George Rice (race car driver)

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George Rice was a Midget race car driver from Milford, Connecticut.

[edit] Personal life

Born on February 22, 1913, George fathered two daughters, Sarah and Glorianna, and a son, Edward, with his wife Bess.

George Rice's real name was George J. Viola. When he started racing, he drove sprints, not midgets. When he heard about midgets he wanted to try them but his club at that time would not have permitted it. So he changed his last name to Rice after a friend, Charlie Rice. He loved the midgets and decided to stick with them and continued to use the name George "Georgie" Rice. When his younger brother, John, decided to race midgets also, he took the name Johnny Rice and the pair became known as the "Rice Brothers".

I am his daughter, Sarah, and just came across this site. I will try to write more.

[edit] Auto Racing

In the 1940s in particular he was very successful. In 1947 alone he won the Midget track championship at Danbury (CT) Fair Racearena, Deer Park (NY) Speedway, and won his second consecutive title at West Haven (CT) Speedway. He was the 1947 ARDC Midget champion. In 1948 he won the Bridgeport (CT) Speedway Midget track championship.