Happy Birthday Pete Hamilton

Former Petty driver, Pete Hamilton, turned 70 years old today (Friday, July 20). NASCAR.com

NASCAR.com's Mark Aumann posted a nice historical piece about Pete a couple of days ago:

http://www.nascar.com/news/120719/maumann-retro-hamilton/index.html

I'm not much of an autograph hound. But Pete is one driver I really want to meet and/or just get his autograph. Yet the guy has just fallen off the face of the earth and seemingly has no interest in staying connected to interested racing historian fans like me. I've chased him for ages - and this dog seemingly just can't hunt anymore.

I've always found it interesting that Pete was essentially a '1-year wonder'. He was ROTY and had a few other wins. But everyone recalls that Superbird Super Year of 1970. I realize Chrysler's marketing and racing budget morphed a bit - including the elimination of the Bird for 71. But why not keep Pete on the payroll for 1971? Instead Buddy Baker was hired and put in a Dodge ride at Petty for 71 and 72. A good hire I suppose as Buddy won a couple of races in the white 11 in 1971 and then the red STP-sponsored 11 in 1972. Just interesting they didn't keep the blond New Englander in the seat.

But recently, I think I may have learned the reason why. Late in the 1970 season, Hamilton - a member of the National Guard - was ordered to report for duty by the U.S. Army. He apparently hadn't made a certain number of meetings, and therefore was activated for regular army. Finally, by the end of October, the army gave him an honorable discharge and said all the hullabaloo about missed meetings was due to 'clerical mistakes'. In the Army? Really? That could NEVER happen, right?

Either way, I wonder if Chrysler figured Pete would be unavailable for 71 and pulled the trigger on putting Buddy in the 2nd Petty seat.

October 19 - Link: Pete ordered to the army

October 22 - Link: Pete hoping for 1 more win before joining Army

October 28 - Link: Pete given honorable discharge

Pete did return in 1971, but by then the 2nd Petty seat was taken by Baker in a #11 Dodge to compliment Richard's #43 Plymouth. Buddy had been a long-time Dodge driver so its no coincidence Chrysler kept him in a Dodge. But it just seems strange to me that Pete was moved aside with the successful year he had in 1970 - and I think the uncertainly around his military call-up may have something to do with it.

I found a couple of short interviews with and about Pete. Not sure when this first one was recorded. May have been 2008 when living Daytona 500 champions gathered for the 50th anniversary of the race. But interviews with Pete are rare so enjoy it.

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Media/Videos/D500HistoryVideos/pete-hamilton512Kflv.aspx

And here is a NASCAR podcast from 2007 with an extended interview with The Chief -Maurice Petty - about Pete's season with Petty Enterprises.

http://www.podcast-directory.co.uk/episodes/daytona-500-upset-1970-pete-hamilton-wins-11600865.html

Great story country Pete and i have the same birthday

I never did get to see Pete win a GN (Cup) race in person, but I was fortunate to watch him clean house on June 21, 1969 at South Boston, Virginia in that immaculate, super-fast, red Gene White Camaro in a Grand American (GT) race. Pete and that car were in a class by themselves.

That win was particularly memorable because he beat our hometown Richmond hero, Ray Hendrick at a track where "Rapid Ray" ruled in modifieds by a full lap in 2nd place.

GT 100 NASCAR Grand Touring race
South Boston Speedway, South Boston, VA
June 21, 1969
267 laps on 0.375 mile paved oval; 100.125 miles

Fin St Driver # Owner Car Laps Money Status Laps Led
1 1 Pete Hamilton Gene White 1969 Chevrolet Camaro 267 850 running 143
2 Ray Hendrick 1969 Chevrolet Camaro 266 running
3 Jim Paschal 1969 AMC Javelin
4 T.C. Hunt 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
5 Wayne Andrews 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Tiny Lund
Buck Baker

Notes: 16 of 22 starters running at the finish.
Time of race: 01:15:08
Average Speed: 79.86 MPH
Pole Speed: 15.68 seconds
2 cautions

from Ultimate Racing History

My buddies and I always thought Pete was given the total shaft by Chrysler when the Pettys were forced to drop him and campaign Buddy Baker in the Dodge. Chrysler lost a lot of respect over that move and it sure alienated a lot of fans against Buddy Baker.

I always recall Pete's blood red face when he came out of a car. He always looked as if he was on the verge of a heat stroke.

We were at Hickory nc in 1969, he got there late in that Gene White chevy started in the rear & won the race

Pete will be inducted into the 2012 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame this October!

Race results from URH, comment from Dave.

In this 2003 video interview made at Waterford Speedbowl during a New England Auto Racer's (NEAR) Hall of Fame get together weekend, Pete Hamilton tells why he quit racing in the middle of the season with Cotton Owens, moved to Atlanta with his wife and opened a business. He also said he was living in the Florida Keys in 2003. He says he towed to 121 Modified races in 1967!

Interesting Pete mentioned Bridgehampton as the place he suffered his neck injury. That's the site for today's Petty history moment - July 21:

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-21-this-day-in-petty-history.html