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Photo ID # I07.28.12_LAN_CYL_LAN_0049S_2
Car #: #16
Driver (s) : Jimmy Chann
Location: Unknown
Date: 1949
Photographer: Unknown
Photo provided by: Russ Dodge
Comments: Senior Moment From Russ Dodge:

#16-Just Magic For Elton's Buddy Jimmy Chann

Occasionally "Wild Man" Elton Hildreth's adventures in life have been the subject of my Senior Moments.  Setting the stage so that youngsters (guys under 50) reading this will be able to follow along, I'll make this intro short.  Elton Hildreth was an accomplished modified stock car driver from Bridgeton, NJ. who drove and orange and black  coupe numbered 16-J.

Seeing the program pictured from Langhorne Speedway September, 1949, brought this Senior Moment to mind, remembering Elton telling me of this "happening".  The program's main story is titled "Jimmy Chann Seeks Revenge In Today's Classic."  The program also contains the full page photo included above.

Jimmy was the middle boy of the three cycle racing brothers with Steve the oldest and Pete, the youngest.  Operating a cycle shop and racing out of Bridgeton they were friends of Elton.  Jimmy was the most accomplished of the three and was the 1947-49 AMA Grand National Champion.  In 1949 Chann was recognized by his peers as the most popular Rider of the Year (now called the Pro Athlete of the year).  In the late 1940s Jimmy was considered one of the top dirt track racers of all time.

In 1953 during the running of the DAYTONA 200 for cycles, Jimmy was starting down the paved side of the old beach course and a spectator started to cross the track.  He was running about 120 mph when he hit the woman and crashed to the pavement.  The following riders could not avoid Jimmy  and he suffered many serious injuries.  The woman he hit suffered only a broken arm.

Jimmy recovered from most of his injuries but couldn't continue his racing career and left the cycle scene.  He was employed at the ship yard until he retired.  However one injury which affected his speech and communication skills continued after the injury.  A brief description was "he couldn't get the words out "explained his friend Elton Hildreth.

"He used to stop by the shop and I used to take him to the races with us", Elton went on.  One day Elton stopped by on his way to Nazareth and picked up Jimmy.  They rode up in the Nash and followed the stock car on the trailer.  Jimmy was quiet all of the ride until they almost reached the speedway.  All of the sudden Jimmy said, "that's my number".  Elton was surprised and said "what did you say"?  Jimmy responded, "16, that's the number I ran"  He spoke just as clear and flawlessly!  He had been staring at the number on the trunk of the 16-J.  According to Elton that was a turning point in correcting "something" from the injury from years before.

Needless to say I had to check the photo from the Langhorne Program and as you can see it is "Lucky Number 16"!

Jimmy Chann was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.  To read more about Jimmy go to: http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?racerid=36  

Thanks for listening.

Senior Moment by Russ Dodge

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Comment:

07.28.12 Larry Jendras Jr

Jimmy Chann had a great career and did some racing in my area. He appeared and finished well at the annual July 4th races at Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, Md. He also raced to Hagerstown when it was first opened under the name Conococheague Raceway. In 1949 he raced at the Piney Grove Speedway, a motorcycle only track outside of Washington, D.C. Nothing like good flat track motorcycle racing.

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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