1914 Duesenberg Rickenbacker Indy racer

Henry W., Friedrich (Fred) S., and August (Augie) S., Duesenberg were born in Kircheide, Lippe-Detmold, Germany. Louise Konradina Duesenberg was widowed two years after August was born. The oldest brother, Henry, left for America in 1884 and soon after brought his sibling and *** to live with him in Iowa.

Fred was 8 and Augie was 5 when they arrived in the United States. Before they could attend school, both had to learn English.

In 1893, Fred was 17 and took his first job with a dealer in Rockford. His talents soon became evident. He had a mechanical aptitude, was a creative thinker, patience, good-nature, bulldog tenacity, and a sense of humor.

In 1896, Fred opened a bicycle shop on Main Street in Rockford. He was soon joined by Augie, who later opened his own shop in Garner. By 1900, a garage opened in Des Moines and Fred was given a job repairing cars and tuning engines. With Fred's talents, the garage is a success and a second garage soon opens in Des Moines.

While working in the garage, Fred acquired a used Marion car which he redesigned the engine and fit individual exhaust pipes to each cylinder. When the work was completed, he took the car racing.

With financial backing from a local attorney named Edward R. Mason, Fred opens the Mason Motor Co. The cars they produced were entered in races to help promote the brand. The company prospered for many years. It was sold in 1910 to Fred L. Maytag, the washing machine manufacturer. The company was then moved to Waterloo, Iowa, and Fred and Augie moved along with it. At the close of 1911, Maytag decides to leave the automobile business.

Fred began working for the Sears Automobile Company while Augie continued to experiment and build racing cars. In June 1913, the Duesenberg Motor Company was formed.

At the 1914 Indy 500, the Duesenberg brothers enter vehicles bearing their name into the race and would finish in 10th and 12th place. Their star driver was Eddie Rickenbacker who drove that car that finished in 10th place. Eddie would continue to race for Duesenberg, scoring many victories behind the wheel of the Duesenberg. Rickenbacker would later become America's top flying ace in World War I, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and President and CEO of Eastern Airlines.

During the 1914 season, Duesenberg captured 34 first-place finishes, 7 seconds, and 14 thirds in just 73 starts. The following year at the Indy 500, Duesenberg finished in 8th place.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2012