 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
1915 Duesenberg Indianapolis Racer news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
 |  |  | Boattail Racer |
This car is powered by a very unusual 300 cubic-inch 'Walking Beam' style engine, which the overhead valves are directly activated by two-foot long rocker arms. This innovative design became the standard for the Duesenbergs' competition cars before WWI and was later adopted for passenger car use. It develops about 100 horsepower at 2,500 RPM.
This racer was sold by the Duesenbergs to a young driver, Jimmy Benedict, who entered it in many 100-mile races in the summers of 1916 and 1917. It finished 5th at the Sheephead Bay AAA 1,000 miles in October 1916. It was raced throughout the Northeast between 1916 and 1921. After the hiatus in racing during WWI, Jimmy became a regular in numerous tracks in the Northeast. In 1921, Benedict sold the car to an ex-circus performer, Lou Hoyt, who used the car for performing stunts. After Hoyt's death in 1933, the car was stored away in a barn. In 1941, the car was found and restored to operating condition.
The car changed hands a few more times before the current owner purchased it in 1994 and he has given it a full engine rebuild, including a new cast iron block.
After the First World War the United States was anxious to return to racing. Engine displacement sizes were loosly regulated beginning in 1914 thus making the racing field more level. By 1920 the regulations were more strictly enforced in an effort to regulate the sport. Manufacturers found an advantge with the invention of forced induction.
In 1920 the displacement size was set at three-liters for many races, including international events. The Targa Florio and the 500 Mile Sweepstake at Indianapolis were two such events with regulated engine sizes. For the 1921 season, the French Grand Prix at LeMans was added to the schedule.
In Europe there were only a few marque's that ventured race entrants. Among the list were the French Ballot, Sunbeam, and Peugeot. Peugeots entrant at the 1920 Indy 500 Mile race was forced to retire after experiencing mechanical issues.
On state side the Duesenberg brothers were creating a straight-eight cylinder racer. Their knowledge grained from their 1916 Indy 500 entrant was very valuable as the vehicle had finished in second and was a strong rival for the prized first place crown. the outbreak of World War I had the brothers furthering their knowledge with the construction of engine for military purposes such as those for marine and aero.
The Duesenberg engines were made up of two blocks of four cylinders with each cylinder featuring two exhausts and one inlet valve operated by a single overhead camshaft. A shaft connected to the crank drove the camshafts. Horsepower was in the neighborhood of 115. This was an increase in horsepower by 15 over their road-going varients. A three-speed manual gearbox was used to send the power to the rear wheels. Most of the competition was using four gears which left the Duesenberg at a disadvantage. Top speed was around 110 mph which is very impressive. Imagine traveling in this vehicle on rough roads without seatbelts and in full exposure to the elements. The chassis is a ladder frame and attached with live axles in both the front and rear with semi-elliptic leaf springs and friction dampers. Brakes were on the rear wheels.
The Indianapolis 500, known by other names during its early existence, was the highlight of the year during the early 1920's in International competition. For 1920 Duesenberg managed a third, fourth and sixth place finish. Their position would have been more fruitful if mechanical difficulties had not plaqued their endeavours. When the checkered flag dropped it was the four-cylinder engined Monroe in first place.
For the 1921 season, the ban that forbid many European companies from competition had been lifted. Teams once again competed at LeMans and other stages that were convenient for the European marketplace. The Ballot automobiles were expected to be among the most dominant of the field. Their four-braking season had them at an advantage. Duesenberg modified their racers to use hyraulically operated drums, a first in racing history. Duesenberg became the first American company to enter a Grand Prix race.
Though the Ballots were the favorite, it was the Duesenberg's that held the crowds attention. A fierce battle lasted throughout most of the race between Duesenberg and Ballots. Many had thought that the drivers of the Duesenbergs were only experienced with oval courses and would be incapable of competing on the rough European road courses. As the race continued many racers were forced to retire prematurely as the rough road surfaces claimed many vehicles. As the race progressed the roads only became more treacherous. Jimmy Murphy in his Duesenberg was leading the race with only a few laps to go when he was struck by debris and his tires were shred. His radiator was pierced and his engine began to overheat. He manged to get his racer back to the pits where he used water to cool the engine. Much to the surprise of the crowd and better judgement of most of his crew, he re-emerged onto the track. He coaxed his racer the additional 10.6 miles and crossed the finish line in first place. His car had averaged 78.1 mph and became the first American team to win a Grand Prix event. This would not happen again until the 1960's.
Following the season, Duesenberg continued their racing endeavours on the United States soil. Victories occured at the Indy 500 in 1922 and 1924. This was a true testament of the vehicles capabilites, and the ingenuitiy of the Duesenberg marque.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2010
In 1920 the displacement size was set at three-liters for many races, including international events. The Targa Florio and the 500 Mile Sweepstake at Indianapolis were two such events with regulated engine sizes. For the 1921 season, the French Grand Prix at LeMans was added to the schedule.
In Europe there were only a few marque's that ventured race entrants. Among the list were the French Ballot, Sunbeam, and Peugeot. Peugeots entrant at the 1920 Indy 500 Mile race was forced to retire after experiencing mechanical issues.
On state side the Duesenberg brothers were creating a straight-eight cylinder racer. Their knowledge grained from their 1916 Indy 500 entrant was very valuable as the vehicle had finished in second and was a strong rival for the prized first place crown. the outbreak of World War I had the brothers furthering their knowledge with the construction of engine for military purposes such as those for marine and aero.
