Frank Gehling Retired Professional Race Car Driver and Loving Father NORWALK -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 became interested in driving when the driver for Hennessey was late showing up one night and Rit asked him to warm up the midget. At that time, heat was needed for the motor because the midgets were push-started. Gehling jumped at the chance and the racing bug bit him hard. At the age of 19, he purchased a three-quarter midget which had been previously driven by Ed Brunnhoelzl, Sr. Frank fibbed about his age and obtained a racing license. Frank competed in this car during the winter months indoors in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. The competition was tough with the top modified and midget drivers at the time all going for the checkered. The field included a young Mario Andretti. In 1963, Charlie Hyatt asked Frank to drive his Danbury car. This was Frank's introduction to stock car racing and the Southern New York Racing Association. He competed in Hyatt's car for half a season without much success. He felt that six-cylinder was simply not competitive against the Ford V-8 engines, and got the car upside down at least once. Frank decided to leave stock cars and return to the open cockpit midgets, his first love. Gehling sold his three-quarter midget and bought a full-size Offy-powered midget, which he competed with ARDC and NEMA. During his first year in the car he finished fourth in driver points and also fifth in owner points. He was named the Most Improved Driver of the Year by NEMA. 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, 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. In 1968, Frank had a terrible accident in a midget at the Nazareth Speedway in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. He spent months in the hospital from critical injuries. Due to these injuries, he retired early from racing at age 26. 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.
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