Editing Bob Sweikert (section)

== Personal life ==

'''Robert Charles Schweikart''' grew up in pre-war [[Los Angeles]]. His surname was later changed to '''Sweikert''' to avoid [[anti-German sentiment]] before [[World War II|WWII]]. His mother had married his stepfather, an electrician for the state of California, when Bob was an infant. Bob was raised through his early teen years with his older stepbrother, Ed, who enlisted in the US Navy, and then soon died in 1942, at the onset of World War II. That year the family moved briefly to [[San Francisco]], then across the bay to the rural town of [[Hayward, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob Sweikert |url=https://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/bob-sweikert.html |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=www.mshf.com}}</ref> There in high school Bob met his future wife, Dorie.<ref>Dorie Sweikert, ''Along For the Ride-A Love Story'',  (1998, Nicholas Ward Publishing, LLC.), no longer in print, reprinted under new publisher ca. 2005</ref>

From age 16 Sweikert worked after school as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership in Hayward. A naturally gifted mechanic, he frequently won street races throughout the East Bay. One of his frequent local competitors on the streets was [[Ed Elisian]], a teenage boy from nearby [[Oakland, California]]. A dozen years later, Elisian and Sweikert were engaged in the racing duel that led to Sweikert's fatal crash at Salem Speedway.

In late 1944, Sweikert enrolled in the [[US Army Air Force]], but suffered a severe knee injury while training at [[Lowry Field]] in Colorado. With months to heal and the war over, he was honorably discharged in September 1945.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RetroIndy: Indy 500 drivers who served in the military |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/indy-500/2019/05/23/retroindy-indy-500-drivers-served-military-war-indianapolis-500-history/3539022002/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1947, Sweikert met his first wife, Marion Edwards, at a party at UCLA.   During 1947 Sweikert began mailing monthly accounts of his life to Veda Orr, through April 1956. Karl & Veda Orr built & operated their own race cars. Veda wrote many racing articles.

Sweikert returned to Hayward and opened his own small business, Sweikert Automotive, an automotive repair shop based out of his parents' garage. There over the next couple years, he built his own track roadster. On [[Memorial Day]], May 26, 1947 Sweikert ran his first race for prize money at the [[Oakland Speedway]], and finished second.

Sweikert then quit automotive repair and became a full-time driver. He gained his first racing sponsorship in July 1947, when he became a track roadster race driver for Hubbard Auto Parts of Oakland.

In early 1948, he married  Marion Edwards. They had a large family wedding in West L.A.  The same year, Sweikert moved up to [[midget car]]s, and won his first training race with the [[Bay Cities Racing Association]]. He ran seventy-two races that first BCRA season, finishing 14th out of 130 active members in the annual point standings.

In late 1952 his first wife, Marion, started divorce proceedings.  Sweikert fought for custody of their young daughter. Sweikert's mother, Grace, often visited Bob's firstborn until Grace died.

In January 1953, Sweikert married his high school sweetheart, divorcee Dorie with her two children, with whom he had recently become reacquainted. They settled in Indiana, to be close to the Speedway where Sweikert hoped to race and win.