Indianapolis 500 veteran Paul Goldsmith, a profitable competitor on two and 4 wheels, died Sept. 6 in Munster, Indiana. He was 98, the oldest Indianapolis 500 starter on the time of his passing.
West Virginia native Goldsmith made six consecutive Indy 500 begins between 1958-63. His finest end got here in 1960, a third-place end result within the No. 99 Demler Epperly/Offy automobile overshadowed by the sensational duel for victory between Jim Rathmann and Rodger Ward.
Goldsmith additionally completed fifth in 1959. That robust end result got here a yr after he accomplished zero laps as a rookie starter in 1958, as he was caught within the multi-car accident that claimed the lifetime of Pat O’Connor. Goldsmith’s finest qualifying place was ninth for his remaining begin, in 1963.
Extremely, Goldsmith achieved such success on the prime stage of open-wheel racing regardless of making solely eight profession begins in automobiles with out fenders. All eight races had been USAC Championship occasions, together with the six Indianapolis 500 begins.
Few racers in his period had been extra versatile and profitable than the standard, quiet Goldsmith.
Raised in Detroit, he started racing bikes as an adolescent after the top of World Battle II. He jumped instantly to American Motorcyclist Affiliation professional standing on Harley-Davidson machines, competing whereas working full time at a Chrysler manufacturing facility. Goldsmith’s first main AMA motorbike win got here in 1952 on the one-mile dust monitor at Wisconsin State Honest Park, now paved and often known as the Milwaukee Mile.
In 1953, Goldsmith gained the Daytona 200 motorbike race on the previous seaside street course, together with his Harley ready by legendary engine builder and tuner Smokey Yunick. He additionally gained the 100-mile race at treacherous Langhorne Speedway.
Goldsmith completed second within the AMA standings in 1954 to a protegee and pal from the West Coast who additionally achieved success on two and 4 wheels – Joe Leonard.
Whereas nonetheless racing bikes, Goldsmith tried his hand at inventory automobile racing, profitable a 250-mile race in 1953 on the Detroit Fairgrounds. He made his remaining motorbike begin in 1956 after which targeted on inventory automobile racing, incomes his first NASCAR victory that yr in a 300-mile race at Langhorne for Yunick’s group.
Goldsmith was the ultimate NASCAR Grand Nationwide winner on the previous seaside course in 1958 in Daytona Seashore, Florida, whereas the development of Daytona Worldwide Speedway was underway. He’s the one competitor to win on the seaside course in a automobile and on a motorbike.
In 1959, Goldsmith teamed up with ace mechanic Ray Nichels and dominated the USAC Inventory Automobile circuit in Nichels Engineering machines through the first half of the Sixties. He gained the USAC Inventory Automobile championship in 1961 and 1962 and completed second in 1960 and 1965.
Goldsmith gained 26 USAC Inventory Automobile races in 85 begins, with 44 top-three finishes. Nineteen of these wins got here in 39 begins throughout his title-winning seasons in 1961 and 1962. He gained 9 races and earned 59 top-10 finishes in 127 NASCAR begins. His final NASCAR win got here in 1966 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Regardless of solely six begins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Goldsmith turned many laps on the Racing Capital of the World as Firestone’s chief take a look at driver.
He additionally participated in one of the vital distinctive occasions in IMS historical past, a 24-hour race between two automobiles Nov. 21-22, 1961. Goldsmith and fellow star drivers Ward, Len Sutton, Fireball Roberts, Marvin Panch and Joe Weatherly alternated between a Police Enforcer model of a Pontiac Catalina and a standard Catalina in heavy rain, a take a look at of the equipment and drivers. They had been the primary drivers to compete on the fully paved 2.5-mile oval, because the entrance straightaway of authentic brick was lined with asphalt in October 1961.
His noteworthy accomplishments on two and 4 wheels had been honored with membership in a number of Halls of Fame, together with the IMS Corridor of Fame, Motorsports Corridor of Fame of America, Motorbike Corridor of Fame, USAC Corridor of Fame and Michigan Motorsports Corridor of Fame.
Goldsmith retired as a driver in 1969 to give attention to his rising aviation exploits. He was a famous pilot, one of many first drivers to fly himself to and from races. He additionally skilled pilots for China East Airways, flew elements to races in his aircraft, and owned an aviation engine restore enterprise and an airport in Griffith, Indiana. Goldsmith additionally owned a collection of ranches and eating places.
Goldsmith was predeceased by his spouse, Helen, and son, Greg. He’s survived by his daughter, Linda Goldsmith-Slifer.
