6. Brig. Gen. USAF, Frank K. "Pete" Everest Jr. - "Fastest Man Alive!"

Frank "Speedy Pete" Everest Jr.: Born 08/09/20 Died 10/01/04 Pete was a USAF officer, combat fighter pilot, POW, flight test pilot and aero engineer. He joined the US Army Air Corp just before WWII, he was a fighter pilot and flew combat missions in both the Pacific Theater (China, Burma, India) and European Theater (Sicily, Italy, N. Africa). After the war he was assigned to Wright Patterson AFB then to Edwards AFB). He holds records in altitude and speed fly Bell X-1 and X-2 test aircraft. During his career he flew over 120 different types of aircraft. He was known as "The Fastest Man Alive" for going Mach 2.9 in a X-2. He was a technical advisor in the 1956 movie "Toward the Unknown" filmed on location at Edwards AFB. Speedy Pete was truly an American hero, AF officer, Commander, fighter ace, test pilot and yes spaceman! RIP General, well done! (Photo credit: US Air Force)

5. Bill Schindler: Indy, sprint and midget champion driver

Bill Schindler: Born 03/06/09 Died 09/20/52, Midget, Sprint, Champ Big car driver in the 30's, 40's, 50's. He raced in the AAA and ARDC racing clubs driving for the legendary owner Caruso. He drove indoors at Teaneck and Kingsbridge Armorys, on quarter, half and one mile tracks at Freeport, Middletown, Crossbay, Williams Grove and Darlington to name a few. He drove 3 times at Indianapolis with his best finish 13th. Known for his western style shirts and driving with one leg, which he lost due to a racing incident early in his career, he blazed a trail up and down the eastern states but ventured to the midwest and western states numerous times, racking up wins and trophies in record numbers. His career was cut short at Allentown Fairgrounds, he died from a racing accident on the back stretch, while leading the race. RIP Champ! (Photo credit: George F. Vargo)

4. Eddie V. Rickenbacker: US Army Fighter Ace

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker: Born 10/08/90 Died 07/23/73 US Army Fighter Ace, race car driver, auto designer & manufacturer, Indianapolis Speedway owner and CEO of Eastern Airlines. Ed at an early age loved all things mechanical, was interested in machines and he experimented with them. His father who passed away from an accident when Ed was 12 years old once told him "a  has to have a purpose". Ed said when his dad passed "I didn't go back to school, I went to work"! Being a young dare devil he was involved in  auto racing, entering and racing in the Vanderbilt Races, American Grand Prize Races and in the first Indy 500 in 1911, racing there a total five times 1911, 12, 14, 15, 16. Stats where 42 racing entries, won 7, second 2, third 5. He won in Sioux City, Omaha and Tacoma. During the war years of WW1 he flew Nieuport 28's and Spad XIII's for the 81 Aero Squadron which has the "Hat-In-The-Ring" emblem. He earned his "Ace of Aces" status downing 13 Fokker D-VII and a number of Observation Blimps. He earned the Medal of Honor medal and title of war hero. After the war he designed autos and started the Rickenbacker Motor Company, manufacturing sports coupes, touring sedans and road racers from 1920 to 1927. He bought the Indianapolis Speedway and ran it from 1927 to 46. Later in life he ran the Eastern Airlines commercial airlines for many years. He passed away in 1973 and Col Jimmy Doolittle his eulogy. The Ace of Aces American Hero is buried in his hometown of Columbus Ohio. (Photo credit: Bettmann/ Corbis)

3. Max Rosner: Owner of Dexter Park

Max Rosner: Born 00/00/00 Died 11/27/53 Owner of the Brooklyn Bushwicks and Dexter Park Stadium. The Bushwicks where an elite semi pro baseball team from the 1920's to the 1950's. They took on the greatest traveling teams of the day, such as the K.C. Monarchs and House of David ball clubs. They went up against the best metropolitan league teams and had many visiting players such as Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and Vance. (Photo credit: The News Library)

2. Dexter Park: Turn 3

Dexter Park Stadium, Woodhaven N.Y. early 1951, from bleachers set up outside the outfield wall. Lane school in back ground. (photo: Tony Bonadies collection)

1. 11/12/15 - Start Me Up!

Start me up! So it begins, a blog reserved for yesterday's heroes today! Sanctioned races on Long Island N.Y. at just a few tracks near metropolitan N.Y. (image credit to Illustrated Speedway News, 1951)