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Carroll Smith
Carroll Smith was born on April 3, 1932, and spent his childhood in Oswego, New York. After graduating from the University of Rochester, where he had the good fortune to meet his future wife Jane, he earned his wings and distinguished himself as a pilot in the U.S. Navy. The best laid plans were cast aside when the racing bug bit, and Carroll spent the next seven years driving Formula and sports cars throughout Europe, with considerable talent and success. Following the birth of his daughter Dana, responsibility overcame valor, and Carroll returned to the United States, where he helped change racing history as team manager of Carroll Shelby's Le Mans conquering GT-40 effort. Carroll continued his run of engineering success, assisting champions in series including Formula 5000, Trans-Am, Formula Atlantic, The Tasman Series, Australian Touring Cars, Formula Super-Vee, Formula 2, IMSA, and SCORE off-road racing. Drivers to benefit from his engineering included Mario Andretti, Chris Amon, Denny Hulme, Dan Gurney, A.J. Foyt, Jackie lckx, Steve Millen, Alan Moffat, Danny Ongais, Sam Posey, Bobby Rahal, Peter Revson, and his own son Christopher, the 1992 Toyota Atlantic Champion. Perhaps Carroll's greatest talents and certainly his most enduring contributions were those of an author with a remarkable library of books, beginning with Prepare to Win in 1975, a treatise on the proper preparation of racing cars. Tune to Win, which describes vehicle dynamics and chassis setup, followed in 1978. Engineer to Win, 1984, was more scientific, and Nuts, Bolts, and Fasteners (Screw to Win), 1990, is the definitive book on racing hardware. Drive to Win appeared in 1990 and examined the interaction of driver, engineer, and team. Engineer in Your Pocket, 1998, is a composite of race car handling cause and effect. Each is remarkable for the content as well as the distinctively readable, intelligent, and entertaining writing style that characterizes the warmth and passion that Carroll brought to his everyday life. In the closing years of his life, Carroll spent much of his time, enthusiasm, and energy involving himself with the Formula SAE competition, overseeing and mentoring the efforts of young and aspiring engineers worldwide as they prepared themselves for their own place in the history of the sport that he loved so dearly. Today, the SAE Mentor's Cup bears both his name and his spirit. Carroll Smith died peacefully at his ranch in Northern California on May 16, 2003, following a brief illness. Without a doubt, his legacy and essence will continue through his many friendships and the lives he touched throughout his 71 years.
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