RACER: Robin Miller' Tough Guys--Bentley Warren
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- Bentley Warren only competed twice in the Indianapolis 500 but we'll always wonder what might have been if he hadn't been hurt in 1971.
A star at Oswego in the big-block modifieds in the late '60s, Warren caught the eye of owner Tassi Vatis and his chief mechanic Bill Finley and they brought the native of Glouchester, Mass. to Indianapolis in 1970. He got bumped on the final day of time trials but immediately impressed everyone by finishing sixth at Langhorne and fourth at Milwaukee.
In 1971, he was badly burned in the IndyCar race at Argentina while battling Lloyd Ruby for third place but recovered in time to qualify 15th at Indy and was moving up before being KO'd by a mechanical failure. And just as people were really starting to acknowledge his ability, Warren suffered gruesome injuries in a July sprint-car accident in Dayton. Both legs and feet were broken and they talked of amputating his right foot. He spent three months in the hospital and suddenly he wasn't on anyone's radar.
Bentley tried running his own low-buck team in 1972 and 1973 but had no chance and finally qualified again at Indy in 1975.
But from that point he concentrated on Oswego where he was a six-time champion, in addition to winning the Little 500 when he was 57 years old. He won his first race at Oswego in 1966 and his last one in 2006 at the age of 66.
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Bentley's Saloon, Arundel, Maine, Best damn bar in the state.
Gotta get there. Bucket list
Bentley is the definition of a badass
King of the supers
I saw Bentley at Oswego race supers for years. He could make a shopping cart win!
Mr.Warren hasn't gotten his props.Thanks for posting this.
i spent alot of time at Oswego Speedway used to chat With Bentley many weeks supper nice Guy!!
I've spent most of my short time on this planet around short tracks in New England. Bentley's always been talented beyond words, and a true throwback who really hasn't changed through the years. I've been fortunate enough to witness some pretty memorable races in my life. I saw Nigel Mansell beat out Paul Tracy with a few laps to go at New Hampshire in 1993. This was after battling through traffic for the last 20 laps with Tracy and Fittipaldi. The last twenty laps of that race might still be some of the best open wheel racing I've seen in my life. I was at Daytona in July of 2001 to see Dale Jr. win the 400, and while it was special, that was mostly for emotional reasons. Despite being present for both of those races, the most memorable victory I've ever seen came from Bentley in an ISMA Supermodified at Seekonk in 2003. He took the lead with a late three wide pass to the outside while coming out of turn 4. I was happy just to see he was racing that day. As well as he ran, nobody was expecting him to win late in the race. Especially not with a move like he made.
RIP legend. Your retrospectives on open wheel racing will always be missed.
Alive
loved robin miller open wheel guy all the way!
Loved watching Bentley at star speedway, Thompson Speedway and especially a test session at NHIS.
This man deserves a lot more recognition than he has received. I just listened to an interview on The Dale Jr. Download and it was amazing to hear about Mr. Warren's life and racing career. Plus, you gotta love a guy his age still riding a Harley-Davidson!
Thank You. Bentley is an awesome driver. He's also helped other drivers get a chance at higher levels, like Bobby Santos III with USAC. Bentley's a pretty good business man too.
ISMA Supermodifieds used to come to Jennerstown Speedway at least once a year when I was a kid. I remember there was a rain delay and they had all these vehicles out drying the track. Bentley Warren jumped in a rental car and joined the track drying effort. He was running around passing all the tow trucks weaving in and out of traffic it was incredible. He had the car up on 2 wheels coming off the apron onto the banking. It made for a hell of an entertaining rain delay.
