Red Sequin - original shoe of the "Flyin' 5"
Sequin was extracted from the car, and 16-year-old crew member Bobby Witkum went with him to the hospital. “Red wouldn’t wear a harness. He had this ‘woodchopper’s belt’ he attached to the left side of the car to help with centrifugal force, but it wouldn’t hold him in the seat. When he hit, he was almost out the right window, and the nerf bar broke off and slammed his head. He had just bought a new helmet – too big, and it slid forward, giving him no protection. He was alive when we got to the hospital, and we just couldn’t believe it when he died.”
"Rebel" Harris, hot shoe in southern New England - his car owner was later active in vintage circles, with the ex-Tommy Smothers F/A car - I met him as he was shaking it doen at Orange, MA years ago.:
Though his remains one of the most tragic tales in Northeastern racing lore, this driver’s unfortunate story continues to interest us. Call it a somewhat-morbid fascination with the sports dark-side, or a continuing quest in trying to discover just what made these early guys “tick.” I prefer the latter conclusion…. Seen here in the potent Gordon Ross #19 is the late Daniel Duncan Harris. Known at the track as “Rebel” Harris owing to his South Carolina roots, he was an experienced chauffer by the time of his untimely demise at the old Onteora Speedway in Olive Bridge, New Jersey on June 21, 1963. According to newspaper reports of the day, his coupe flipped end-over-end several times going into the first-turn on the first circuit of the 25-lap main event. Harris was ejected in mid-flight, succumbing to his injuries at nearby Kingston Hospital only 15 min. after arrival. While it’s perhaps no-more than a racing “urban legend”, there are those that to this-day blame Rebel’s death on of all-things, his reluctance to wear a racing harness. (Photographer Unknown).
