Howard Keck

By Sigur Whitaker
Howard Keck was a familiar figure at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the early 1950s. He first appeared there in 1949, when Jimmy Jackson finished 29th after a compressor failed on lap 53 of the Indianapolis 500. 

 
In 1950, Keck hired Mauri Rose, who won the race in 1941, 1947, and 1948, to pilot the Howard Keck Special. On the first day of qualifications, Rose put the racer in the third position with an average with a qualifying speed of 132.319 mph. It was involved in a spectacular pit incident. A mechanic was filling the gas tank when fuel spilled on the tail of the car and flames formed around the exhaust pipe. Firemen quickly put it out with carbon dioxide. Rose finished third in a rain-shortened race after 345 miles behind Johnny Parsons and Bill Holland.
 
In 1951, the Howard Keck Special piloted by Mauri Rose started from the fifth position. Rose’s day of racing ended when his wheel collapsed and the car overturned. He was credited with finishing 14th in the race. After the race, Rose announced his retirement.
 
The next year, Keck begged Rose to reconsider his decision to retire. Keck told him he had a car that would revolutionize racing, and he could become the first driver to win four Indianapolis 500s. Rose reportedly replied, “You know how often I've heard that?” When it became apparent that Rose would not reconsider driving the new car, Keck hired Bill Vukovich. A rookie in 1951, Vukovich finished 29th after an oil leak ended his day of racing on lap 30.
 
In 1952, Keck unveiled the Fuel Injection Special, a four-cylinder rear drive car with a 270 cubic inch Offenhauser engine. In his qualifying run on the second weekend of trials, Vukovich set a new lap record of 138.212 mph. It was the car Keck promised Mauri Rose if he would reconsider his decision to retire. The Fuel Injection Special was clearly the car to beat. It dominated the 1952 race before suffering a steering box failure. The race turned into a duel between Vukovich and Troy Ruttman. Ruttman led the race for 44 laps, and Vukovich led the race for 150 laps. Vukovich had a 19 second lead with eight laps to go when a steering shaft broke, and the car slid into the wall. Ruttman went on to an easy victory.
 
Vukovich took the pole for the 1953 race with an average speed of 138.392 mph. The second-place qualifier, Freddie Agabashian, had an average speed of 137.546 mph. Once again, the Fuel Injection Special was the racer to beat. It was an extremely hot day, and track temperatures soared to an estimated 130 degrees. Vukovich poured 3 quarts of water down his back to combat the heat at every pit stop. He won the race with an average speed of 128.74 mph.
 
Vukovich arrived in Indianapolis for the 1954 race as the clear favorite. But he had trouble during qualifying and was scheduled to start in the 19th position. Jep Cadou, Jr., sports editor for The Indianapolis Star, mused that it would be impossible for anyone to come from the middle of the field and win the race. Vukovich took umbrage to this and stated he didn't think starting position made a difference in winning the race. This proved to be true. He steadily worked his way up to the front of the pack. He was in 7th place at the 50-mile mark and in fourth place at the 100-mile mark. He took the lead on the 92nd lap and went on to win his second consecutive Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of 130.8 4 mph.
 
For the 1955 Indianapolis race, Keck and Vukovich wanted to be the first racing team to win three consecutive Indianapolis 500s. In an era of open wheel racers, Quinn Epperly designed a car with enclosed wheels to improve the aerodynamics. Unfortunately, the car was not ready in time for the race and Vukovich got a ride with Lindsey Hopkins. He was on his way to his third consecutive win when he was caught up in a multiple car accident and Vukovich lost his life. Keck was so distraught that the car was put in storage and he dropped out of racing.
 
Keck then turned to raising thoroughbred horses. His stables produced Ferdinand, who at age 2, was paired with famed jockey Bill Shoemaker and trainer Charlie Whittingham. With only two wins in nine career starts, few thought Ferdinand had a chance to win the 1986 Kentucky Derby. Ferdinand had 7 - 1 odds when he left the starting gate. As they turned for home, he seized the opportunity when two horses in front of him split. He won the race by 2 1/2 lengths. He would finish second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont Stakes. The next year, Ferdinand won Horse of the Year after winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
 
His father, William M. Keck Sr., founded Superior Oil in California. Born in 1913 in Trinidad, California, Howard worked in the oil fields as a youngster with his brother William and their father. He succeeded his father as chairman of the oil and gas company in 1964. He was known for pioneering offshore drilling along the Gulf Coast. After his father's death, there was squabbling with two of his five siblings, Willametta and William, over his father's fortune. Willametta wanted the company sold and took out a newspaper advertisement advising shareholders to vote for a resolution that would permit it. They won the shareholder proxy fight. In late 1983, Howard resigned from the oil company's board. Keck led shareholders in securing the sale of Superior to Mobil Corporation for $5.7 billion in 1984.
 
After selling Superior Oil, he turned his energies to his father's charitable trust, which grew from $250 million to $1.2 billion during his tenure. The trust and foundation awarded $550 million in grants to science, medicine, higher education, and the arts. 
 
He died on December 21, 1996, at age 83.