Page Title

1955-56,
Gene
Besecker
drove this
race car.
TEAM
BESECKER
was born!

One of the early Besecker
Sprinters! That's Gene on the left,
with Rick on the far right.

Just A Few Of The
Besecker Sprinters
click photos to enlarge

Gene
Besecker,
Kevin's
grandfather
brought
race cars to
the family in
1955. He
drove the
number 0
"jallopy" for
2 years.

Though his
career as a
driver was
short lived,
he bought
his first
sprint car
shortly
thereafter
in 1957.
Gene
owned
sprint cars
and super
modifieds
until 19777

Gene and
his
"Besecker
Sprinter"
employed
many
legendary
drivers
including
Johnny
Rutherford
Jay
Woodside
Audi Swartz
Bob Pratt
Don Hewitt
Chuck Engel
Dave Norris
Sammy
Sessions
Larry
Dickson
Mike Mosley
Gary
Grissom
Bill Kophler
Duke Cook
Dave
Lundey
Johnny
Caples
and many
more!

A
"Besecker
Sprinter"
held the
track record
at
Hamburg,
NY until it's
closing.

Audie
Swartz
pioloted the
Besecker
Sprinter at
the
inaugural
Knoxville
Nationals
race
finishing in
second
place.

In the early
years of the
Legendary
Eldora
Speedway,
The
Besecker
Sprinter
was first to
take the
checkered
flag in an
unmatched
EIGHT
consecutive
races!

Gene
Besecker
was a
pioneer,
being one
of the first
car owners
to equip his
sprinter
with a wing!
This crude
blue print of
today's
wings was
made by an
airplane
builder and
it's
replacement
was made
of wood!

Gene
Besecker
was known
as "Mean
Gene" and
was said to
have fired
drivers in
mid air
while
crashing!

Gene
Besecker
and his
Besecker
Sprinter
were well
respected
and well
decorated
contenders
in the early
USAC circuit

Gene
Besecker
was known
as "Mean
Gene" and
was said to
have fired
drivers in
mid air
while
crashing!

Gene's
garage was
always a
favorite
stopping
ground for
locals, but
when it was
time to do
motor work,
Gene shut
the garage
and pulled
the blinds.
No one
could come
in until the
motor work
was
completed!

In the early
years of
2000, Gene
and his
wife, Helen
remained
involved
with The
United
States Auto
Club
(USAC),
driving
their semi
to races all
over the
country.

Today,
Gene
carries
photos of
his children
and
grandson in
his
wallet...right
next to
several
photos of
the old
Besecker
Sprinters!

To this day,
Team
Besecker
uses
several
tools used
by the
original
Besecker
Sprinters!
Gene jokes
that Kevin's
jackstands
held up
legends
and heroes!

Rick Besecker drove this sprint
car in the early 1970's. Shortly
after, Rick decided he made much
better pit help for his dad than a
driver. Rick's days as a driver
were short lived, but it gave him
an even greater respect for the
sport and the drivers.