Landy Scott
Encyclopedia
Landy Scott is a former midget car racing
champion. He also served as the President of Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
from 1951-1959.
in the northwoods of Wisconsin. His father, George, was a lumberjack
. His family moved to Milwaukee in southern Wisconsin at the age of five. Landy’s dream of becoming a race driver began as a member of Wally Zale's pit crew. The Japan
ese had other plans and on December 7, 1942, they attacked of Pearl Harbor
. Days later, Landy was a soldier in the United States Army
. After the World War II
, Landy took his military mustering out pay and bought his first Midget race car. Landy, a virtual unknown competed against the nation's greatest racing stars of the 1940s and 1950s. Landy drove his #17 midget racer, powered by an unconventional Studebaker
engine, on a shoestring budget to victories on oval dirt tracks everywhere.
Over a two year span (1947 - 1948) Landy won an incredible twenty feature races, with fourteen second place finishes and twelve thirds. Landy also won 33 heat races and semi-features. All totaled, Landy had 151 top 3 finishes over that two year period.
Landy's career highlight was winning the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association's (BMARA) 1947 Championship and eventually becoming the president of BMARA.
Today Landy resides in Las Vegas, Nevada
enjoying retirement.
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
champion. He also served as the President of Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
Angell Park Speedway
Angell Park Speedway has a 1/3 mile dirt racetrack located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The track has been run by the city's fire department since 1903. Racing occurs every Sunday approximately Memorial Day until Labor Day. Special racing events and the weather may alter the schedule...
from 1951-1959.
Life
Scott was born in the small town of Oconto, WisconsinOconto, Wisconsin
Oconto is a city in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,708 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located partially within the town of Oconto.-History:...
in the northwoods of Wisconsin. His father, George, was a lumberjack
Lumberjack
A lumberjack is a worker in the logging industry who performs the initial harvesting and transport of trees for ultimate processing into forest products. The term usually refers to a bygone era when hand tools were used in harvesting trees principally from virgin forest...
. His family moved to Milwaukee in southern Wisconsin at the age of five. Landy’s dream of becoming a race driver began as a member of Wally Zale's pit crew. The Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese had other plans and on December 7, 1942, they attacked of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. Days later, Landy was a soldier in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. After the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Landy took his military mustering out pay and bought his first Midget race car. Landy, a virtual unknown competed against the nation's greatest racing stars of the 1940s and 1950s. Landy drove his #17 midget racer, powered by an unconventional Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
engine, on a shoestring budget to victories on oval dirt tracks everywhere.
Over a two year span (1947 - 1948) Landy won an incredible twenty feature races, with fourteen second place finishes and twelve thirds. Landy also won 33 heat races and semi-features. All totaled, Landy had 151 top 3 finishes over that two year period.
Landy's career highlight was winning the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association's (BMARA) 1947 Championship and eventually becoming the president of BMARA.
Today Landy resides in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
enjoying retirement.
President of BMARA
Between 1951 and 1959, while still racing, Landy served as the President of Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA}. During that time Landy initiated many changes. Here are a few of the changes implemented by Landy during his tenure as the President of Badger.- Obtained insurance for the drivers paying $1,000.00 for medical bills or $1,000.00 life insurance. Prior to that, collections were taken and or BMARA money was used to help those injured or who died.
- Implemented awarding trophies for the Point Standing Champion, later adding additional trophies for the top five positions and beyond. (In previous years champions were not awarded trophies).
- Divided the nightly purse to pay all drivers instead of only the top six, helping teams on a small budget race more often.
- Formed the "Tri-State Agreement" between Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin to increase the number of cars at each race. Prior to this agreement high fees, charged by various organizations, made it cost prohibitive for drivers to race in other states, so most remained in their home state. Car count increased dramatically after the agreement.
- Initiated a rule change to require two signatures for any check written by the board of BMARA, insuring the money was spent more wisely. When Landy took office in 1951 there was $58.00 in the BMARA account. When he left office there was over $5,000.00.
- Implemented a dress code to promote a more uniform and professional appearance of the drivers, crew, and staff.
- Increased the number of local tracks to reduce travel time and cost, with a five track weekly circuit (Sun Prairie, Slinger, Cedarburg, Hales Corners and Milwaukee). Prior to the five track weekly schedule, drivers had to drive thousands of miles a week if they wanted to compete as a full time race driver.
- Negotiated with track owners to pay a flat fee (purse), plus a percentage of the gate. Prior to this agreement, track owners only paid a percentage of the gate causing conflict on the actual number in attendance. This arrangement increased purses for drivers.
- Implement a new rule which prohibited a driver from driving in a race within 72 hours of flipping a race car, without a doctor's waiver. Landy was one of the first drivers affected by his own rule when he tried to drive after flipping at Soldier Field without a wavier from a doctor (he didn't drive).