Henry Banks

For the politician and author, see Henry Bankes.

Henry Banks

Born	(1913-06-14)June 14, 1913
Died	December 18, 1994(1994-12-18) (aged 81)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1950–1954
Teams	Maserati, Moore, Lesovsky
Entries	5 (3 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1954 Indianapolis 500

Henry Banks (June 14, 1913 – December 18, 1994) was an American midget car and "big car" driver. "Married Roseanne Eisamann, two children, John Allen Banks, and Kathryn Roseanne Banks, three grandchildren Allen Edwin Banks, Jeffrey Henry Banks and Gavin Working "

Background

Henry Banks was born in England, but brought up in Royal Oak, Michigan. He was the son of an early European race-driver. Henry began competing in 1932, when he was 19 years old, and became successful in the midget cars.

Racing career

He was the first driver to pass the qualifying "rookie test" at the Indianapolis 500 in 1936. He also drove as a relief driver in 1937, 1939, and 1940, with a 21st-place finish in 1938.

He won the 1941 American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) championship in New England.

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 and, in the same year, came second in the National Midget points.

Banks later retired from racing and became USAC Director of Competitions, and was also inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. He died at Indianapolis in 1994.

Actor

Also at this time, Banks appeared in two films. The first was To Please A Lady, starring Clark Gable. The second was Roar of the Crowd, starring Howard Duff.

Racing record

Indianapolis 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Led	Retired
1938	33	31	116.279	31	21	109	0	Rod bearing
1946	3	21	120.220	25	27	32	0	Pinion shaft
1947	43	26	120.923	18	24	36	0	Oil line
1950	12	21	129.646	29	25	112	0	Flagged
1951	1	17	133.899	12	6	200	0	Running
1952	2	12	135.962	12	19	184	0	Flagged
Totals						673	0

Starts	6
Poles	0
Front Row	0
Wins	0
Top 5	0
Top 10	1
Retired	3

Complete AAA Championship Car results

Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Pos	Points
1946	INDY 27	LAN DNS	ATL	ISF	MIL	GOS										-	0
1947	INDY 24	MIL	LAN	ATL	BAI	MIL	GOS	MIL	PIK	SPR	ARL					-	0
1948	ARL 13	INDY DNQ	MIL	LAN	MIL	SPR	MIL	DUQ	ATL	PIK	SPR	DUQ				-	0
1949	ARL	INDY DNQ	MIL	TRE	SPR	MIL	DUQ	PIK	SYR	DET DNQ	SPR DNQ	LAN	SAC	DMR		-	0
1950	INDY 25	MIL 5	LAN 2	SPR DNQ	MIL 2	PIK	SYR DNQ	DET 1	SPR 18	SAC 3	PHX 12	BAY 4	DAR 3			1st	1,390
1951	INDY 6	MIL 11	LAN 10	DAR 7	SPR 4	MIL 5	DUQ 6	DUQ 5	PIK	SYR 6	DET 9	DNC 2	SJS 3	PHX 2	BAY 3	2nd	1,856.6
1952	INDY 19	MIL DNQ	RAL 10	SPR 7	MIL 4	DET 6	DUQ 7	PIK	SYR 8	DNC 8	SJS 17	PHX 5				10th	700
1953	INDY DNQ	MIL Wth	SPR	DET	SPR	MIL	DUQ	PIK	SYR	ISF	SAC	PHX				-	0
1954	INDY DNQ	MIL	LAN	DAR	SPR	MIL	DUQ	PIK	SYR	ISF	SAC	PHX	LVG			-	0

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	WDC	Pts
1950	Indianapolis Race Cars	Maserati 8CL	Offenhauser 3.0 L4s	GBR	MON	500 25	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA			NC	0
1951	Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins	Moore	Offenhauser 4.5 L4	SUI	500 6	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	ESP		NC	0
1952	Blue Crown Spark Plug / Hopkins	Lesovsky	Offenhauser 4.5 L4	SUI	500 19	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	NED	ITA		NC	0
1953	Hopkins / Motor Racers	Lesovsky	Offenhauser 4.5 L4	ARG	500 DNQ	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SUI	ITA	NC	0
1954	Hopkins / Motor Racers	Lesovsky	Offenhauser 4.5 L4	ARG	500 DNQ	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SUI	ITA	ESP	NC	0
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