Known for his hard and fast driving style, Johnny was killed during qualifying for the Indy 500. Hannon was also a musician, furniture store worker, a radiator manufacturer for cars and planes and a truck driver before finally making it as a racing driver. Name was originally Hrankey, as he was of Hungarian descent. In just two years of racing in AAA events on the East Coast, he won eighteen times and was leading the series when he died. Although born in the US, he moved to Germany when he was two, and when he moved back to the US in 1919, he spoke little English. Hannon, who was quite brilliant in sprint and dirt track cars, also spent some time as a boxer.

Biography last updated 26 Oct 2021