Team story
Origins
Quin Epperly opened his own workshop in California and built a car for Jim Rathmann at Indianapolis in 1955. Alongside chassis work, he made aluminium bodywork. His most famous contribution grew from his relationship with George Salih, who designed the Belond with its Offenhauser engine laid over on its side.
The Formula 1 journey
The Belond won the Indianapolis 500 with Sam Hanks in 1957 and Jimmy Bryan in 1958. The local record groups these victories under Epperly, whereas IMS and the museum identify the chassis as Salih: Epperly built its bodywork. His own cars also took second with George Amick in 1958 and third with Paul Goldsmith in 1960.
Historical timeline
Three chapters in the story of Epperly
Three episodes to revisit the people, cars and races that shaped this journey.
First appearance · Indianapolis 500
Jim Rathmann · Indianapolis 500 1955. The recorded position is P14; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This is the first recorded race start, or the first entry if the team never started a race.
Sporting landmark · Indianapolis 500
Sam Hanks · Indianapolis 500 1957. The recorded position is P1; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This marks the first win or podium where one exists, otherwise the highest recorded placing for this constructor.
Latest recorded appearance · Indianapolis 500
Jim McWithey · Indianapolis 500 1960. The recorded position is P29; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This is the last race start attributed to this constructor in the archive, not necessarily the end of the organisation behind it.
A distinctive way of racing
The laydown concept lowered the engine and the car's profile. Epperly built his own chassis to this layout, not just panels for the Belond. Different entrants and sponsors used the cars: the chassis builder's entry does not describe a single team.
These appearances counted towards the championship because Indianapolis was part of it between 1950 and 1960.
What remains
The Epperly name continued to appear at the Speedway after the Indianapolis 500 left the championship calendar. The arrival of rear-engined single-seaters reduced the scope for his roadsters. The museum's preserved Belond documents his collaboration with Salih; distinguishing it from cars built entirely by Epperly allows both the work and the results to be correctly attributed.