Lou Baney
The story of Aloysius James Benedetto reads like several different careers, any one of which may have qualified Lou Baney for induction into drag racing’s Hall of Fame. As a driver, he cut his teeth in roadsters on Southern California ovals, then repeatedly broke every dry lake record for coupes. As a promoter, he teamed up with Lou Senter in 1950 to open Saugus Dragstrip, the first strip to offer night raceing. As a team owner and engine builder, Lou played prominent roles in the careers of people like Don Prudhomme, Tom McEwen, Ed Pink, and Kenny Arnold. As a politician, he was second to none. As far back as the 40’s, Baney presided over both the Screwdrivers Club and the Russetta Timing Association. In the 50’s, he was elected by his peers to run Drag Racers Inc, the first racers union. In the 60s, he directed history’s most effective such union, the powerful United Drag Racers Association. In the 70’s, he served SEMA as Technical Director and Executive Director; and spent one season managing McEwen’s funny car team. Lou even gave the publishing business a try, briefly serving as General Manager for the group that purchased Drag News from Doris Herbert; before retiring in 1978.