Frank Gehling Passes Away at 70
Frank Gehling, 70, Retired Norwalk Race Car Driver
NORWALK, Conn. – Frank Gehling of Norwalk died Nov. 14 at his home. He was 70.
Born May 5, 1942, in Newton, Mass., he was the son of Daniel Chester Gehling and Esther Lawson. He had a love for race car driving early on and began his racing career at age 16.
As a pit crewman, Gehling traveled to more than 40 races a year. He became interested in driving when a driver was late one night and he was asked to fill in.
When he was 19, Gehling purchased a three-quarter midget and fudged his age to obtain a racing license. He competed during the winter months indoors in Hempstead, N.Y. In 1963, he was introduced to stock car racing and the Southern New York Racing Association.
Gehling competed for half a season without much success and returned to open cockpit midgets. He sold his three-quarter midget and bought a full-size Offy-powered midget. During his first year with the car, he finished fourth in driver points and fifth in owner points. He was named Most Improved Driver of the Year by the Northeastern Midget Association.
His most memorable win was the 100-lap New England Midget Championship on Sept. 2, 1967, at Westboro Speedway in Massachusetts. In 1968, Gehling crashed at Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania and spent months in the hospital. He retired early from racing at age 26.
Later in life, he worked as a supervisor and director of maintenance at the former Fairfield Manor Health Care Center of Norwalk for more than 20 years.
Gehling is survived by a son, Roger Gehling of Norwalk; and a sister, Shirley Balla of Keene, N.H. He was predeceased by his wife, Leslie Jane Minor.
A memorial service was held Tuesday at Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home.
Sources: Lindita Lika/The Rye Daily Voice
Frank Gehling, 70, of 7 Devon Ave., died Wednesday at home. He was the husband of the late Leslie Jane Minor of Darien, Connecticut.
Born in Newton, Mass, he was the son of the late Daniel Chester Gehling and Esther Lawson. Frank Gehling early on had a love for race car driving. Frank Gehling began his racing career at the age of 16, helping Richard “Rit” Hennessey of Norwalk. Rit owned an Offy midget – often referred to one of the best cars on the entire east coast at the time. As a pit crewman for Rit, Frank traveled to over forty races per year competing in the American Race Drivers Club and the North Eastern Midget Association. Frank sharpened his skills as a race car mechanic during his three year association with the team.
Frank drove for many car owners and was car owner himself during his racing career. Among them were Frank Fahey, Nick Duino, Frank Slaney, Charlie Chriot, Charlie Hyatt, and the Kelley Brothers. He captured many checkered flags and finished third in points twice. His most memorable win was the 100-lap New England Midget Championship event on September 2, 1967 at Westboro Speedway in Massachusetts.
Later in life, he worked as supervisor and director of maintenance formally known as Fairfield Manor Healthcare of Norwalk after 20+ years of dedicated service.
Frank Gehling is survived by a son, Roger Gehling of Norwalk and sister Shirley Balla of Keene, NH.
A Celebration for the life of Frank Gehling will be held on Tuesday November 20, 2012 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. directly at Norwalk Community Baptist Church, 105 East Ave. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. Norwalk’s Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 East Wall Street has been entrusted with arrangements.
Please visit www.norwalkfh.com to send a condolence to the Gehling family.
Sources: The Hour