David Bruce-Brown

David Bruce-Brown
Bruce-Brown at the 1912 French Grand Prix
BornDavid Loney Bruce-Brown
(1887-08-13)August 13, 1887
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 1, 1912(1912-10-01) (aged 25)
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, U.S.
Champ Car career
6 races run over 3 years
First race1910 Vanderbilt Cup (Long Island)
Last race1912 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win1911 American Grand Prize (Savannah)
Wins Podiums Poles
1 3 0

David Loney Bruce-Brown (August 13, 1887 – October 1, 1912) was an American racing driver.

Early life

Bruce-Brown was born on August 13, 1887, the son of George Bruce-Brown (b. 1844) and Arabella Loney (b. 1853). He attended the Allen-Stephenson School in New York City, and then the Harstrom School in Norwalk, Connecticut, a prep school for Yale.[1]

Racing career

Having bluffed his way into auto racing at the age of 18, Bruce-Brown turned out to be a natural talent behind the wheel and won the 1908 Daytona Speed Trials. He then went on to win the American Grand Prize in both 1910 and 1911, as well as numerous other races. He also participated in the 1911 and 1912 editions of the Indianapolis 500.[2]

Bruce-Brown clocked in a 0.33 3-5 world's one-mile amateur straightaway record, beating the previous holder, William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s record.[3]

Death

Bruce-Brown was killed during practice, along with his mechanic Tony Scudelari, for the 1912 American Grand Prize and 8th running of the Vanderbilt Cup races, which were held in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, near Milwaukee.[4][3] His car was repaired and driven by Barney Oldfield in the Grand Prize to a 4th-place finish. The coroner's jury which investigated his death determined that the road that they were racing on was too narrow.[5]

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

  • Bruce-Brown racing his Fiat at the 1912 French Grand Prix
    Bruce-Brown racing his Fiat at the 1912 French Grand Prix
  • Bruce-Brown in his Fiat at the 1912 French Grand Prix
    Bruce-Brown in his Fiat at the 1912 French Grand Prix
  • Bruce-Brown the 1912 French Grand Prix
    Bruce-Brown the 1912 French Grand Prix
  • Bruce-Brown and his mechanic Tony Scudelari, shortly before they were killed in 1912.
    Bruce-Brown and his mechanic Tony Scudelari, shortly before they were killed in 1912.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Bruce-Brown.
  1. ^ Winship, Kihm (27 September 2009). "The Loney Family - Skaneateles". kihm6.wordpress.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  2. ^ "David Bruce-Brown | First Super Speedway". www.firstsuperspeedway.com. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  3. ^ a b "BRUCE-BROWN KILLED IN AUTO RACE TRIAL | Young New Yorker Hurled to Death on Vanderbilt Cup Track Near Milwaukee". The New York Times. October 2, 1912. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. ^ David Bruce-Brown Archived 2009-05-07 at the Wayback Machine, ddavid.com
  5. ^ "Auto Race Course Too Narrow". The New York Times. October 9, 1912. Retrieved 13 September 2016.