I wanted to include Gary Ormsby in our Northern California Race Car Driver directory, so I looked him up on Google. To my surprise, there was no website about him, no fan page, not even a wikipedia page. So I decided to write what I could find and then ask for help from you. If anyone can help me with more details of his amazing life I would appreciate it. I am even trying to write a wikipedia article on him too. Please email me here: tnewey@norcalcarculture.com.
Gary Ormsby was the 1989 NHRA Top Fuel Champion. He owned Auburn Toyota and Auburn Subaru Hyundai in Auburn, California. His crew chief was Lee Beard. Together they were within one round victory of winning the championship in 1990 as well. He died the following year of intestinal cancer in Roseville, California on August 28, 1991.
One of Gary’s first cars, Vagabond, a 1962 AA/Fuel Dragster.
It was during 1990 that he set the (at the time) World Record of 4.881 seconds at 296.05 mph in Heartland Park, Topeka Kansas. He helped put that track on the map in the drag racing world. Since then, they have named one of the roads around the raceway, Gary Ormsby Drive.
In 1989, Gary destroyed 2 cars in terrifying accidents on the way to winning the championship. He had to drive an old retired car that he had on display in the showroom of his car dealership in Auburn to finish the season. This video shows the 2 accidents.
Gary Ormsby was one of the best drag racers to come out of northern California. I am anxious to learn more about him and his racing career. There is a great article on Lee Beard and Gary Ormsby and their championship season together here.
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I met Gary Ormsby in the pits at Sonoma in 1990 or 1991. I think at the time he already knew that he had cancer. I walked up to his pit and he was busy getting ready for the next round. I called him over and he signed my ball cap. He was pleasant and seemed like a great guy! I was very surprised to learn later that year that he had cancer.
I met Gary in 1986 when my father, Don Marshall, had put a crew together and was racing the America car with Rocky Epperly at the wheel.
I was 21 years old, living in San Francisco for the summer and had blown the head gaskets on my 1983 Ford EXP. My father contacted Gary, who sent a tow truck and brought my car back to his car dealership in Auburn for repairs. A few weeks later when I went to get my car, Gary took me to lunch in his (I think) Lamborghini, filled my gas tank for the trip back to S.F., and left the bill open until I saw him later that season at Indy, where I paid him in full.
He was gracious, funny, and very kind to a 21 year old girl who was far away from home and needed help. Even when I saw him again at Indy, with Castrol as his sponser if I remember correctly, busy in the pits and in the middle of a race, he made time to chat with my friend, Kim Bouldin-Jones, and me.
I was shocked when my father told me a few years later that he had died of cancer. I will always remember his kindness off the track as well as his expertise on the track.
Rhonda, Thanks for sharing your story. It’s nice to hear things like that about racing stars. I do hear stories about how great a guy Gary Ormsby was pretty regularly.
I purchased a Toyota Celica from Gary in 1989. Seemed like a good guy.
I lived on Royalglen Avenue in Sacramento from 1969 until I moved to Downey in 1972.
Gary lived directly across the street from my house. One night I am sitting in my family room watching TV and all of a sudden I hear a loud noise, like an air plane motor and I saw flashes of light on my back fence. As we were on the flight path for McCLenand Air Force Base, I thought an air plane was going to crash into my house. I went to the window and looked out and their was Gary’s dragster outside of his garage spitting flames from the headers. Gary had rolled his machine out of his garage and lighted it off. Talk about noise and fire!!!! What a thrill!!!!
Great story, it’s funny how many people have sent me emails and examples of what a great guy Gary was. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing.
I just dug up some photos in storage of Gary sitting in his rail warming up on jack stands at the ’89 or ’90 Winternationals at Pomona, spectators with fingers in their ears! Also photos of Don Garlits looking nervous which led me to your nice tribute to Gary.
If you were so inclined, I would love to see your photos of Gary or perhaps add them to this end of this piece.
Thank you, Tim
I saw Gary run the McChord and Ormsby funny car at the Bakersfield March Meet in 1972. It was not his best outing. My uncle, Carl Forsberg, used to process chickens in Auburn. One of his major clients was the Ormsby Chicken Farm. I have always wondered what Gary’s connection to the poultry business was. Carl’s son, Richard Forsberg, and Richard’s son, Andy Forsberg, are long time sprint car racers from Auburn.
My first NHRA national event was the 86 Cajun Nationals in Baton Rouge LA. I was 15 years old.
G.O. had his Castrol streamliner and Garlits had Swap Rat 30. Those two cars were the class of the field and I just thought the Castrol car was the coolest thing ever. Almost 30 years later I can still vividly remember the ultra professional demeanor of Gary and his team of Beard, Mike Green and Dickie Venables. RIP G.O.
My significant others brother has his red corvette. It still has a personalized plate on the front. He is trying to sell it if anyone is interested.
