Bill Cheesbourg

Bill Cheesbourg
Born	June 12, 1927
Died	November 6, 1995 (aged 68)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1956–1959
Teams	Kuzma, Kurtis Kraft, Lesovsky
Entries	4 (3 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1956 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1959 Indianapolis 500

William Bernard Cheesbourg (June 12, 1927 Tucson, Arizona – November 6, 1995 Tucson, Arizona) was an American racecar driver who participated in six Indianapolis 500 races.[1]

Biography

He was born on June 12, 1927, in Tucson, Arizona.

Cheesbourg started racing jalopies in Tucson and successfully moved into midgets racing all over Arizona after World War II. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1962 and 1964-1966 seasons with 31 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1957-1959, 1961, 1964, and 1965. He successfully bumped his way into the Indy 500 field after initially being bumped out three times, which is the race record. He finished in the top ten in stock cars 8 times, with his best finish in 7th position in 1959 at Daytona and in 1966 at Fuji.

Cheesbourg returned to the local dirt short track racing scene after his Indy Car career was finished. He is known for the help he offered to many other racers. He won several Arizona Late Model Stock Car championships racing at Corona Speedway in Tucson, Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix and many other tracks. He was known equally for his ability to use his front bumper and his natural talents.

Even after he stopped traditional stock car racing, he continued helping others and eventually helped construct and drive a local high school's entry in an electric car race held at Phoenix International Raceway. He even competed for a while in local figure eight racing just for the fun of it.

He died of cancer on November 6, 1995, in Tucson, Arizona.[1]

Indianapolis 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Retired
1957	31	23	141.565	13	26	81	Fuel leak
1958	54	33	142.546	30	10	200	Running
1959	53	30	141.788	30	21	147	Magneto
1961	14	9	145.873	11	28	50	Crash FS
1964	62	33	148.711	33	16	131	Engine
1965	47	33	153.774	33	32	14	Magneto
Totals						623

Starts	6
Poles	0
Front Row	2
Wins	0
Top 5	0
Top 10	1
Retired	5

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	WDC
1956	Cecil McDonald	Lesovsky	Offenhauser L4	ARG	MON	500 DNQ	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA				NC
1957	Schildmeier Seal / Donaldson	Kurtis Kraft 500G	Offenhauser L4	ARG	MON	500 26	FRA	GBR	GER	PES	ITA				NC
1958	Novi Racing	Kurtis Kraft 500G	Novi V8	ARG	MON	NED	500 10	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	POR	ITA	MOR	NC
1959	Greenman - Casale	Kuzma Indy Roadster	Offenhauser L4	MON	500 21	NED	FRA	GBR	GER	POR	ITA	USA			NC

References

"William Bernard Cheesbourg". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. November 8, 1995. Retired racer Bill Cheesbourg, who drove in the Indianapolis 500 seven [sic] times, died of cancer Monday. He was 68. Mr. Cheesbourg placed 10th in the 1958 ...

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[obit-1] "William Bernard Cheesbourg". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. November 8, 1995. Retired racer Bill Cheesbourg, who drove in the Indianapolis 500 seven [sic] times, died of cancer Monday. He was 68. Mr. Cheesbourg placed 10th in the 1958 ...