I was the announcer at the track...........Bentley was a riot in that car..........when the rain had stopped he had thousands in the stands who had come back from their cars back in their seats laughing and cheering with his crazy antics............he loaded up the car with people and they had the ride of their life............at one point all the crews in the pits were sitting on the inside retaining wall on the pit road......none of them were facing the grandstands but had their backs to the track.........well the track had a big puddle of water all the way down the front straight up against the bottom of the wall.....................so what does Bentley do?..............he comes flying out of turn 4 in the rental car and dives down in the puddle inches from the inside retaining wall running around 60 or so mph and the result is a wall of water shooting up and soaking everyone on sitting on that wall who were not paying attention to what he was doing.......the crowd went nuts.........I remember one of the owners family wondering what in the world was going on and that they should have the police arrest the person driving around the track like that..........where the promoter told them......"don't worry its only Bentley having fun and entertaining the crowd".............he ran the car so hard in the turns that I looked at it later than night and the sidewalls were worn out!........I don't know how he managed not to pull the tires off the beads or flip it..................what a crazy rain delay show he put on..........
Far out ! The guy is magic
Great racer, extremely tough, and best of all a great guy. For those who have met him you know what I'm talking about.
Miller, the way you are continuing on during your treatments.. I nominate YOU for tough guys!!
Once again Robin,
Pure gold !
Bentley used to run up here at
Sandusky Speedway, and the man was just straight up tough !
I remember wery well a Bentley Warren at Rafaela speedway (Argentina 1971).. he bring with hem to his parents, for they could see by himself the great passion of the local fans and people
Warren was a racer through and through
Thank you!! I grew up watching that man one of my favorite race car drivers.... I have a picture of him at the NY State Fair grounds in his super
Yeah another Oswego great won on the Moody mile Joe Gosek!
Warren was an extremely good race car driver. I remember him well.
Give him worn tires and lapped traffic will be quickest one out there. Not many can say won The Classic and Little 500! Awesome piece Robin.
Miss Robin....was the best!
Had the pleasure of watching Bentley and other of the Oswego drivers wheel their supers around the sandusky speedway many times. They were the cream of the crop. Blessed to have those memories.
Robin - You qualify as a tough guy. Stay strong.
Love the tums and Steak and Shake cup
OUTSTANDING. !
Robin Miller for President.
Great report, very informative yet very personal. Just right! Bentley is truly a great driver and a fun person to interact with. I love it when he comes to Anderson.
“Bentley was one of those guys…” Yes, he is a racer.
I watched Bentley in 1969 at the age of 8 . He was great at Oswego and everywhere he raced. Big personality too! Robin beautiful tribute to one tough SOB. If AJ FOYT didn’t have a biological brother Bentley “ The Flyin’ Fisherman” definitely qualifies! 🏁 🎣
I remember Bentley was flying his own helicopter up to Canada and didn’t know or didn’t care that he was supposed to check with customs and flew all around up there.
Robin. Thanks. Really enjoy your videos. Fantastic Job 🇺🇸
Love your broadcasts Robin!
Don't forget he won a world of outlaws race at syracuse
Never hear a story like that again. Not since they built the McRacecar factory across the street.
One year after the hy-miler nats at Sandusky speedway i was in the pits and talked to bentley, he was drinkin a Budweiser and had a t shirt on that a NIM "nine inch males" hes a fnny fkr ,cool dude lol
Thanks Robin!!! I love these videos . Very educational.
Also love shirt!
The race at Syracuse was in 1978 the first "Super Nationals" he was in an older supermodified against much lighter Sprint cars. On dirt, very impressive.
Asphalt Super on dirt to boot, Bentley is a drivers driver!
Was there
I think jimmy winks may have raced that day
@@terryatpi Remember when Jimmy Winks was a regular At Fonda Speedway i think his No was 221!
@@healthyone100 I saw him tear assing around Oswego in the 07 in the seventies. Really competitive racing then. Guys running blowers, 4 wheel drive ect. It was like the wild west. Wish I “had “ a time machine. Glad you had the pleasure to watch him too !
You don't even mention NH every Sat. night Bentley was there in a Super Modified winning races
I remember him racing at and then owning Sandusky Speedway in Ohio.
Do one on Arnie Knepper !
The video length is 7:07
Bentley once drove a car #707
Interesting
bentley is a racers racer
I enjoy watching your series on all these drivers.
But please... Get a sound/voice filter for your microphone. The echo in your room makes it difficult to listen to.
Sincerely, retired racer with
hearing aids
Big ole Steak 'n Shake coke lol
..and Tums next to them #NotTheFood ?