Sonny
Hi everyone. I just purchased garys 1989 corvette convertible. I live in north san fransico area (vallejo). The car became available from a family estate from grass valley, ca. The car is amazing. 19000 original miles on it. It has custom rims, custom luvered hood and side panels to let heat escape along with body lowering kit. Everything works like the day gary sold it. Its licence plate still reads ORMSBY on it. The paint is mint. Amazing to have this car. I will have this for a Ilong long time. I believe gary bought this car in celebration of his 1989 NHRA championship. Thank you gary. RIP. I have photos if you need some. Thanks.
What a great car to own ..by the great man gary ormsby ..wow
Hi everyone. I just purchased garys 1989 corvette convertible. I live in north san fransico area (vallejo). The car became available from a family estate from grass valley, ca. The car is amazing. 19000 original miles on it. It has custom rims, custom luvered hood and side panels to let heat escape along with body lowering kit. Everything works like the day gary sold it. Its licence plate still reads ORMSBY on it. The paint is mint. Amazing to have this car. I will have this for a Ilong long time. I believe gary bought this car in celebration of his 1989 NHRA championship. Thank you gary. RIP. I have photos if you need some. Thanks.
That’s really cool. Please share some photos if you get a chance. Thanks, Tim
It’s 4/21/2016 I am selling Gary vette from 1989. I was contacted by “john” Gary business manager he would like to purchase the car. Ok we will see what happens.
My father was one of Gary’s best friends. My father meet him in Grassvalley CA. I grew up going to the races supporting Gary. Sat with him in the pit and at his tent. As well as John Force and Lori Johns. These are my most precious childhood memories. Too this day miss him and going to the races. My father stopped going after his death, I am know 33 and one of these days I look forward to being there and experiencing what made up my childhood again. Gary was an amazing man, so kind and loving.
My ex husband and I were at the 1990 Gatornationals with our son, who was 4 at the time. My son had a plastic souvenir dragster and he had been getting autographed. Gary took us up into his private part of his trailer. He was gracious and friendly. I will always cherish that experience.
That is pretty cool, it’s nice when talented people like Gary take time to talk to fans especially the young ones. I have heard so many stories like that about him. Thank you!
I had met Gary Ormsby briefly several times, just the typical hello while watching the crew at work. I think it was 1990; the Spring Nationals were still in Columbus, OH. The race was delayed a week due to flooding so the following Friday before racing resumed was deemed a test and tune day. I worked in the area and the track was open with no charge to enter so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and found that besides the teams there was virtually no one there and it was a very relaxed day for them. I walked up to Ormsby’s pit and he was sitting in the doorway of the hauler. Gary said “hi, how are you doing”, motioned for me to come in, invited me to have a seat and I spent about an hour just sitting there talking with him and a bit with Lee Beard as the guys were doing some maintenance work on the car. Nothing earth shattering, it was basically like sitting around having a conversation at a bar. I only ended up seeing a couple cars run but I don’t think I’ve ever had a better day at the race track. Gary Ormsby was a genuinely good guy and every race I go to I still miss him to this day.
What a great story! I have heard a lot of them but always enjoy hearing more. Thank you!
Gary Ormsby was the absolute best. As his associate sponsor , I was fortunate enough to enjoy all of the victories and championships, along with the difficult journey of his declining health. He was extremely gracious to me, something that I’ve tried to pass on in my business career with others. I tried to duplicate that same racing relationship many times (with different T.F. teams) after his passing, but was unsuccessful, which I believe indicates what a special guy he really was. It will be 27 years on the 28th of August, it seems like yesterday. P.S. Kenny wasn’t the 1st to 300, check the speed traps at Topeka when Gary went 4.88-296.05 ; data showed at 1350 ft- 300.08., as they say he ran it out the back door.
TB
After reading all of these wonderful stories of a wonderful man, I was lucky enough to work for G.O. In 1989 and 1990 with Lee, Mike,and Chuck. What a man, he has taught me many many important things in life. Running the Top Fueler and shooting his shotgun and running his business was his love. Did all quite well. After losing my dad to cancer 1984, Gary became a role model to me. Hired in 1989,by Lee and Gary I could not of been luckyer. Championship and runner up in my first two years of crewing on the team, i would give a million to have the opportunity to thank him. Tim Buckley your the man thanks for the boneses!! Hope all’s well with this great, great, team,thank Joe Amato and Richards for making us work so hard. G.O. RIP until me meet again Horsey AKA Don Loveless
I began dating my late husband in 1990. He worked at the Auburn, CA airport. One evening I went to visit him at work and this man had flown in and parked his plane the pilot and my soon to be husband began talking in this language that made no sense to me. It was all numbers! Learned later it was the times Gary O. Had done at the track that weekend My husband use to clean the back tires after the burnout as Gary backed up before a race. He stopped when we got together, yet the next 10 years we went to all kinds of drag races and I learned to talk in numbers also! Gary was a good friend of my husband, his death was hard to deal with for my husband. I lost my husband to cancer after 15 years together. I know he and Gary are in heaven racing away and partying hard too.