In 1958, the 18yearold simpson broke both arms in a drag racing crash. Simpson chronicled his colorful and substantial life in racing by writing two books, racing safely, living dangerously and its sequel, through. Bill simpson was born in hermosa beach, california in march 1940. The hard life and fast times of a motorsports mogul, and guide to the amish country, and more on. Bill simpson march 14, 1940 december 16, 2019 was an american racecar driver, but is best known as a pioneer in the racing safety business with his company simpson performance products. Bill simpson born march 14, 1940 in hermosa beach, california, is a retired american racecar driver, but is best known as a pioneer in the racing safety business with his company simpson performance products. Simpson, bill at large 2003 inductees hall of fame. Some of these very early efforts are still being used today 40 years later. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. He just released his signature wallet along with his two tell all books discussing his racing career. He made a huge positive impact on racing and we should all be grateful for his contributions, nascar hall of famer rusty wallace said. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. Any stories involving famous racers and south american brothers are worth the price of admission.
Simpson chronicled his colorful and substantial life in racing by writing two books, racing safely, living dangerously and its sequel, through the fire. Bill simpson is the pioneer for most driver related safety equipment we see today. Bill simpson designs was created by inventor and motorsports safety pioneer bill simpson. Simpson competed as a driver in drag racing, sports car racing and open. Now only time will tell if it will make a difference. See all books authored by bill simpson, including racing safely, living dangerously.
Simpson creates sfiapproved gear for the serious racer. Simpson makes some of the race industrys most trusted helmets. Lew is the president of coastal 181, a racer and award winningwriter. The man whom nascar, and auto racing, couldnt live without. Bill simpson is fairly well known in the motorsports world, especially because of his involvement in safety. He went on to produce over 200 racing safety products that have continued to grow in numbers and technology as worldwide demand also has grown. Bill simpson designs was created by motorsports safety pioneer bill simpson. He left simpson performance in a controversy surrounding dale earnhardt s death and started impact. Join facebook to connect with bill simpson and others you may know. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures.
Bill simpson has 38 books on goodreads with 79 ratings. Bill simpson is the author of racing safely, living dangerously 4. Simpson estimated that he spent millions throughout his career on attorney fees. Despite the vast success of his motorsports safety companies, simpson never forgot his magical year of qualifying for and competing in the indianapolis 500. Dec 16, 2019 simpson chronicled his life in the books racing safely, living dangerously and its sequel, through the fire.
He loved getting ready, the engine tuning, boat polishing and race talk. His innovations in safety over the years have never really received the amount of recognition they deserve. Fast times, good times, bad times, and sad times, from indy to earnhardt. The ontrack stories are good, but the offtrack exploits are even better. Bills books, articles, and podcast encourage your heart, bring clarity to your mind, and instill confidence to your soul that you can live the full life god crated you to live. Racing safety pioneer bill simpson passes away at 79. Bill simpson books list of books by author bill simpson. I am also willing to bet that the current helmet makers are drooling for his information. Bill simpsons most popular book is racing safely, living dangerously. The pioneer in safety for race car drivers has died. Jan 11, 20 bill neely was the manager of racing public relations for the goodyear tire company in the early 1960s, and then retired at the age of 40 to write books about racing legends cale yarborough and. That incident left simpson in a california hospital bed with two badly broken arms, assorted bruises and plenty of recovery time to daydream. File in this may 3, 2001 file photo founder and chairman of simpson racing products, bill simpson, is followed by reporters and photographers as he arrives at nascar headquarters in daytona beach, fla. Dec 17, 2019 racing is a better place because of bill simpson, ganassi said monday.
Books by bill simpson author of racing safely, living dangerously. His innovations in safety over the years have never really received the amount of. Bill simpson simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Bill simpson was a dear, dear friend because his helmet saved my life. Racing safely, living dangerously bill simpson, book. Wild bill winslow falls down the back stairs of the old family mansion. Bill simpson is a consummate professional an author, speaker, podcaster, consultant, and pastorteacher. It was started by bill simpson as simpson drag chutes. I enjoyed reading this autobiography, though, as a safety person myself, i was disappointed that the discussion of safety aspects was fairly superficial, despite simpson being among the key players during the mid 1960s to mid 1970s when great strides were made with safety.
