money at the Oakland Speedway, and finished second. Sweikert then quit automotive repair and became a full-time driver. He gained his first racing sponsorship in July 1947, when he became a track roadster race driver for Hubbard Auto Parts of Oakland. In early 1948, he married Marion Edwards. They had a large family wedding in West L.A. The same year, Sweikert moved up to midget cars, and won his first training race with the Bay Cities Racing Association. He ran seventy-two races that first BCRA season, finishing 14th out of 130 active members in the annual point standings. In late 1952 his first wife, Marion, started divorce proceedings. Sweikert fought for custody of their young daughter. Sweikert's mother, Grace, often visited Bob's firstborn until Grace died. In January 1953, Sweikert married his high school sweetheart, divorcee Dorie with her two children, with whom he had recently become reacquainted. They settled in Indiana, to be close to the Speedway where Sweikert hoped to race and win. Racing career On February 12, 1949 Sweikert won the first BCRA Indoor Midget Race Track championship, in Oakland, on the new 1/12 mile oval track. Sweikert's first chance at driving a Sprint car came next in 1949. He drove in northern California that year and later in Los Angeles. After 1949 Sweikert became close friends with Johnny Boyd of Fresno, California when he met him on the California racing circuit. The two often raced together, and Boyd qualified for entry in the 1955 Indianapolis 500 when Sweikert helped him overcome mechanical handling problems in Boyd's car. In May 1952, Sweikert ran his first "Indy 500" race. He entered at the 32nd starting position and ran for 77 laps in the McNamara Special car. On September 12, 1953 Sweikert became the first driver ever to break on a one-mile (1.6 km) oval track, at the Eastern Speed Dome, Syracuse, New York. On September 26, 1953 Sweikert won the Hoosier Hundred, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, a race which is chronicled by many as "the greatest race ever" run. On September 11, 1954 Sweikert became the first driver ever to average in a race, with his win in the Lutes Truck Parts Special #17 car at the Eastern Speed Dome in Syracuse. On May 30, 1955 Sweikert finally won the Indianapolis 500 race, from the 14th starting position in the Zink Kurtis roadster #6. That car now