Cunningham C2-R no 5103, front right (Greenwich 2018)

Frederick G. Wacker Jr. (July 10, 1918

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

– June 16, 1998) was an engineer and former president of two large Chicago companies. He was also a prominent Chicago

socialite A socialite is a person from a wealthy and (possibly) aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having tradit ...

, a jazz musician, and a

racing driver Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organise ...

. He participated in five

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship ...

World Championship races, debuting on June 21, 1953. He scored no championship points. He also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races. Wacker was the grandson of

Charles H. Wacker Charles Henry Wacker (August 29, 1856 – October 31, 1929), born in Chicago, Illinois, was a German American businessman and philanthropist. He was Vice Chairman of the General Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and in 1909 was a ...

, the first chairman of the

Chicago Plan Commission The Chicago Plan Commission is a commission implemented to promote the ''Plan of Chicago,'' often called the Burnham Plan. After official presentation of the Plan to the city on July 6, 1909, the City Council of Chicago authorized Mayor Fred A. B ...

and the man for whom

Wacker Drive Wacker Drive is a major multilevel street in Chicago, Illinois, running along the south side of the main branch and the east side of the south branch of the Chicago River in the Loop.Hayner, Don and Tom McNamee, ''Streetwise Chicago'', "Wacker D ...

in Chicago is named. He attended

The Hotchkiss School The Hotchkiss School is a coeducational preparatory school in Lakeville, Connecticut, United States. Hotchkiss is a member of the Eight Schools Association and Ten Schools Admissions Organization. It is also a former member of the G30 Schools g ...

and

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

. He worked with

AC Spark Plug ACDelco is an American automotive parts brand owned by General Motors (GM). Factory parts for vehicles manufactured by GM are consolidated under the ACDelco brand, which also offers aftermarket parts for non-GM vehicles. Over its long history i ...

before enlisting in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

. Wacker was involved in a fatal accident during the second lap of the 1952 Watkins Glen Grand Prix, which at the time was a street course. While preparing for a right hand turn, his Allard J2 came dangerously close to a Cunningham driven by John Fitch, and both drivers swerved to avoid a collision. The back end of the Allard came out slightly to the left and closer to a throng of spectators sitting on the curb along the side of the course. Ten people were injured and a 7-year-old boy was killed. The tragedy caused the end of street racing at the Glen and elsewhere in the United States.

Complete World Championship results

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References

1918 births 1998 deaths Hotchkiss School alumni Yale University alumni United States Navy personnel of World War II United States Navy officers Businesspeople from Chicago American Formula One drivers Gordini Formula One drivers 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers Racing drivers from Chicago Sports deaths in New York (state) World Sportscar Championship drivers 20th-century American businesspeople People from Lake Bluff, Illinois Military personnel from Chicago {{US-autoracing-bio-stub