While Jim Allison and Carl Fisher were both successful businessmen, their lives were changed when Percy “Fred” Avery walked into Fisher’s automobile dealership in 1904 and showed him the contraption that would become the first reliable source of power for automobile headlights. They formed the Concentrated Acetylene Company to produce ...
You Ruined My Sauerkraut!
April 22, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
Published in Uncategorized
Book Review: The British At Indianapolis by Ian Wagstaff
April 16, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
Book Review: The British At Indianapolis by Ian Wagstaff
When you think of the British at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, what or who comes to mind? Perhaps Dan Wheldon, Jim Clark, or Graham Hill? Or the British invasion of racing cars including Lola, Lotus, McLaren or Penske? What about engine ...
Published in Uncategorized
A Controversial Finish to the 1981 Indianapolis 500
April 9, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
Roger Penske commissioned Geoff Ferris to create a new car for the 1981 season, the Penske 9-B. It was a modification of the Penske PC-9 racer which effectively utilized ground effects. Ground effects increase the downforce on the car which helps to hold the car to the track.
All race ...
Published in Uncategorized
Twin Cities Motor Speedway
April 1, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
The success of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway had many other groups wanting to build a speedway. Carl Fisher headed a group to convert the old Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility in Brooklyn, New York. Others were building speedways in Chicago, Detroit and Cincinnati.
Two groups wanted to build a racetrack ...
Published in Uncategorized
The Miami 12 Engine
March 25, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
Carl Fisher, Jim Allison and Arthur Newby enjoyed racing their Purdy Boat Company cruisers on the Great Lakes and while wintering in Miami Beach. To get a competitive advantage, they wanted a very powerful engine. The solution was just down the street from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at Allison Engineering ...
Published in Uncategorized