Mack Hellings
Mack Hellings. Copyright Dave Smith, 2012. Permission to use granted from him to Frank Sheffield, who subsquently granted permission to use.
Born: |
14 Sep 1915 |
Died: |
11 Nov 1951 |
Nationality: |
United States |
Grands Prix: | 2 (1950-1951) |
Indy 500s: | 4 (1948-1951) |
Killed in a plane crash whilst on his way to appear at the last race of the 1951 season. Started in roadsters and hillclimbs, then was later in midget and stockcars. Hellings was the son of an English mother and a railwayman father from Iowa, who was christened Frederick Hellings. However his parents broke up and so Hellings called himself Mack in deference to his mother's maiden name but had a turbulent childhood which included being adopted. He settled in California and started in motorcycle racing but soon became very capable in midgets, winning the URABC Championship in 1947.
Biography last updated 20 Dec 2015