Lewis “Louie” Senter
Lewis Senter began his racing career by competing in the original Soap Box Derby at the age of 12 years old. Since then he has been a lifelong racing enthusiast and participant in about every aspect of the high-performance industry. As an owner/driver he has been involved in drag racing, dry Lakes competition, open wheel oval track racing-including the Indy 500-, sprint and midget racing, sports car racing, and boat racing. As a manufacturer he founded Ansen Automotive and other similar companies, he was one of the original drag strip owners/promoters, opened one of the first true speech shops, started one of the first mail order companies, and was one of the original SEMA members.
In high school Louie took a vocational course in machine shop and when his parents saw his intense interest in this arena, they bought him a lathe, a drill press, and welding equipment. Upon graduation he worked as an apprentice machinist and a tool and die maker. During World War II he joined the Navy as a machinist mate and at the end of the war he went to work for Eddie Meyer Engineering. Louie’s first venture into manufacturing came when he and his brother purchased a tube bending machine and started producing suspension parts for shops like Frank Curtis and other car builders. Soon after that he and his brother took in another partner, Jack Andrews, who was one of the best engine builders of the time and also the creator of the first dual ignition system. After that the new parts and pieces began flowing on a regular basis, from steering wheels, conversion kits, change mechanical brakes, to hydraulic brakes, and from a line of flathead speed equipment to drop axles. Ansen Automotive developed the first aluminum wheels approved for use in the Indy 500 and soon it was producing one- and two-piece aluminum wheels for both racing and the street. After that it expanded into various internal engine components including pistons, rods, and crankshafts along with hundreds of other specialty items.
Louie fielded one of the first top fuel dragsters in the Southern California area which Rod Stuckey promptly drove into the winner’s circle at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California, and later sold to Tom Greer. After being fitted with a full body it became the famous Greer-Black-Prudhomme AA/Fuel car. After that he teamed up with builder Ed Pink in another AA/Fuel dragster followed by various other such cars.
As active and committed as he was with Ansen Automotive and drag racing. Louie was also involved in fielding several vehicles ranging from dry Lake cars, two midgets and sprint cars, sports cars, and his first involvement with the Indy 500. An event he has never missed since his first trip there 60+ years ago.
Through Ansen Automotive and personally, Louie has sponsored and/or helped many different teams throughout the entire country supplying both funding and parts. He was also one of the first companies to feature a strong contingency program with several of the racing associations over the years. Louie was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1978, the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame in 1997, the Dry Lakes Hall of Fame in 1999, WRA Man of the Year in 1998, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2009; along with recognition from various other racing associations over the years.