senor honda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FnzfE-0EWs

tompettibone
He was a little before my time, but my dad and granddad say he was one of the best. As far as Winchester goes, my granddad hated racing there and he still hates it. He won't even go see a race there. He says it's the most dangerous place he's ever raced. BTW, great video.

senor honda

Robin Miller tells the story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaD3Dc0of6Y

Long before the World of Outlaws came to life, there was Jan Opperman. The "Racing Hippie" carved a legend on the dirt tracks of Pennsylvania in the early 1970s (winning 44 of 90 races in 1972) before embarking on the United States Auto Club. Jan wanted to run the Indianapolis 500 and knew the only path back then was through USAC. In 1974, he approached Parnelli Jones in Gasoline Alley, introduced himself and asked if he could drive that car sitting in the garage? Parnelli knew of his talent and hired him on the spot. Despite having almost no pavement experience, Opp sailed through his rookie test and qualified on the last day. But it was 1976 that really got people's attention. He captured the prestigious Hulman Classic at Terre Haute in April and in May he hopped into a car nobody else could get going and stuck in the show during the final minutes of Indy qualifying.

In August, he won three midget races in three different cars, a sprint race on the high banks of Dayton, came from 20th to first at Springfield in a dirt car before running out of fuel and then finished sixth in the California 500 at Ontario. In September, he suffered critical head injuries while running second in the Hoosier Hundred and spent 1977 recovering. But, even though he raced from 1978-81, he was never the same and never won another sprint car feature. He was badly injured again in 1981 and suffered a series of strokes that incapacitated him until his death in 1997.

senor honda

Jan Opperman Tribute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCk2NcvX8Dg
by00sprintmirage

senor honda

C moore
He was as talented as any driver I have ever seen. I say driver, because he ran anything. I met him in tulsa when he was making his ill fated comeback. He won that night and always the optimist, thought he was 100% back. After a few years, I have come to the conclusion that the odds of coming back 100% from a severe head injury are slim at best. It seems like God is telling us to get out of the race car.

It seems like even the ones that seem to get it completely back have a sad ending to their saga. The only one I can think of that came back completely with no ill effects was Lee Kunzman in the late 60's or 1970. The others I think of that suffered severe head trauma were Rich Vogler. He came back but it ended the night before his first cup start. At that time, he and his father were the only two people to get killed on ESPN's thunder series. I think of Stan Fox, he got killed on the road in NZ. He couldn't have a DL here due to seizures. Jack Hewitt. Came all the way back and got hurt again. Wolfgang, even though his head injury wasn't the most serious. I could name others, but why?

senor honda

Bagwanish
Great Tribute! I grew up in Indianapolis and watched him at the Indy 500 and at the Hoosier 100 as a kid in 1973 and 74. My dad sold to petroleum to refinery buyers for a fortune 500 company so he had passes to the pit stop, gasoline alley, and race day tickets. My childhood friend's older brother was a mechanic and amateur sprint car racer. He used the Gasoline alley pass to jobs with Mike Mosley one year and Jan Opperman the next year. He loved Jan and talked fondly of him.