Wesley Charles Vandervoort (May 4, 1926 – September 7, 1993) was an American racing driver. He is best known for competing annually in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and for his victory at that event in 1967.

Wes Vandervoort
BornWesley Charles Vandervoort
(1926-05-04)May 4, 1926
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
DiedSeptember 7, 1993(1993-09-07) (aged 67)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Championship titles
Major victories
Pikes Peak Hill Climb (1967)
Champ Car career
5 races run over 5 years
Best finish30th (1967)
First race1965 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak)
Last race1969 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak)
First win1967 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak)
Wins Podiums Poles
1 4 0

Racing career

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Vandervoort competed at Pikes Peak over a period of 12 years.[1] He made a total of 5 Championship Car starts from 1965 to 1969, during which time Pikes Peak was part of the United States Auto Club (USAC) Championship Car season schedule.[2]

Vandervoort finished on the podium nine times during his Pikes Peak career, and recorded only one finish outside of the top ten.[1] He won the event in 1967.[3]

Personal life

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Vandervoort was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on May 4, 1926.[2] He owned and operated a garage in Colorado Springs, and was known to make space and tools available to competitors in need.[1] He died on September 7, 1993, in Colorado Springs.[2]

Awards and honors

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Complete USAC Championship Car results

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Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pos Points
1965 PHX TRE INDY
MIL
LAN
PIP
4
TRE IRP ATL LAN MIL SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 41st 60
1966 PHX TRE INDY
MIL
LAN ATL PIP
2
IRP LAN SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX
35th 80
1967 PHX
TRE
INDY
MIL
LAN
PIP
1
MOS
MOS
IRP
LAN
MTR
MTR
SPR
MIL
DUQ
ISF
TRE
SAC
HAN
PHX
RIV
26th 200
1968 HAN
LVG
PHX
TRE
INDY
MIL
MOS
MOS
LAN PIP
3
CDR
NAZ IRP
IRP
LAN LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL
DUQ ISF TRE SAC MCH HAN
PHX RIV
53rd 21
1969 PHX
HAN
INDY
MIL
LAN
PIP
3
CDR
NAZ TRE
IRP
IRP
MIL
SPR
DOV
DUQ
ISF
BRN
BRN
TRE
SAC
KEN KEN PHX
RIV
55th 21

References

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  1. ^ a b c PPIHC (2022-03-11). "Pikes Peak Hill Climb Hall of Fame Inductees Announced". Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  2. ^ a b c "Wes Vandervoort". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  3. ^ PPIHC All Time Kings of the Mountain (1916-2018). Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "Hall of Fame". Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
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