Henry Banks

For the politician and author, see Henry Bankes.

Henry Banks

Born	(1913-06-14)June 14, 1913
Died
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.

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.

Indy 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 Formula One World Championship results

(key)

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