Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 May 1941 — Page 21

Drivers Given Leaves From Defense Jobs

: Mechanics, Too, Working in Plane Plants

While the 500-Mile Race is being run tomorrow the United States is running a race of her bwn—also against time. For America has begun the attempt to arm herself in the least possible time against all possible enemies. And it is natural that this country has drawn heavily on the nimble fingers, the mechanical skill and the love of speed and perfection of the Speedway’s mechanics, drivers and officials. : Many of the men who will participate in tomorrow’s race are here on leave of absence from some vital part of the national defense program. Many of the drivers are contributing their talents toward the perfection of the Allison airplane motor in ‘the new Speedway . City plant which grew from a small machine shop built by the late Jim Allison, co-founder of the Speedway. Others are on the West Coast in plants engaged in making parts for plane motors. Some are actually in military service. Wilbur Shaw is in charge of the aviation activities of Firestone Tire and Rubber Co.

Corum, Rose at Allison

L. L. (Slim) Corum, co-winner with Joe Boyer in 1924, leads the list of those. working in the Allison plant. Otherg are Harry Hartz, the greatest second-place winner of all time; Maur{ Rose, this year’s pole position holder and third-place fin- - isher last year; Bob McDonogh, protege of Tommy Milton; Frank Del Roy, mechanic for the Joe Marks cars; Billy DeVore, famous ‘racing son of a famous racing father; Randall Bienke, aid to Har.ry (Cotton) Henning, the Boyle mechanic; Benny Benefiel and Gene Nardi, youngsters on their way up. Bob Jackson, right-hand man of “Cotton” in preparing Shaw’s winning car for the past two years, is also at the Allison plant, and Charles Merz, assistant general manager of the Speedway, has been called into service, but’ is stationed at Indianapolis. : “Snappy” Ford, the official timer, and George Freers, vice chairman of the Technical Committee, are at the Marmon-Herrington Company’s Indianapolis plant making tanks.

Mauri Rose

Ee 8

A cellophane package of liquid-cooled power . . .

The celebrated Allison liquid-

with him in building the Indian-

cooled airplane motor—which the|apolis Speedway.

The track was built in 1909 and

U. S. Army is now using in its New| po frst 500-mile race was held in

interceptor and pursuit planes— was born as a result of the Indian-

apolis Speedway. The Allison plant is in Speedway City and the two have a definite relationship. The history of Allison in interwoven with that of the speed track. Ss The story began back about 1905. Indianapolis was a hot bed of racing enthusiasts. Crowds poured out to the old dirt track at the Fair Grounds.

“Nationals,” manufactured by

1911. During these beginning years a number of Maxwells were taken under the wing of the Prest-O-

Bergere Back For 14th Try

Cliff Bergere, the movie stunt ace,

Arthur Newby, made a good show-|who has come back to Indianapolis ing against special racing cars and|for his fourteenth effort to win the their success put ideas in the fertile|500-Mile race is riding an improved

mind of Carl Fisher who was coowner with James A. Allison of the Prest-O-Lite Co., making acetylene tanks for lighting. Mr. Fisher induced Mr. Newby to send two Nationals out in & 24hour test to smash the existing

the Renault, manufactured

driver~fowners in §

entered by Lou

same four cylin-

automobile speed records held \by sane It is the

France.

job in which

Working for Mr. Newby was a|Floyd Roberts. set

young engineer named Norman H. Gilman and Mr. Newby named him his racing manager. The Nationals did establish new records and the restless Mr. Fisher prevailed upon Mr. Allison, Mr.

Newby and Frank H. Wheeler, a|have

the 500-mile record of 117.200 miles an hour in 1938. > Cliff Berge He will drive ergere the same car this year but there been several important

carburetor manufacturer, to join|changes.

Why 2-Way Radio Idea Fizzled Out

“Moore worked all winter to re-

condition it,” says Bergere, “and it has a larger tank for more high-

powered fugl. It has improved

wheels for better handling and car

wear. And it also has a non-col-

Two-way radio had a short life |lapsible oil line.”

at the Indianapolis “500.”

Although Cliff is one of the top

Chet Gardner installed it in his |drivers today he was such a poor

car in 1933 and finished fourth. In 1935 he gave up the idea altogether after his radio crackled: “Come in for oil, quick!”

dirt track driver 18 years ago that it led to his becoming a movie stunt man, “I kept crashing so many fences,”

He pulled in the pits only to find |he says, “That my friends used to

out that the order was meant for another racing team also using radio.

say, ‘Why don’t you get paid for that sort of stuff and become a stunt man?’ Se I did.”

produced “just across the street” from the speed track.

Lite Co., and headquarters were established at the company’s plant across the street from the Speedway. Mr. Allison then offered to build another plant nearby for PremierPeugot. The offer was accepted and he erected a small one-story brick structure he called the Allison Experimental Co. and the PeugotPremier mechanics moved in in 19186. Mr. Allison then installed Mr. Gilman as engineer and superintendent of the plant with the idea of turning out Premiers for racing. Along came World War I and the plant turned over its facilities to the making of old Liberty_airplane motors. After the war came Government order for the rebuilding of hundreds of the Libertys and so in 1920 the plant became the Allison Engineering Co. with Mr. Gilman deciding to devote the plant exclusively to the manufacture of airplane motors. General Motors bought the plant after Mr. Allison’s death in 1928 and Mr. Gilman was made president, Mr. Gilman threw his lot with the liquid-cooled engine—and the result is the. power plant which now graces such sleek ships as the Bell Airacobra and Aircuda, the Curtiss P-40, the Lockheed P-38 and the North American fighters. P. S.—The company, which started from that small brick building now covers an area of about seven city blocks, and employs more than! 10,000 men.

Two Mayors Will Be Rooting for Cliff

Cliff Bergere will have the mayors of two towns in his corner this year. One, Ab Jenkins, spged ace in his own right and-afiayor of Bonneville, Utah, will be in the pits directing stratégy, and the other is Bergere’'s father-in-law, Chris Marz, mayor of Mintville, Ore., (population, 24). The mayor of Mintville will be in the stands rooting hard.

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