- Inducted in 2004 -
Dan Warner has been involved with racing his entire life. His mom and dad's first date took place at the Indy 500. Dan's father, Harry L. Warner, designed and manufactured the famous Wayne 12-port cylinder head for GMC and Chevrolet 6-cylinder in-line engines used extensively in the '40s to the late '50s. Dan distinctly remembers when he used to stand on a wooden orange crate at the age of eight so that he would be able to operate a drill press or lathe in his father's shop.
Dan and his father were involved in the early days of the Go Kart craze, Manufacturing parts, they also raced at various tracks in California and Dan earned the right to complete in the 1961 Karting Nationals. High School and college days were spent with dry lakes, drag and sprint car racing. Dan completed at the Bonneville Nationals for the first time in 1963 with Bob Noice & Paul Stanley. He has attended every event held since. Following his discharge from the US Air Force in 1971, he joined the Sidewinders SCTA club and connected with Keith Young. As a part of the Young Brothers team they raced a variety of Bonneville and dry lake cars in the vintage classes.
With the generous help of Lee Kennedy, Terry Kilbourne and Gerry Musil of the KKM Racing Team, Dan joined the El Mirage 200 M.P.H. Club in 1992. Next, Dan began racing with Rick Manchen, Lee Kennedy & Mike Manghelli when they built a Modified Sports class Alfa Romero that won the 1997 SCTA Points Championship. Dan is currently helping out with the new lakester of Paul Stanley & Rick Manchen.
Dan's involvement with the Southern California Timing Association includes 13 years on the Board of Directors, President in 1984, and two terms as Vice-President. Dan has received many awards while working with the SCTA-BNI, including the SCTA Wheels of Fame, the Meb Healy Award and the Multy Aldrich Man of Distinction Award. He was honored as the Bonneville Person of the Year for 2002/2003. Dan currently chairs the rules and records committees and oversees the record impound area at all SCTA-BNI sanctioned events. Dan and his wife of 21 years, Joanie, and their son Alex reside in Canoga Park, California.
Warner earned life membership to the Bonneville 200MPH Club at the 2004 Speedweek driving Jim Knapp's #2960 G/Gas Streamliner to a 230.8 M.P.H. average -- a mere 0.8 over the minimum required. During his run the starting line went silent waiting to hear his speeds and the front row of the pit area had been lined with people watching him run down the course. Warner now fully understands and savors that rich, deep-rooted sensation of the ultimate Bonneville experience.
