Tommy Milton

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Tommy Milton 1925

Thomas "Tommy" Milton (born November 14, 1893 in St. Paul , Minnesota , † July 10, 1962 in Mount Clemens , Michigan ) was an American automobile racing driver . He was the first to win the Indianapolis 500 twice.

Career

Milton began his racing career in 1914, taking part in dirt track races in the American Midwest . In 1917 he raced nationwide and celebrated his first major win at a circuit in Providence , Rhode Island . In 1919 he was Duesenberg - works drivers . As one of the dominant drivers in American racing, he won five of the nine championship races including the “International Sweepstakes” in Sheepshead Bay , New York . In this year he made his debut at the Indianapolis 500. Later that year he suffered in an accident in Uniontown , Pennsylvania severe burns. He returned to racing the following year and won the Universal Trophy on June 19 and the AAA National Championship .

World record

Tommy Milton in the record car he designed with two Duesenberg engines (1920)

On April 27, 1920, Milton set the one-mile land speed record at 156.046  mph (251.132  km / h ). Since February 12, 1919, this had been maintained by Ralph DePalma with the Packard 905 at 149.875 mph (241.2 km / h). This vehicle was powered by a revised V12 aircraft engine with 905 ci (14,830 cm³). For the attack on this record, Duesenberg and Milton constructed a vehicle with two of the 4.9 liter Duesenberg 297 in -line eight-cylinder engines that were no longer required due to the new racing formula . They were attached in front of each other. Each engine had its own clutch and cardan shaft . The steering column was attached between the engine blocks, the left exhaust was led behind the dashboard across the cockpit to the right. The car was brought to the Daytona Beach Road Course in April 1920 and completed by Milton's team. While this was contesting a race in Havana ( Cuba ), team driver Jimmy Murphy set Ralph DePalma's record, but damaged the engines. Murphy was then released; on April 27, 1920, Milton improved the world record to 156,046 mph with the repaired car.

Results at the Indianapolis 500

Tommy Milton, Barney Oldfield and Louis Chevrolet before the Indianapolis 500 in 1921

Tommy Milton started eight times in the Indianapolis 500. He started once from pole position and placed four times in the top five. When he first participated in 1919, he drove a Duesenberg . He also drove a Duesenberg on his second start in 1920 and finished third. In 1921 , the then 27-year-old won the race in a Frontenac designed by Louis Chevrolet . In 1922 he retired after only 44 laps due to fuel problems. In 1923 he drove for the HCS Motor Car Company in a Miller 122 and won the race for the second time. The last time he started in Indianapolis in 1927 was eighth.

In 1936 Tommy Milton returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and drove the pace car there . In 1949 he became race director of the Indianapolis 500, but had to give up this post in 1957 due to health problems.

literature

  • Griffith Borgeson: The Golden Age of the American Racing Car. 2nd Edition. Published by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), Warrendale PA 1998, ISBN 0-7680-0023-8 . (English)
  • Beverly Rae Kimes: Pioneers, Engineers, and Scoundrels: The Dawn of the Automobile in America. Published by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Permissions, Warrendale PA 2005, ISBN 0-7680-1431-X . (English)
  • Don Butler: Auburn Cord Duesenberg. Crestline Publishing, 1992, ISBN 0-87938-701-7 . (English)
  • ACD Museum (Ed.): 19th Annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival; Official Souvenir Book. Brochure for the opening of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana (USA) on Labor Day Weekend 1974. (English)
  • Dennis Adler: Duesenberg . Heel-Verlag, Königswinter 2005, ISBN 3-89880-487-9 .
  • Jon M. Bill: Duesenberg Racecars & Passenger Cars Photo Archive. (Photo Archive Series). Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum (Ed.), Iconografix, Hudson WI, ISBN 1-58388-145-X . (English)
  • Beverly Rae Kimes (Ed.), Henry Austin Clark, Jr.: The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. 2nd Edition. Krause Publications, Iola WI 54990, USA 1985, ISBN 0-87341-111-0 . (English)

Web links

Commons : Tommy Milton  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Wiki Commons image description
  2. ^ Bill: Duesenberg Photo Archive. Pp. 34-35.
personal data
SURNAME Milton, Tommy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Milton, Thomas (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American racing car driver
DATE OF BIRTH November 14, 1893
PLACE OF BIRTH Saint Paul , Minnesota, USA
DATE OF DEATH July 10, 1962
Place of death Mount Clemens , Michigan, USA