Bruce driver stats, race results, wins, news, record, videos. Somehow he started racing below the scca age of 21 and was quick from the beginnng. Bruce kessler to represent northern marine at maryland. Race drivers whose names begin with j, k, l barcboys. Jun 16, 2017 kessler became an understudy to howard hawks, himself an amateur race car driver and director of some memorable hollywood movies, including sergeant york, scarface and rio bravo. This performance and others earned him a test run in a works ferrari, and his formula one career began with the team in 1959. He is also a retired professional racecar driver, a former hollywood director, and he basically. He was also a very respected tv director, as he can list shows like knight rider, the ateam, ironside, i dream of jeannie, rockford files and diagnosis murder, amongst many others, to his credit. Gurney, teamed with fellow californian bruce kessler, had worked the car up to fifth overall and handed over to kessler, who was then caught up in an accident.
Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Kesslers racing career, therefore, is almost a side note to what else he has achieved in his life, but he was a capable scca sportscar driver on the west coast circuits. The reventlow team was represented at the reunion by general manager warren olson and his wife, simone, who kept the books, phil remington, designer chuck pelly, team driver bruce kessler and. Bruce kessler born on this day in 1926 23mar20 kessler was an american driver who shared a car in the 1958 monaco grand prix with a certain b. Would you like to be a professional race car driver, a tv and movie. Bruce kessler born march 23, 1936 is an american racing driver and film and television director he entered one world championship formula one grand prix monaco 1958 with a connaught owned by bernie ecclestone, but failed to qualify, although he posted the 21st fastest time of the 28 entrants. Year team engine races 1st 2nd 3rd podiums poles laps fastest avg pts points. This was when cscc discovered he was under age and lifted his license. Lying fifth during the night, co driver bruce kessler crashed into the spun car of jean mary and their ferrari 250tr burst into flames.
He spoke with james dean on the day of deans death. Kessler drove everywhere sebring, lemans, nassau, often in ferraris. He raced sports cars at the international level as a young man, but boating and fishing have been a passion ever since he could barely walk down the family dock on vashon island. The first boat kessler built was a 26foot sports fisherman in 1960.
John gordon benett racing career profile driver database. Kessler was an american driver who shared a car in the 1958 monaco grand prix with a certain b. His career then switched to film and he became well known in tv and movie circles. Marina del rey resident bruce kessler has successfully attained all three. Dec 19, 2015 hermano da silva ramos, former racing driver with dual frenchbrasilian nationality, was born on december 7th 1925, so he will be 90 in a few weeks. Bruce kessler born march 23, 1936 is an american racing driver and film and television kessler, today, remains the last person alive who spoke with james dean before his death the scarabs won the international grand prix at riverside,nbsp. Kessler once directed an episode of the 70s tv show the. In formula one, he debuted at the 1955 dutch grand prix at zandvoort. Bruce kessler was the next driver to take the helm of 0048 md the following month in march of 1955 at palm springs. At the age of just sixteen, he started racing his own. Kessler born in seattle, washington and grew up in beverly hills, california.
John gordon benett nationality american born september, 19 hometown st. The splash page covers all f1 drivers since the start of formula 1 in the year 1950. Dan went on to say, when i got into racing, i soon found out who the real heavyweights were. Im really looking forward to going on his boat called zopilote. Kessler, whose background includes being an international racing driver in the late 1950s and a career as a director of movies, television films and series. While most people would consider themselves fortunate to have achieved even one of these accomplishments, marina del rey resident bruce kessler has successfully attained all three, and can truly be called a renaissance man. Bruce kessler raced in sccas sports car events on west coast throughout the 1950s. He also made fleeting appearances in both formula 1 and at le mans in 1958. Its the brainchild of bruce kessler, a man of heady titles, including race car driver, hollywood director, and circumnavigator.
Bruce kessler wikipedia bruce kessler wikipedia today. Bruce was not only a world champion race car driver, he slso directed 71 films. The 2017 xr1 rocket crate late driven by bill kessler. According to his sebring teammate, dan gurney, chuck was not only a excellant engineer, but he also could drive the wheels off a car. Profile for racing driver bruce kessler from united states. Race car group honors marina del rey renaissance man the. Bruce kessler, a native of seattle, has been messing about in boats all his life. Bruce kessler is an american racing driver and film and television director. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. That attracted the attention of legendary ferrari importer luigi chinetti who teamed him with bruce kessler at le mans in 1958.
Bruce hill july 9, 1949 may 14, 2017 was an american former stock car racing driver from topeka, kansas. Oct 28, 20 it was directed by bruce kessler, who may be the only person in history to get the following description on wikipedia. Bruce kessler born march 23, 1936 is an american racing driver and film and television director. Jun 15, 2001 bruce kessler contested several us events 1958, but i dont have any record of him racing after he crashed the sadler mk2 during the examiner grand prix at pomona on 8 march 1959. Has long been involved in the trawler industry after his driving career ended after a series of heavy crashes, although he is now retired. He survived just three massive accidents in 1959, 1959 and 1961.
He wrecked it later in the day when he hit the end of the pit wall. Jan 05, 2012 would you like to be a professional race car driver, a tv and movie director, or circumnavigate the globe. Nov 20, 2017 bruce kessler born march 23, 1936 is an american racing driver and film and television director. Kessler, who would later become famous as a team driver for the formidable scarab race cars, was forced to retire due to a mechanical issue.
Background and early career the son of a swimsuit designer and manufacturer, he was raised in beverly hills and started competing as soon as he was old enough. Sports cars, race cars, auto racing photo archive, racing. Bruce kessler was born in march 1936 in seattle, the son of a clothing designer from beverly hills, california. While waiting for the second feature during an intermission a movie short was run entitled the sound of speed, made by sometime racing driver bruce kessler.
Bruce kessler born 23 mar 1936 seattle, washington. He competed in the winston cup series, arca, and in the nascar west series. It was directed by bruce kessler, who may be the only person in history to get the following description on wikipedia. Regular members racing drivers who have participated successfully in major professional events, i. Get the latest race results, news, videos, pictures, win record and more for bruce driver on. Bruce kessler racing career profile driver database. Kessler learned a lot from hawks, who introduced him around and helped him rise through the ranks to become a director himself. He has had experience in motorcycle racing, sports car racing, rally racing and even particpated in the 24 hours of le mans once. He has cruised extensively in north american waters and has completed a global circumnavigation. He entered one world championship formula one grand prix monaco 1958 with a connaught owned by bernie ecclestone, but failed to qualify, although he posted the 21st fastest time of the 28 entrants. He also competed in late model races around his hometown later in life.
Helier, jersey died february 12, 1988 place of death orange, florida racing career summary. Bruce kessler usas cars photo gallery racing sports cars. This lost film brought tasty v8 engine sounds to the masses. Sports car magazine includes archived information about race cars, auto racing photo aarchive, racing memorabilia, and auto racing film. Bruce kessler born march 23, 1936 is a retired american racing driver and filmtelevision director. He entered one world championship formula one grand prix. Find all f1 drivers that ever participated at one or more formula 1 grand prix events since f1 started back in 1950 till now. Bruce kessler said recently that he thinks chuck was the most under appreciated racing driver of his time. Bruce kessler was the next driver to take the helm of 0448 md the following month in march of 1955 at palm springs.