Prvi Srbin u F1? 1. deo – First Serb in F1? part 1

Bil Vuković je  legenda trka  50ih godina, ostaće zapamćen kao dvostruki pobednik Indianapolis 500. Pobedio je u prve dve; a  a izgubio život u trećoj.  Sve ovo ne bi bilo toliko zanimljivo, da Bil Vuković nema srpske korene.  

Bill Vukovich was a racing legend during the fifties, best remembered for three Indy 500 races. He won the first two; he died in the third. All this would not be so interesting that Bill Vukovich not have Serbian roots.

Vuković je postao legenda motosporta, a 1992 godine je postao deo  međunardno kuće slavnih u motosportu među kojima su Enzo Ferrari, Ayrton Senna, Henry Ford, Juan Manuel Fangio, i mnogi drugi…  Indianapolis 500 je bio deo svetskog šampionata  vozača koji će kasnije biti nazvan F1, tako da Bil Vuković učestvovao na 5 trka šampionata F1 i pri tome zabeležio jednu pol poziciju, dve pobede, tri najbrža kruga i dva podijuma, na taj način ostvario 19 poena. Na ovaj način Bil je postao prvi Srbin u F1.

Vukovich was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991, where are drivers like Enzo Ferrari, Ayrton Senna, Henry Ford, Juan Manuel Fangio, and others… The Indianapolis 500 was part of the World Drivers' Championship (which later became the FIA Formula 1 World championship) from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Bill Vukovich participated in 5 F1 World Championship races. He started on the pole once, won 2 races, set 3 fastest lead laps, and finished on the podium twice. He accumulated a total of 19 championship points. According to this Bill become first Serb in F1.

Poznat i kao “Mad Russian” (ludi Rus), ili “Silent Serb” (Nečujni Srbin),  Vuković bio vrhunski vozač koji je uživao da provocira druge vozače, bio je mali i zdepast a izdvajao se po velikoj želji za pobedom i po tome što je bio vrhunski mehaničar.

Also know as Mad Russian or Silent Serb, Vukovich was great driver who enjoyed psyching out other drivers, he was short stocky man, but he distinguish for his will to win, and also he was a master mechanic

Bil je jedno od osmoro dece i rođen je u Alamidi, država Californija 1918, a odrastao je u Fresnu. Njegovi roditelji Jovan (John) i Milka (Mildred) su emigrilali  u SAD iz Jugoslavije.  Njegov otac  je imao farmu i bio je stolar ali se na Bilov 14. rođendan ubio.  Zajedno sa bratom Eli-em zbog novca Bil je morao da napusti školu i počne da radi. Ubrzo je 30ih godina shvatio da trkanje može da mu donese novac. Na svojoj prvoj trci je bio drugi, a na trećoj je pobedio. Fred Gearhart je bio vlasnik auta sa kojim se Bil takmičio. Fred mu je omogućio da počne da se takmiči sa midget automobilma. Dve godine nakon što je započeo karijeru, Bil je imao prvu ozbiljnu povredu, slomio je ključnu kost i opekao ruke. Ova povreda ga je spasila odlaska u II svetski rat.

One of eight children, he was born on Dec. 13, 1918 in Alameda, Cal., and grew up in Fresno. His parents, John and Mildred, who   immigrated to the United States from Yugoslavia. John was a carpenter and owner of a farm. On December 13, 1982  Bill's 14th birthday  he committed suicide. Growing up during the Depression and money being scarce, Bill and his older brother, Eli, had to drop out of high school and work. Vukovich soon realized that racing cars could bring in money -- and he started competing for cash in the 1930s. He came in second in his first competition, but on his third appearance he won. . Fred Gearhart was owner of car wich Bil use for racing. Gearhart was instrumental in helping Vukovich get out of modified racing and into a midget career beginning in 1938. Two years later, he suffered his first serious injury in a racing accident a broken collarbone and a burned hand. In 1941, while mending from a crash-related injury that would keep him out of World War II. 

Posle trke/ After race

Bil je želeo da pobedi po svaku cenu. Kada je njegov brat poželeo da se trka, Bil mu je rekao da se nekači sa njim, ali ipak cilj braće je bio da zarade što više kako bi imali kompetentan automobil. Tokom drugog svetskog rata Bil je poprvaljao džipove i kamione i na kraju je uspeo da kupi automobil za 750 dolara. Nazvao ga je “Old Ironsides” ( Stari Mudonja) i ofarbao ga u crveno. U jakoj konkurenciji Bil je postao šampion. Potres mozga, slomjena ramena i rebra, ga nisu sprečila da osvoji titulu 1946 i 1947. Postao je dominatan i 1950 je osvojio krunu Nacionalne Midget Asocijacije.

Vukovich's spirit was to win at all costs. When Eli started racing, Bill warned him: "Don't tangle with me. Out on that track you're just another driver." Still, the brothers' goal was to make money and they planned to make more money to buy competitive car. During World War II, Vukovich repaired Jeeps and trucks, earning money to buy a midget from Gearhart for $750 and prepped it for the 1945 racing season. Naming the car “Old Ironsides”, he painted it a bright red. Behind its wheel, Vukovich became a champion in the California midget races. Concussions, scarred hands, broken shoulders and rib didn't stop him. He didn't want to lose -- especially to Eli. Winning the United Racing Association's West Coast championship handily in 1946 and 1947, Vukovich established himself as the dominant driver in midget racing. In 1950, he captured the AAA National Midget crown, paving his way to the American motor racing's major league.

Ako želite da vidite na koji način je Bil Vuković ostvario dve pobede na Indianapolis-u 500, kao i model sa kojim je pobeđivao pročitajte 2.deo

If you want to know how Bill Vukovich win Indianapolis 500, and model in he make that wins read part 2