Mel Kenyon Calls it a Career

...and what a career it has been. Mr Midget, King of the Midgets, Miraculous Mel call him whatever you will. With younger brother Don at his side playing the role of crew chief for the past 51 years, the pairing racked up 7 USAC National Midgets Championships, 111 USAC Midget victories and nearly 380 victories. Most of these accolades came after his horrendous crash in 1965 at Langhorne, PA. A race that ended on lap 27 after a blown engine and ensuing crash almost ended Mel's life. He would lose most of his left hand and suffer burns to 40% of his body. Eleven months later he would make the field for his 1^st Indy 500 start. His return to the cockpit was after brother Don and father Everett had fashioned a glove with a rubber socket that allowed him to steer with his left hand. He would come home 5^th in a race won by Graham Hill. His best finish in eight 500 starts would be a third place in 1968. With brief stints in sprints cars over the years, many of Mel's 382 victories would come in midgets. My first experience seeing Mel race was at the 2005 Rumble in Fort Wayne. I would see him race the next 5 Rumbles, and also see the impact he and Don would have on almost all of the various drivers through the years. Almost anyone who has raced a midget in Indiana knows Mel and Don Kenyon. I find it fitting that Mel's last race would be 3 days before the end of the year, I can't imagine how hard it must be stop doing something you have done for 51 years. Thanks for the memories Mel.