Howdy Wilcox

American racing driver (1889–1923)
Howdy Wilcox
Wilcox, circa 1919
BornHoward Samuel Wilcox
(1889-06-24)June 24, 1889
Crawfordsville, Indiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 4, 1923(1923-09-04) (aged 34)
Tipton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Championship titles
Major victories
Indianapolis 500 (1919)
Champ Car career
36 races run over 12 years
Best finish11th (1916)
First race1910 100-mile Remy Brassard
(Indianapolis)
Last race1923 Altoona 200 (Altoona)
First win1910 Remy Grand Trophy
(Indianapolis)
Last win1919 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
3 9 1

Howard Samuel "Howdy" Wilcox (June 24, 1889 – September 4, 1923) was an American racing driver active in the formative years of auto racing. He won the 1919 Indianapolis 500.

Formative years and family

Wilcox was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on June 24, 1889. He was preceded in death by his wife, who died in 1918. Wilcox's son, Howard Jr., founded the Little 500 bicycle race, which has been held at Indiana University annually since 1951.[1]

Racing career

Wilcox at the wheel of his Stutz before the 1915 American Grand Prize in San Francisco

In 1911, Wilcox set the world beach racing speed record of 89.23 mph. In 1919, he won the 1919 Indianapolis 500, leading the last 98 laps of the race after starting in the 2nd position.

Death

Wilcox died on September 4, 1923, at Altoona Speedway board track in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, in a car crash. He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[2]

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1911 21 19 — 9 14 194 0 Flagged
1912 9 8 87.200 3 9 200 0 Running
1913 12 20 81.460 15 6 200 0 Running
1914 4 3 90.760 10 22 67 1 Valve
1915 1 1 98.900 1 7 200 5 Running
1916 29 6 93.810 6 7 120 0 Running
1919 3 2 100.010 7 1 200 98 Running
1920 18 20 88.820 12 19 65 0 Engine trouble
1921 10 12 96.000 7 23 22 0 Rod
1922 16 26 86.100 24 27 7 0 Valve spring
1923 25 8 81.000 24 17 60 51 Clutch
Totals 1335 155
Starts 11
Poles 1
Front Row 3
Wins 1
Top 5 1
Top 10 5
Retired 5

References

  1. ^ Obituary of Howard Wilcox Jr., Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Centers.
  2. ^ "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-10.

External links

  • Howdy Wilcox at ChampCarStats.com
  • Howdy Wilcox at Find a Grave
Preceded by Indianapolis 500 Winner
1919 		Succeeded by
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