Sy Kaback

Yeah. Met Sy 1959 Nassau Speed Week. Went to his hotel room intending
to beat the crap out of him. Had on my pigskin driveing gloves which
just rip a guy's face to pieces. Sy was Princeton Univ. middleweight
boxing champion so I was giving myself a little edge with the gloves.
He opened the door; and gave up on the spot. So I never got the
pleasure of popping him.
Back story: I had retired in 1958 to get married; retired having just
won (with Dan Gurney) both half's of the USAC's
USRRC for Chinetti's 1st Ferrari pro-team. Had just bought a radio
station in Jacksonville, FL -Which turned out later to be a big mistake!
Hopped over to see Nassaui races, no license, no gear,etc.
Met Donald Fong, ex-Riverdale Prep classmate of mine. He had 2 entries.
A Lotus and a 2L 500TRC Ferrari.
Red Chris had just told him he was ok'd to drivee the small Lotus but
not the faster Ferrari. Timing is everything!
Don asked if Red would let me drive the TRC even thou my license had
expired. "Hell yes. Sure, Allen can do it!.", says Red.
So we go to the Pits to start practicing the 2 cars when up comes Sy
Kaback and cold cocks Donald--knocks him flat
And Kaback then walks off --not a word said.. For a Chinese this is a
serious loss of face. And Donald is of the Hawaii Fongs including
Senator Hiram Fong, the 1st Chinaman ever so elected. OH BOY !
Well, Sy outweighed Fong by 25 pounds at least. So I became his
champion - HA !
Apologies: Years later, now married to wife #2, Jackie Ricci, we went
to Hawaii staying at the Fong owned Ilaki the newest hotel in town.
Mrs. Fong came up to our suite with 3 bellmen and flowers, food
baskets, etc. Soon as the word got around did we ever get A-1 service.
AND, no bill. What goes around, comes around .
Caio, Allen M