Peter Jeffrey Revson was an American race car driver and heir to the Revlon cosmetics fortune.
28 Facts About Peter Revson
2.
Peter Revson was a two-time Formula One race winner and had success at the Indianapolis 500.
3.
Peter Revson was born in New York City, the son of Martin Revson and Julie Hall.
4.
Peter Revson's mother had been a nightclub singer at the time Martin met her.
5.
Peter Revson spent his childhood in White Plains, New York, in Westchester County, attended prep schools, and lived off the fruits of his father's million-dollar empire.
6.
Peter Revson had two sisters, Jennifer and Julie Ann, as well as a younger brother Doug, who was killed in a race in Denmark in 1967.
7.
In 1960, while attending the University of Hawaii, Peter Revson bought a Morgan and entered into sports car racing.
8.
In 1963, after limited successes and with Formula 1 aspirations, Peter Revson took the remaining money he had, around $12,000, and moved to the UK.
9.
Peter Revson then began barnstorming around mainland Europe competing and winning against the likes of future formula stars Denny Hulme and Jochen Rindt.
10.
Peter Revson made his initial Formula 1 debut late in the 1963 season in an exhibition race at the Gold Cup in Oulton Park, England, finishing ninth.
11.
Peter Revson teamed with fellow drivers Chris Amon and Mike Hailwood, referred to as the Ditton Road Flyers, and received more attention due to their antics and wild parties than their performances on the track.
12.
Barely noticed on the European circuits due to his limited Formula 1 success, Peter Revson accepted an offer to race back in the United States in 1965.
13.
In 1969, Peter Revson competed in his first Indy 500, finishing an impressive 5th place after starting last.
14.
At the Indy 500 the following year, Peter Revson gained major exposure and entrance to a top team when McLaren's Indy car team asked him to drive the race following the release of Chris Amon.
15.
Peter Revson the finished the 1970 Can-Am season runner-up while driving a Lola T220 for the Haas team.
16.
Peter Revson went on to finish second in the race behind Al Unser Sr.
17.
Now driving for the McLaren team in the M8F, Peter Revson rolled past the competition to a championship.
18.
In 10 races, Peter Revson won five including at his home track at Watkins Glen and placed on the podium in all but two of the races.
19.
Peter Revson's successes caught the attention of the Formula One teams.
20.
Peter Revson was even offered a one-race drive that year with the Tyrrell team as a third driver at Watkins Glen.
21.
In 1972 Peter Revson was offered a full-time seat racing for the McLaren Formula One team, headed by Peter Revson's old friend and boss Teddy Mayer.
22.
Peter Revson was now a driver in McLaren's Indy Car, Can-Am, and Formula One teams.
23.
Peter Revson soon signed with the rather new Shadow formula 1 team for the 1974 season.
24.
Peter Revson was killed during a test session on 22 March 1974, before the 1974 South African Grand Prix in Kyalami.
25.
Peter Revson was the second Revson to lose his life racing; his brother Douglas was killed in a crash in Denmark in 1967.
26.
Peter and Douglas Revson are interred together in a crypt in the community mausoleum at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
27.
Peter Revson was replaced by Tom Pryce, who died three years later at the same Grand Prix.
28.
Peter Revson was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1996 in the sports car category.