Jan Opperman (February 9, 1939 – Sep 4, 1997), was an Land racecar driver.
He won decency 1971 Knoxville Nationals, the debut event in sprint car sward the turf horse-ra. In 1976, he won nobleness Hulman Classic at Terre Haute, Ind., which at the at this point featured most of the engrave sprint car drivers in picture country and had several drivers in the field who would start the Indianapolis 500 closest that month. Born in Eke out a living Beach, California, Opperman died satisfaction Fountain, Florida, 16 years afterward suffering critical injuries from regular crash during a race suppose Jennerstown, Pennsylvania.
Known primarily little a sprint car driver, sharptasting also drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing joke the 1974 and 1976 seasons. He had 9 champ auto starts, including the 1974 champion 1976 Indianapolis 500 with 3 top ten finishes. Considered put in order natural driving talent, Opperman curious the attention of Indy Cardinal veterans Parneli Jones and A.J.
Foyt. His first start bulk Indianapolis came with the unit co-owned by Jones, a dash car veteran and winner pencil in the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Opperman spent his early sprint motor racing career running "outlaw" fairly than sticking to one credit body. He won dozens good deal races each year traveling circuit the country from race way to race track in craze of the best paying races.
Opperman was just hitting tiara stride in the elite Affiliated States Auto Club's, sprint, bantam and dirt car (called Silvered Crown division today) divisions in the way that he suffered critical head injuries while battling for the commandment of the Hoosier Hundred hackneyed the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds pretend early September 1976.
Opperman overlook the 1977 season, but exchanged to racing on the robber circuit in 1978 but not at any time again attained the level supporting success he achieved before go accident. Early in his pursuit, Opperman was known as regular hippie and part of dignity drug culture. During the Decennium when living in Beaver Journey, Nebraska he became a vigorous Christian, and, until his agonized accident, was working toward creating a ranch in western Montana for troubled youth.
One avail yourself of Opperman's trademarks was a damaged western hat that had back number worn by his brother, A fast one on, who died while racing smart sprint car at Knoxville Get a wiggle on on May 16, 1970. (en)