We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recycled packaging with free standard shipping on u. He made 52 career indycar starts between 1968 and 1977. He was the author of the book racing safely, living dangerously, and its sequel, through the fire. Bill did things his own way and he was 100 percent committed to making racing safer. Bill simpson, racing and safety innovator, dead at age 79. Veteran racer bill simpson, who made one indianapolis 500 start and was renowned in global motorsports for his development of groundbreaking safety equipment, died monday, dec. Bill simpson was born on the 14th march 1940 in hermosa beach, california usa, and is a retired racecar driver and a businessman, best known to the world for taking the first steps towards safety in racing, by starting.
Since developing the worlds first drag parachute and racing firesuit 50 years ago, simpson race products has evolved into manufacturing a complete line of racing safety gear that includes helmets, nomex fire suits, restraints, gloves and shoes. We lost a true racing pioneer today, tony stewart, the driver and owner. Simpson products are used throughout the racing world. Bill simpson is credited with saving countless lives, thanks to.
He has served as a senior pastor, worship pastor, leadership coach, church planting missionary, energy engineering consultant, energy efficiency program manager, business owner, and salesdesign engineer. He is best known for being a pioneer in the racing safety business with. He left simpson performance in a controversy surrounding dale earnhardts death and started impact. Simpsons life was documented in an autobiography coauthored by bones bourcier in 2000, a book titled, racing safely, living dangerously. Click on the site to see bill simpsons career results at that track glossary. Bill simpson talks about how long he sets himself on fire and other new safety devices he is working on. Motorsports safety pioneer bill simpson passes away. Simpson competed as a driver in drag racing, sports car racing and openwheel formula racing, including in scca and usac indycar competition. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. The comic book for racing fans special feature bill simpson vol. He loved the getting there, driving 10 to 15 hours and stopping only to gas up.
He breaks a few bones, questions his sanity and immortality, and knocks himself out cold. It supplies gloves, helmets, harness systems, drivers suits, head restraints, shoes and more to racers at local tracks to international teams. A celebration of his life is being planned for this may at the ims museum, with details pending. Simpson died of strokerelated problems in indianapolis. Bill simpson along with chip ganassi has brought auto racing helmet technology to the best 100 yards of grass on earth. Maybe others would have come up with the same kind of innovations for racing safety, but bill simpson actually did. Dec 17, 2019 file in this may 3, 2001 file photo founder and chairman of simpson racing products, bill simpson, is followed by reporters and photographers as he arrives at nascar headquarters in daytona beach, fla. Remembering bill simpson 19402019 vintage motorsport. Speedway motors through the fire bill simpson, book. A celebration of his life is being planned for may 2020 at the ims museum, with details pending. Simpson performance products was founded in 1959 by bill simpson as simpson drag chutes and has grown to become one of the major manufacturers of racing safety equipment in north america and internationally. Simpson racing 29061bk latch and link 62 black pull up boltin individual 5point harness system by simpson racing only 18 left in stock more on the way.
I used simpson safety harness in my racing days many years ago, but he also provided more than 200 safety products including driving suits, gloves, helmets, head restraints, drag chutes, and more to prevent driver. Simpson began making carbon fiber briefcases in 1996 with the same philosophy he has used in motorsports safety. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. He was inducted into the motorsports hall of fame of america in 2003. Bill simpson authorwriter, speakercoach, pastorteacher. Bill simpson with the beatles, bill simpson the safety pioneer, bill simpson in handcuffs, bill simpson the racer, bill simpson crashing through a restaurant with his boat, bill simpson sets himself on fire and wins a. Bill simpson has also authored two acclaimed books. The book, which drew widespread acclaim, chronicled simpson s racedriving career from the streets and drag strips of southern california all the way to the indianapolis 500 and took readers along for a raucous ride as both the author and his beloved sport matured. Having made the first fire resistant race driving suit, drag parachute and pure motorsport helmet in the late 1950s.
