Art Pollard Racing in 1967

Some Stats are from Motorsport.com

April 9, 1967 – Back at Phoenix again for the start of the ’67 season and a new teammate in Mel Kenyon (shown below). Art started 4th and finished 7th and collected $736.00 for his efforts in a race won by Lloyd Ruby.

1967 Fred Gerhardt Team Drivers Mel Kenyon and Art Pollard

Thermo King racing car drivers Mel Kenyon (left), Davenport, Iowa, and Art Pollard, Medford, Ore. Kenyon is scheduled for car number 15, the Drake Offenhauser, and Pollard in car number 16, with the Ford engine.

April 23, 1967 – At Trenton, NJ. Art started a career best 3rd and finished 8th in the Gerhardt-Offy.

This is one of the race cars built for and sponsored by Thermo King Corporation, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pictured is the driver Art Pollard, Medford, Oregon, with Phil Casey, the Chief Mechanic for the builder of the race car, Fred Gerhardt, Commercial Body Sales and Manufacturing Company, Inc., Fresno, California

May 1967 – Indianapolis, Indiana for the Indy 500. Art Pollard was assigned garage number 33 for the Thermo-King #16 and car owners Don Gerhardt & Chief Mechanic Phillip Casey. Art was 1 of 5 Rookies at the track and was teamed up with Indy 500 sophomore Mel Kenyon and Bob Veith in the #46. No problem qualifying this year as Art became the third rookie to qualify for the race with a four lap average speed of 163.897 on the first day of qualifying, which had been postponed to Sunday since rain washed out all qualifying on Saturday. Art was the 17th car to make a qualifying attempt. Art started the Thermo-King #16 Gerhardt-Offy (shown and below) in the 13th starting spot and brought home a top-ten by finishing 8th in his first 500. The #16 Thermo-King Special was a 168 cubic inch turbocharged Offy, which produced 625 horsepower at 8000 RPM. Of course to finish this 500 Art had to weave his way through the last lap carnage on the main straight. Art scored 250 points for the finish and his share of $16,298.00 prize money. MotorSports.com

June 4, 1967 – The Milwaukee Mile was not a good race for Art. On lap 28 he lost his brakes and collected Al Unser in the mishap. Art started 7th and was credited with 20th finishing position.

June 18, 1967 – On a hot & humid day at Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Art started 4th and finished 14th after his engine blew on lap 78 of 100.

Post card courtesy of Mike Pollard

This is one of the post cards Art handed out at various high schools across the nation. It reads the following on the back…

“Art Pollard – Pollard is a member of the famous team of racing veterans who present the Champion Spark Plug Company’s Highway Safety Program to thousands of high school students throughout the nation.”

SAVE A LIFE – YOURS
Be Couteous
Be Alert
Keep Your Car In Good Condition

July 1, 1967 – Rain and a rock were the stories at Mosport in the twin 100 races this day. The first race was completed with Art finishing 9th after starting 16th. In the second heat race of the day, Art was hit in the head by a flying rock and forced to retire after only 3 laps. The race was forced to a halt by rain 3 laps later.

October 22, 1967 – 154.816 mph was fast enough to earn Art Pollard his first Champ Car pole position! This took place at Hanford, California. Art led the first through the 108th lap. He finished 5th, 1 lap down.

November 19, 1967 – Art started 10th and finished 14th at Phoenix.

November 26, 1967 – 30 cars started the first ever Champ Car race at the Riverside International Raceway in California. Unfortunately, Art’s Gerhardt-Offy dropped a valve after only 5 laps and he was credited with the 30th and last place finish at the famed road course. The race was won by Dan Gurney.

Preparing Fred Gerhardt’s car for his new driver

Pollard Family Collection

Art’s car showing at Courtesy Chevrolet on Friday November 10, 1967

Pollard Family Collection

Pollard Family Collection

1967 – Hanford, California

Pollard Family Collection

1967 Video Gallery

PLAYLIST

1. The 51st Indianapolis 500-1967

2. 1967 STP Turbine

3. TOGA’s Donald Davidson and Kevin Lee talk Johnny Carson at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

4. 1967 Indy 500.wmv

5. 1967 Indianapolis 500 Full Race)

6. The 1967 Indy 500 with Parnelli Jones and AJ Foyt

Contact Dashboard

Contact Brad Pollard

10 + 10 =

Contact Judy Pollard Dippel

Judy is an author, speaker and publishing consultant. She is the daughter of Art Pollard.

10 + 2 =

Contact Bob Kehoe, author of Art Pollard:
The Life and Legacy of a Gentleman Racer.
Request an autographed copy.

7 + 1 =