Bill Schindler

Bill Schindler (March 6, 1909 Middletown, New York – September 20, 1952) was an American racecar driver.

Bill Schindler

Born	March 6, 1909
Died	September 20, 1952 (aged 43)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1950–1952
Teams	Snowberger, Kurtis Kraft, Stevens
Entries	3
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1952 Indianapolis 500

He began racing in 1931 in a sprint car.[1] He was racing midget cars on the East Coast of the United States at their introduction in 1934.[2] Schindler lost his left leg from above the knee while racing in a Champ car race in 1936 at Mineola, L.I.[1][2] He is one of three drivers to have participated in the Indianapolis 500 with a prosthetic leg.[3]

Schindler was part of a group determined to keep the AAA out of the East Coast in 1937. He was elected president of the "outlaw" group. Schindler briefly switched to the AAA in 1940, and won the Bronx Coliseum Indoor championship. He returned to his “outlaw” past when he was named the president of the newly formed American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC).[1][2] He served as president for the club's first six years.[1] Schindler won ARDC championships in 1940, 1945, 1946 and 1948.[2] In both 1947 and 1948 he won 53 midget car feature races,[1] which helped bring popularity to midget car racing in the Northeastern United States.[4]

Schindler joined the AAA so he could race in the Indianapolis 500 in 1950, 1951, and 1952.[2]

Schindler died in a sprint car racing crash in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1952. Schindler was leading the race on the third lap when a car driven by Paul Becker lost a wheel and skidded into the fence. He did not see the "go slow" sign that was immediately waved after Becker's crash and his black Offenhauser hit the wheel, crashed through the fence and tumbled down a 20-foot embankment. He was killed instantly.[5]

Career awards

• He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1998.
• He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1985.[2]
• He was inducted in the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2004.[1]

Complete AAA Championship Car results

Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Pos	Points
1950	INDY 26	MIL 18	LAN 16	SPR 12	MIL 22	PIK	SYR DNS	DET 15	SPR 15	SAC 2	PHX DNQ	BAY 3	DAR 2			10th	690
1951	INDY 13	MIL 16	LAN 2	DAR 21	SPR 3	MIL 4	DUQ 12	DUQ	PIK	SYR 8	DET	DNC DNP	SJS	PHX 8	BAY 9	11th	693.5
1952	INDY 14	MIL 3	RAL 23	SPR 1	MIL 2	DET 13	DUQ 14	PIK	SYR 16	DNC	SJS	PHX				11th	660

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1950 67 22 132.690 4 26 111 0 Universal joint 1951 10 16 134.033 11 13 129 0 Rod 1952 7 15 134.988 20 14 200 0 Running Totals 440 0

Starts 3 Poles 0 Front Row 0 Wins 0 Top 5 0 Top 10 0 Retired 2

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Bill Schindler participated in 3 World Championship races, but scored no World Championship points.

References

1. Biography Archived October 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine at the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame, Retrieved October 2, 2007
2. Biography Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
3. "The Talk of Gasoline Alley", WIBC, May 13, 2003
4. "Sport: Discreetly Daring". Time Magazine. August 16, 1948. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
5. "Bill Shindler Killed at Allentown". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. 1952. Retrieved 1952. Vet driver hits wheel on track Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)