His real name Alvin, he was also a rodeo rider for some while before racing, having grown up on a ranch. Farmer would break his back three times in his life, the first of these being as a rodeo rider. Farmer started in the sport when on a job for Ford as a wrecker driver. He was assigned to an event near Fort Worth and was annoyed because it meant him missing a rodeo event. However Alvin felt that, after watching the event, he could do as good a job as those he watched. He returned two weeks later and qualified third quickest in his first event before crashing. He retired from racing in 1967 after a big crash at Pike's Peak Hill Climb. Alvin also worked as automotive chemical salesman until 1995. Farmer was both a visitor to events and a friendly host to those interested in his era until illness, sadly, finally took its toll.

Biography last updated 10 Aug 2015