RACER: Robin Miller on Jan Opperman
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- čas přidán 22. 03. 2015
- Long before the World of Outlaws came to life, there was Jan Opperman.
The "Racing Hippie" carved a legend on the dirt tracks of Pennsylvania in the early 1970s (winning 44 of 90 races in 1972) before embarking on the United States Auto Club. Jan wanted to run the Indianapolis 500 and knew the only path back then was through USAC.
In 1974, he approached Parnelli Jones in Gasoline Alley, introduced himself and asked if he could drive that car sitting in the garage? Parnelli knew of his talent and hired him on the spot. Despite having almost no pavement experience, Opp sailed through his rookie test and qualified on the last day.
But it was 1976 that really got people's attention. He captured the prestigious Hulman Classic at Terre Haute in April and in May he hopped into a car nobody else could get going and stuck in the show during the final minutes of Indy qualifying. In August, he won three midget races in three different cars, a sprint race on the high banks of Dayton, came from 20th to first at Springfield in a dirt car before running out of fuel and then finished sixth in the California 500 at Ontario.
In September, he suffered critical head injuries while running second in the Hoosier Hundred and spent 1977 recovering. But, even though he raced from 1978-81, he was never the same and never won another sprint car feature. He was badly injured again in 1981 and suffered a series of strokes that incapacitated him until his death in 1997.
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Great tribute to Jan, and yes, he was the best sprint car driver on dirt track EVER, and he was a great friend. I'll always cherish our times together.
Loved Jan, I raced against him at Lernerville and Jennerstown Pa.. he was always nice to me. I was a young sprint driver at the time and he respected everyone and was a class act. I remember him and Kenny Weld passing me into turn 4 in a 100 lap race, Jan slid out and hit the fence then bounced off and took the lead from Kenny. Good ole days.
GOD Bless you for a nice Tribute to my cousin Jan. Yes his mom & dad June & Jim took care of Jan all those years, my Aunt June was my dad’s sister.
Thanks so much for telling Jan's story.He was a devout christian man.
My uncle was Dick Bogar, owner of the 99. Got to see Jan win a lot in 72 all over central PA. Selinsgrove, Williams Grove, Port Royal, Lincoln. Absolutely the best sprint car driver I ever say.
I saw the Hippie race at port ! The very best.
Excellent job Robin. I was a kid in PA in the 70s and I saw Jan run many times - mostly at Williams Grove - but at other tracks as well. He was indeed one of the best EVER on dirt. What a shame how it all ended for him. But those who watched him will never forget the "Original Outlaw" ... the "Racing Hippie". RIP Jan, and thanks for the memories.
Thanks Robin I was honored to watch Jan Opperman race sprint cars at Phillips Field in Tampa , as he said full tilt !
Great racer, great story! Heartbreaking how he spent the last years of his life.
I met Jan at Port Royal back in the 70's. Jack Gunn had lured Jan to come East and race. No matter how busy he would be, he would always take time to stop and say hi. He was a class act.
Had the opportunity to race against Jan at Devils Bowl Speedway several times. His record speaks for its self. He was a dedicated Christian and often held a bible study in his motel room for the other racers and their crews. He was also very friendly with the fans.
The best dirt track racer I ever saw, bar none. He usually made the rest of the field look like amateurs, no matter who he was racing. He was the kind of man you don't see in racing anymore, and that's too bad.
Comments like yours mean a lot to some people......Thank you Rich Pagoria
@@p.rossopperman4699 the man is an open wheel icon. Or a god. Happy holidays.
@@aaronanderson7619its still amazing hearing comments like yours...... just want to say thank you Aaron Anderson
Oppy made racing on dirt at the cushion look so beautiful and easy
Great job as always Robin, Jan was the Robby Gordon of his time
I was fortunate to watch him race in Tulsa in 78, took one of Jack Links cars and brother did he put on a clinic that night. We met him after the race and to this day he left a big impression on me as one of the best behind the wheel and a man of such strong faith..broke my heart to hear his health deteriorated then passed away. He was truly one of a kind.
Robin, I loved this...such a good job telling the story of an amazingly talented driver
Thank you!
