Jerry Hansen

Gerald Jon 'Jerry' Hansen (born October 23, 1936, in

Minneapolis stockbroker and real estate investor Jerry Hansen started his racing career in 1961 in an Echidna Racing Special in the SCCA C Modified class.^[1] In 1965 Hansen traded his Echidna for a Scarab Mk.II. In his first race at Road America, Hansen had a fearsome crash. At the Carousel corner, the Scarab skidded off the track and hit the guardrail. The car flipped multiple times, was on fire, and knocked over a tree. Hansen's injuries were minor.^[2]

Open wheel racing

Hansen made his

During the season he also made four appearances in the pinnacle of American autosport, the

Hansen, and his crew chief Mike Lindorfer, made modifications to the Lola T192 IndyCar to run in USAC and IMCA sprint car races. In a spectacular race at the Minnesota State Fair, Hansen won by lapping the whole field three times.^[10]

Sports car racing

Hansen raced in the original United States Road Racing Championship, sanctioned by the SCCA. After a couple of races, during 1964 and 1965, Hansen competed in most of the 1966 season. Racing a Chevrolet powered Lotus 19 proved no success. In 1965 Hansen requested Lee Dykstra and George Anderson to design and build a Can-Am spec car, the Wolverine LD65. Although the plan was to build three cars, only one was built.^[11] The first race at Mid-Ohio proved fruitless with retirement after 27 of 85 laps.^[12] During his Can-Am debut, in 1966 at Mont-Tremblant, he finished in 20th place.^[13] Hansen returned to Can-Am competition in 1967 at Road America in a McLaren M1C. In 1968 Hansen raced most of the Can-Am season in a McLaren M6A. His best result came at the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix finishing seventh.^[14] During the same year he also won the A Sports Racer class at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs in the McLaren M6A. He won the prestigious race for Can-Am spec cars in 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1975 thru 1984. Hansen also raced in the B Sports Racer class in 1973 and 1974 winning both races.

In the SCCA regional competition, Hansen was very successful in racing a McKee Chevette, designed and built by Bob McKee. Hansen won races at Breezy Point, Lynndale Farms, Metropolitan Stadium and Meadlowlands.^[15]

GT racing

Hansen was also a successful GT racer. The driver won the SCCA National Championship Runoffs in the A Production class in 1972 racing a Chevrolet Corvette C3. In 1975 Hansen made his Trans-Am Series debut at Nelson Ledges. He won the following two Trans-Am races at Road America and Brainerd.^[16] Hansen continued in Trans-Am in 1976 and 1977. In 1977 he finished third at Road America after starting 39th.^[17] He won another Trans-Am Series race in 1978 racing a DeKon Monza at Brainerd.^[18] Racing a Corvette, Hansen won two races in the 1982 Trans-Am Series.^[19][20]

Brainerd International Raceway

Jerry Hansen bought

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest race lap)

SCCA Grand Prix Championship

USAC Championship Car

Atlantic Championship

References