CART: Champ Car Racing says goodbye to distinguished official
9 December 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
The Champ Car community lost a dear friend Monday when
former CART official Nick Sanborn passed away at age 64. Sanborn died
following complications from brain cancer surgery. He worked as a
volunteer
for CART from 1985-95, serving in race control as the chief communicator
for
the CART Safety Team.
"Everyone at CART was saddened to learn of Nick's untimely death, particularly the close-knit officiating family," said Tim Mayer, CART Senior Vice President of Racing Operations.
"Nick started racing in the 1950s when he started building and driving stock cars for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and he rose through the ranks of the Hill Climb until he became the President and CEO of Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb and Educational Museum.
His work with CART began after a conversation with (retired CART Chief Steward) Wally Dallenbach and Kirk Russell in 1985 when he was running his own construction company. He brought great experience, organization and zeal with him to CART and for a decade he was a staple in Race Control. Nick will be missed for his contributions to racing but more especially for his friendship."
Dallenbach, one of Sanborn's closest friends, said he will always remember Sanborn's calming influence during some hectic times in Race Control.
"The safety team all loved Nick," said Dallenbach. "He just had that kind of a voice and demeanor that carried you through in a crisis. As an official and as a friend, he was one of the best."
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos
and art, visit
The Racing
Photo Museum and the
Visions
of Speed Art Gallery.