Dec 27, 2019 maybe others would have come up with the same kind of innovations for racing safety, but bill simpson actually did. A celebration of simpson s life is being planned at the ims museum for may 2020. The museum of american speed curator, tim matthews interviews bill simpson. Dec 16, 2019 veteran racer bill simpson, who made one indianapolis 500 start and was renowned in global motorsports for his development of groundbreaking safety equipment, died monday, dec. He is best known for being a pioneer in the racing safety business with his company simpson performance products. Dec 17, 2019 bill simpson was one of my best friends. Racing and riding is more than what you do, its a part of who you are.
Dec 17, 2019 simpson estimated that he spent millions throughout his career on attorney fees. Frame kits easily the best tz350 frame kit available. Bill simpson author of racing safely, living dangerously. Frames are built in very limited numbers and exclusively built to order. Bills unique insights come from experience and education as he halved his. Racing is a better place because of bill simpson, ganassi said. Since 1959, nascar, racing enthusiasts and motorcycle riders have trusted simpson performance helmets, head and neck restraints, harnesses, racing suits, gloves, shoes, offroad seats, window nets, drag parachutes and more to provide an unparalleled level. Bill simpson with the beatles, bill simpson the safety pioneer, bill simpson in handcuffs, bill simpson the racer, bill simpson crashing through a restaurant with his boat, bill simpson sets himself on fire and wins. Racin today rutherford remembers safety pioneer simpson. Dec 16, 2019 simpson competed as a driver in drag racing, sports car racing and openwheel formula racing, including in scca and usac indycar competition. Simpson racing racing ly22271 legend ii suit, black, medium by simpson racing only 3 left in stock order soon. Bill simpsons second published book through the fire this is bill simpsons recentlyreleased sequel to his original book racing safely, living dangerously this book encompasses simpsons tumultuous journey since 2001, from the death of his friend dale earnhardt to his battles with governing groups. In the 1970s i started building my own frames and bikes to race for myself. Veteran racer bill simpson, who made one indianapolis 500 start.
For the complete story, visit the indycar website, here. Through the fire bill simpson, book speedway motors. Bill simpson obituary santa rosa, ca press democrat. Dec 16, 2019 simpson chronicled his colorful and substantial life in racing by writing two books, racing safely, living dangerously and its sequel, through the fire. Simpson chronicled his life in the books racing safely, living dangerously and its sequel, through the fire. We lost a true racing pioneer today, tony stewart, the. Bill simpson, one of the prime movers in racing safety, passed away at 79.
The safety pioneer released two books chronicling his life racing safely. Simpson performance products is an american motorsports parts supplier. Racing safely, living dangerously, a rollicking ride through his life as a racedriverturnedmotorsportsmogul, and through the fire, described best by its subtitle. Bill simpson enters football helmet race the concussion blog. Indianapolis, in veteran racer bill simpson, who made one indianapolis 500 start and was renowned in global motorsports for his development of groundbreaking safety equipment, died monday dec. Bill simpsons lasting legacy as one of racings most. Racing legend and safety innovator bill simpson passed away on monday, a few days after suffering a stroke. More than a decade ago, motorsports safety pioneer bill simpson published racing safely, living dangerously, intended to be both a memoir of sorts and a. I used simpson safety harness in my racing days many years ago, but he also provided more than 200 safety products including driving suits, gloves, helmets, head. Simpson racing helmets, suits, shoes, gloves, jackets. The company supplies harness systems, gloves, simpson helmets, head restraints, shoes, racing seats, and more to all racers from local to.
As a driver, simpson broke both of his arms at a drag race in california in 1958. Bill simpson built lasting legacy of safety innovator. He is the coauthor of racing safely, living dangerously with bill simpson, true speed with tony stewart, and three coastal 181 titles. When 18yearold bill simpson crashed his dragster in 1958, it may have been the most fortuitous wreck in the history of automobile racing. Books by bill simpson author of racing safely, living. Racing is a better place because of bill simpson, ganassi said monday.
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