ^{[5] [2]}

Early life

Birth and background

Richard "Red" Amick was born on January 19, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.^[6][1] He was known professionally by his nickname "Red."^[1][7] Limited verified information exists regarding his early family life, upbringing, or education in reliable sources.^[6]

Entry into racing

Richard "Red" Amick began his racing career in track roadsters in California during the post-World War II era. ^[3] This early participation in open-wheel events on the West Coast was common among drivers of the period who honed their skills in regional competition before seeking broader opportunities. ^[3] He later relocated to the Midwest, settling in the Muncie, Indiana area to further pursue his open-wheel ambitions. ^[3] While based in Indiana, Amick operated a truck stop under his own name near Muncie. ^[1] He achieved notable success on the IMCA Sprint Car circuit before transitioning to USAC-level competition. ^[3]

Racing career

Roadster and regional racing

Amick began his racing career in track roadsters in California during the post-World War II period. ^[3] He later relocated to the Midwest to advance his open-wheel racing ambitions. ^[3] In the Midwest, he found considerable success in short-track roadster competition, where he achieved his most notable early accomplishment by winning the 1956 AARC Championship. ^[8] He participated in events sanctioned by the Mutual Roadster Association (also known as the Roaring Roadsters circuit), driving a distinctive #25 flathead-powered roadster at venues such as Mt. Lawn Speedway and Winchester Speedway. ^[9] This car reportedly originated in California, built by engine specialist Clay Smith before passing through ownership by Andy Granatelli's Hurricane Hotrods team and subsequently to Amick. ^[9] Amick made multiple appearances as an entrant in the Little 500 at Anderson Speedway during his roadster years. He later progressed to higher-level competition in IMCA sprint cars and eventually USAC national events. ^[3]

USAC Champ Car involvement

Red Amick competed in the USAC Championship Car series, the premier national open-wheel racing circuit in the United States during the late 1950s and early 1960s, from 1958 to 1960. ^[5] He made a total of three starts across those seasons, driving equipment such as a Kurtis 4000D-Offenhauser for Dayton-Walther in 1958 (DNS at Trenton 100 after being hit by a tow truck), a Kurtis 500C-Offenhauser for Wheeler-Foutch in 1959 (Indianapolis 500), and Epperly-Offenhauser and Meyer-Offenhauser chassis for Iddings and Leonard Faas in 1960 (Langhorne 100 and Indianapolis 500). ^{[10] [11]} These starts included participation in events on the USAC National Championship Trail beyond the Indianapolis 500, specifically one non-Indy start in 1960. In 1960, his efforts yielded 100 points from an 11th-place finish at Indianapolis and a 17th-place finish at Langhorne, resulting in a 31st-place finish in the final championship standings. ^[12] His involvement represented a progression from regional roadster and sprint car competition to the national stage, though detailed results from specific non-Indianapolis races remain limited in available records. ^[5]

Indianapolis 500

1959 Indianapolis 500

Red Amick made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1959, driving the #87 Wheeler-Foutch entry owned by LeRoy E. Foutch, Jr. ^[13] The car was a Kuzma KK500C chassis powered by an Offenhauser engine. ^[13] He qualified at a speed of 142.925 mph, earning the 26th starting position on the grid. ^[13] Amick completed 45 laps of the 200-lap race before retiring due to an accident. ^[13] He finished 31st overall, with no laps led. ^[13] For his efforts, he received prize winnings of $3,915. ^[13] This marked his first appearance at Indianapolis, setting the stage for his subsequent participation the following year. ^[13]

1960 Indianapolis 500

Red Amick made his second and final start in the Indianapolis 500 in 1960. ^[14] He qualified in 22nd position with a four-lap average speed of 143.084 mph driving the No. 27 King O'Lawn Special, a Salih chassis powered by an Offenhauser engine entered by Leonard A. Faas, Sr. ^[14] Amick started the race from 22nd place and went on to complete all 200 laps while running at the finish, without leading any laps. ^{[15] [16]} He finished 11th overall, earning $5,520 in prize money. ^[15] This result stood as his best Indianapolis 500 performance and marked the end of his participation in the event, contributing to his career total of $9,435 in winnings from the race. ^[14]

Media appearances

No television appearances or other media credits are documented for Red Amick in reliable sources. While the Indianapolis 500 was part of the Formula One World Championship calendar from 1950 to 1960, coinciding with his participation in 1959 and 1960, there is no evidence of related media features or appearances by Amick.

Later life and death

Post-racing years

After his competitive racing career concluded following the 1960 season, Red Amick retired from active participation in motorsport. He operated a truck stop near Muncie, Indiana, and a restaurant in North Vernon, Indiana. He later retired to Florida.^[1]

Death

Red Amick died on May 16, 1995, in Crystal River, Florida, at the age of 66. The cause of death was not publicly disclosed in available sources.^{[1] [5]}