Never saw Jan race because he was before my time going to the Central PA tracks, but I know my dad thought very highly of him. Was reading an Open Wheel magazine in the 80s or maybe early 90s and there was an article on Opperman. Dad had to read it!! I've read and heard he could drive ANYTHING to victory!
Robin, love these video of the past greats and the stories you share! Keep em' coming.
Thanks Robin for the story, never had the privilege of seeing Jan in a sprint car but did see him race at Ontario Motor Speedway in an Indy Car. One of the greatest legends of dirt racing!
Posthumous Thanks Miller! This guy's so much tougher than I've ever been. Once I'd been hit in the nose like that, I'd have retired. My goggles would have been filled with blood and tears & I'd have quit.
Saw the Hippie race at the port !
Thanks Robin for posting this. I was at that feature at Dayton Speedway when Jan beat Pancho. Everyone assumed Pancho would run away with another one on that day but here came Jan out of nowhere. He was driving a brown colored sprinter that I think was sponsored by Siebert? Jan wasn't supposed to do what he did as like you said "he was a dirt track God." I think Pancho was more surprised than anyone! The sprinters were absolutely scary over at Dayton Speedway. They were so damned fast!
Miss you robin
RIP Jan and Robin
Jan's first year at Indy was in 1974.He was in the same rookie class as Tom Sneva,Johnnie Parsons,Jr.Pancho Carter,Jr. and Bill Simpson.
Thanks Robin. Your the best ,enjoy your work.
Thanks for your knowledge!
Great story about a racing stud
Great vid. I was at Jennerstown that night....a memory I wish I didn't have.....
Great video, two legends in one video.. may they rest in peace
I remember buying a t-shirt to support him and my dad and some guys in the pits at Williams Grove passed the hat (I think his Mom was there selling T-shirts during the WoO Eastern Swing) (or it was just a big draw local race...I can't remember) and there was several thousands given to his family that evening.
I didn't know much about him (when he was East my Dad never seemed to be able to see him but he still talks about his Indy run) and I was impressed by what I learned that evening and also how he was truly respected.
Saw him once or twice at Tri city speedway in pa. He was good. I liked him because of his hair. Eff the haters.
A DAM GOOD MAN AND A BIG HEARTTHAT HAD SOME BAD HEAD INJURIES
Thanks Robin...
A Cigarette Brand Sponsor telling a race car driver to cut his hair? Man, those were the days in AOWR.
Ah, Viceroy! The sponsorship that killed the Marlboro deal.
I love sprint car racing
Well done Robin!
Jan's 1971 sprint car season went quite well for him. By the time of the Knoxville Nationals, Singer had come up with a winning version of the 400ci Chevy, that soon became the engine of choice in outlaw circles. Cahill Bros. Sprinter?
I saw Jan race at the old Lakeside in Kansas City. He was a tough ass driver for sure.
The original outlaw
Jan won the USAC Midget race at Dayton in August of 76. Then returned two weeks later and won the USAC Sprint Car race driving for Bobby Hillin. So you missed a win Robin :-) Thanks for profiling Jan.
when did this program air never heard of it
You forgot to mention He Qualified the Routh Packing #8 Car in the Indy 500 1976 which he started dead last and finished 16th before rain stopped the race.
I certainly remember that. He obviously made up a lot of ground before rain stopped the event. My favorite was Tom Bigelow and he started right next to Jan in 32nd and he also moved up and was running 14th when they called it. I once saw a picture of Jan, Tom and none other than Mario Andretti at the infamous 'Last Row Party' from that year and they looked as if they were having quite a bit of fun.
Robin is not correct. Jan Opperman won the NARC Sprint Car feature on the ultra fast Calistoga, CA half-mile dirt in July '78, almost two years after his Indy mile head injuries.
your right
7/1/78 NARC Jan Opperman
Very sad ending for an awesome racer.
He was my cousin.
Used to watch Jan when he came to Knoxville Ia when I was growing up 👍👍👍
Grizz and mops
In 1976 He drove the Routh Packing #8 Indy Car owned by Dick Routh. Incorrect photo being held up.