Real name was Charles. Died in a nursing home, after a long period of ill-health, which included a stroke brought on by his dementia. Before that he visited both current and historic events. Ates started racing on two wheels on motorcycles, racing on flat tracks, before trying out a midget car and finding he was very good in it. He became a noted sprint car driver, particularly in Ohio. In Indycar, his best finish was fifth at Michigan in 1968. Sonny later worked as a service writer at a Ford dealership in Sellersburg.

Biography last updated 18 Jan 2017