From Dean Reynolds
Syracuse, NY – Every now and then there comes a car in our racing circles that is special, has a nitch, something that makes it stand out from the rest. While they were of different makes over the years, when you simply mention Pat Santello and his “City of Syracuse” cars, the conversation takes a pause and then you just want to sit back and listen.
Pat Santello is a racing legend and even though he is on the other side of 87 years young, he still enjoys the sport even as a spectator. Pat owned USAC Sprint Cars, Silver Crown, and Indy Cars for decades. Bettenhausen, Richmond, Kunzman, Dickson, Opperman and the list goes on. Hall of Fames are filled with names that wheel his “City of Syracuse” mounts.
Santello had success in the Silver Crown division although you might rank Kunzman’s finish of seventh in the ’77 Indy 500 the largest feat.
For 2013, the color of powder blue and number of 65 will race on. Gene Franckowiak and Dave Ely will be racing at many different tracks in the Northeast. The team has committed to run running several shows with ESS to showcase the car and team in the New York area in honor of Pat.
Gene is a mentor and friend of Santello, he wanted to do something to carry on the tradition and he felt this would be the best way to do it.
“This year I decided to pay tribute to a great racer who consistently gave to the sport and took nothing back!” exclaimed Gene on his close friend. “Pat was the kind of owner and person that this sport is all about and he was there for all the great drivers. They all came through his cars. He gave many young talented drivers their shot at the big time. Pat didn’t have a rent-a-car, he had a race car for race drivers! The way it should be.”
Pat still keeps up on his racing, he is actively on Facebook, Twitter, all the social networks. He was born and raised in the city that proudly displays the car’s name, Syracuse, NY.
While the 2013 is starting to get revved up to a higher gear, when you see the powder blue #65 at your track. Just take a minute, a minute to reflect on some true history of our sport.