Henry Edwin Banks (June 14, 1913 – December 18, 1994) was an American racing driver. He competed in various disciplines of open-wheel motorsport. Banks is best remembered for winning the 1950 AAA National Championship, and for his later career as a USAC race official.
Early life
Henry Banks was born in England, but brought up in Royal Oak, Michigan.Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame He was the son of an early European race-driver.
Driving career
Early career
Banks began competing in 1932, when he was 19 years old, and became successful in midget cars.
Banks was the first driver to pass the qualifying "rookie test" instituted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning in 1936. He also drove as a relief driver in 1937, 1939, and 1940, with a 21st-place finish in 1938.
Banks won the 1941 American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) championship in New England.
Post-war career and AAA Championship
After a break during the war, when he worked at Ford’s aero-engine division, Banks’ career took off. In 1947 he won 30 midget car races. In 1950, he was the AAA National Champion, winning a three-way battle for the title during the final race of the season. That same year, he came second in AAA National Midget points.
World Drivers' Championship career
The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship participation, and were eligible to score WDC points alongside those which they may have scored towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.
Banks participated in three World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. His best finish was sixth place, and he scored no World Drivers' Championship points.
Post-driving life
After Banks retired from competition, he occasionally tested other automobiles. Later, he became the USAC Director of Competitions. He died in Indianapolis in 1994.
Actor
Banks appeared in two racing-related films during his career. The first was To Please A Lady, starring Clark Gable. The second was Roar of the Crowd, starring Howard Duff.
Awards and honors
Banks has been inducted into the following halls of fame: Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame (1982) Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1985) National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1987) Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (1988) United States Auto Club (USAC) Hall of Fame (2013) Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2023)
Banks has been awarded the following honors: Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Citation (1978)
Motorsports career results
Complete AAA Championship Car results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points Ref 1935 Michel de Baets INDY HAM SPR SYR ALT LAN 26th 20 Lawrence Martz ALT 1936 Ralph DePalma INDY GOS SYR NC 0 Louis Kimmel ROR 1937 Louis Kimmel INDY ROR SYR 32nd 14 1938 Louis Kimmel INDY SYR NC 0 1939 Bill Cheesman INDY 23rd 38.5 Leon Duray INDY MIL SYR 1940 Bill Cheesman INDY SPR SYR NC 0 1946 Lou Rassey INDY27 LANDNQ ATL ISF MIL GOS NC 0 1947 Federal Engineering INDY24 MIL LAN ATL BAI MIL GOS MIL PIK SPR ARL NC 0 1948 Lou Fageol ARL13 NC 0 Federal Engineering INDYDNQ MIL LAN MIL SPR MIL DUQ ATL PIK SPR DUQ 1949 Federal Engineering ARL INDYDNQ MIL TRE SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR DETDNQ NC 0 Ray Carter SPRDNQ LAN SAC DMR 1950 Indianapolis Racing Cars INDY25 1st 1,390 Lou Moore MIL5 LAN2 SPRDNQ MIL2 PIK SYRDNQ DET1 SPR18 SAC3 PHX12 BAY4 DAR3 1951 Lou Moore INDY6 MIL11 LAN10 DAR7 SPR4 MIL5 DUQ6 DUQ5 PIK SYR6 DET9 DNC2 SJS3 PHX2 BAY3 2nd 1,856.6 1952 Lou Moore INDY19 MILDNQ RAL10 SPR7 MIL4 DET6 DUQ7 PIK SYR8 DNC8 SJS17 PHX5 10th 700 1953 Lindsey Hopkins INDYDNQ MILWth SPR DET SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX NC 0 1954 Lindsey Hopkins INDYDNQ MIL LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX LVG NC 0 shared drive with Billy Devore, received 38.5 points.
Indianapolis 500 results
YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired19383331116.27931211090Rod bearing1946321120.2202527320Pinion shaft19474326120.9231824360Oil line19501221129.64629251120Flagged1951117133.8991262000Running1952212135.96212191840FlaggedTotals6730
Starts6Poles0Front Row0Wins0Top 50Top 101Retired3
FIA World Drivers' Championship results
(key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pts 1950 Indianapolis Race Cars Maserati 8CL Offenhauser 3.0 L4s GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0 1951 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins Moore Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0 1952 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0 1953 Hopkins / Motor Racers Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0 1954 Hopkins / Motor Racers Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 ARG 500 BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0
References
External links
Henry Banks - ChampCarStats.com
Henry Banks - Motorsport Memorial