1969 Sammy Sessions Race Used Helmet

Sammy Sessions was an accomplished racer as he won 22 Feature races in the Thunder and Lightning Division. This helmet has been extensively used, and it was specifically used during the 1969 Indy 500 where Sessions finished the race in 12th place. He finished a career best 4th during the 1972 Indy 500. Only a few Michigan drivers have been able to move up into the ranks of the Indy car set and be successful there. One of these was the late Sam Sessions. Sessions was one of the most likable race drivers to come out of the state of Michigan and obtain national prominence. Born during the depression days of the middle thirties, Sam started racing outboard boats at the tender age of 14 and moved into stock cars in 1958 at the now defunct Hastings racetrack. Next on Sam’s driving list were the supermodifieds in which he earned the point championship at the now defunct Grand Rapids Speedrome, along with winning a 200-lap national championship supermodified race at South Bend. In 1963 Sam won 100 lappers at Sandusky, Shangri-La and Delaware. 1964 brought victories in a 50 lapper at Toledo, 100 lapper at Sandusky, and a 150 lapper at the Grand Rapids Speedrome.