The Duesenberg engines were made up of two blocks of four cylinders with each cylinder featuring two exhausts and one inlet valve operated by a single overhead camshaft. A shaft connected to the crank drove the camshafts. Horsepower was in the neighborhood of 115. This was an increase in horsepower by 15 over their road-going varients. A three-speed manual gearbox was used to send the power to the rear wheels. Most of the competition was using four gears which left the Duesenberg at a disadvantage. Top speed was around 110 mph which is very impressive. Imagine traveling in this vehicle on rough roads without seatbelts and in full exposure to the elements. The chassis is a ladder frame and attached with live axles in both the front and rear with semi-elliptic leaf springs and friction dampers. Brakes were on the rear wheels.
The Indianapolis 500, known by other names during its early existence, was the highlight of the year during the early 1920's in International competition. For 1920 Duesenberg managed a third, fourth and sixth place finish. Their position would have been more fruitful if mechanical difficulties had not plaqued their endeavours. When the checkered flag dropped it was the four-cylinder engined Monroe in first place.
For the 1921 season, the ban that forbid many European companies from competition had been lifted. Teams once again competed at LeMans and other stages that were convenient for the European marketplace. The Ballot automobiles were expected to be among the most dominant of the field. Their four-braking season had them at an advantage. Duesenberg modified their racers to use hyraulically operated drums, a first in racing history. Duesenberg became the first American company to enter a Grand Prix race.
Though the Ballots were the favorite, it was the Duesenberg's that held the crowds attention. A fierce battle lasted throughout most of the race between Duesenberg and Ballots. Many had thought that the drivers of the Duesenbergs were only experienced with oval courses and would be incapable of competing on the rough European road courses. As the race continued many racers were forced to retire prematurely as the rough road surfaces claimed many vehicles. As the race progressed the roads only became more treacherous. Jimmy Murphy in his Duesenberg was leading the race with only a few laps to go when he was struck by debris and his tires were shred. His radiator was pierced and his engine began to overheat. He manged to get his racer back to the pits where he used water to cool the engine. Much to the surprise of the crowd and better judgement of most of his crew, he re-emerged onto the track. He coaxed his racer the additional 10.6 miles and crossed the finish line in first place. His car had averaged 78.1 mph and became the first American team to win a Grand Prix event. This would not happen again until the 1960's.
Following the season, Duesenberg continued their racing endeavours on the United States soil. Victories occured at the Indy 500 in 1922 and 1924. This was a true testament of the vehicles capabilites, and the ingenuitiy of the Duesenberg marque.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2010
| TAG HEUER SIGNS MAJOR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH FIA FORMULA E CHAMPIONSHIP | |
 | LONDON (May 15, 2013) - TAG Heuer, the world's number one manufacturer of luxury timepieces inspired by sport, has signed on as Official Timekeeper, Official Watch and Chronograph and Founding Partner of the FIA Formula E Championship. The agreement was signed at TAG Heuer's headquarters in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by Jean-Christophe Babin, President and CEO of TAG Heuer (on the right), and Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings. 'Teaming up with Formula E, the world's top competi...[Read more...] |
| BREMBO CIRCUIT IDENTITY CARDS FOR MOTOGP AT FRENCH GRAND PRIX (LE MANS) | |
 | What's the 'toughest' track in MotoGP? Brembo Circuit Identity Cardsfor MotoGP are available to the public on the Friday before each race at www.Brembo.com. Each Circuit Identity Card graphic includes general characteristics of the track itself (layout, length, number of braking events and turns, percentage of time spent under braking per lap), along with technical information of the key braking zones, such as speeds before/after each brake event, braking time and distance, maximum deceler...[Read more...] |
| 75 years ago: triple victory for Mercedes-Benz in Tripoli | |
 | • Spectacular launch of the W 154 'Silver Arrow'
• Hermann Lang is victorious on the Mellaha course in Libya Stuttgart – A triple victory was secured for Mercedes-Benz and the then new W 154 twelve-cylinder racing car on 15 May 1938. Hermann Lang won the Tripoli Grand Prix, ahead of fellow drivers Manfred von Brauchitsch and Rudolf Caracciola. This one-two-three win launched a season that saw Mercedes-Benz dominate European racing – a season in which Caracciola would also be cr...[Read more...] |
| Firestone Returns As Presenting Sponsor of RRDC Evening With Brian Redman in Long Beach | |
 | The Firestone brand will return as presenting sponsor of the Road Racing Drivers Club's fifth annual West Coast banquet honoring auto racing's most influential leaders. This year, on Thursday, April 18, prior to the running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the 'RRDC Evening with Brian Redman presented by Firestone' will highlight the career of one of the sport's most popular, talented and successful race-car drivers. This is the Firestone brand's fourth straight year as a supporter of the...[Read more...] |
| 1955 Tourist Trophy: One Last Victory | |
 | The tragedy at Le Mans on the 11th of June, 1955 would dramatically affect motor racing. For one of the manufacturers involved, Mercedes-Benz, it would be a confirmation of what it had already come to believe. Toward the end of the 1955 season it was known Mercedes-Benz would withdraw from all motor racing having achieved just about everything possible in Formula One and sportscars. However, on the 18th of September, there would be one last race in which the mighty Silver Arrows would be gunning...[Read more...] |
| View more Indianapolis vehicles |
| Similar Vehicles | |
 | 1927 Duesenberg Indy Racer |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Auburn | Daimler |
| Delage | Delahaye |
| Hispano Suiza | Hudson |
| Isotta | Packard |
| Peerless | Pierce Arrow |
| Talbot-Lago | Voisin |
| Duesenberg: 1911-1920 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Duesenberg History |
| Other models by Duesenberg |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance |
| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance |
| Grand Prix Racers Model A Model J |
© 1998-2012. All rights reserved. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
