Driver, safety pioneer

A dominant road racer in the 1950s and ‘60s, the Westfield, NJ native won four straight SCCA C Modified national championships (1956-59), three Road America 500s (1959, 1961, 1964) and the prestigious Watkins Glen Grand Prix sports car race four times (1953, 1957, 1959, 1962). Versatile as well as fast, in 1964 Hansgen finished third twice in two NASCAR starts, fifth in the U.S. Grand Prix and became at 44 the oldest and fastest rookie qualifier at Indy. Winning 43% of the 244 races he entered, Hansgen also contributed as president of the Road Racing Drivers Club, initiating and teaching advanced driver schools, and working with SCCA boss John Bishop to improve racing safety. Befriending and mentoring a young Mark Donohue, in 1966 they finished 3^rd at Daytona and 2^nd at Sebring in a Holman & Moody Ford GT before heading for Le Mans. Hansgen was killed during the April test day. Weeks later, he was to drive a Mecom Lola at Indy, the same car in which replacement Graham Hill won the 500.