Frank Lockhart
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frank Lockhart (born April 8, 1903 at Cleveland, Ohio - April 25, 1928 Daytona Beach, Florida) was an American automobile racing driver, and Indianapolis 500 winner, and considered a legend in the sport by many historians.
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[edit] Racing career
Lockhart was raised in Southern California. He became a famous West Coast dirt track racer. Lockhart had a strong engineering and motor building ability that he used to built custom cars throughout his career.
[edit] 1926
Lockhart began his career by being signed as a relief driver for Peter Kreis's eight cylinder supercharged Miller at the 1926 Indianapolis 500. He convinced Kreis to allow him to take some "warm up" laps, and he turned faster "warm up" laps than Kreis (120.919 miles per hour {mph}). He set a new unofficial track record when he turned his first official qualifying lap (a three lap average was used to set a track record). He cut down a tire and crashed on the second qualifying lap. He also had mechanical problems on his second attempt. He slowed down on his third and final attempt, and qualified 20th overall with a speed of 95.780 mph. He moved from 20th to fifth by the fifth lap, and was second by lap 32. Lockhart took the lead from Dave Lewis shortly after a rain delay on lap 72. Lewis and Lockhart battled for the lead for the next 20 laps, until Lewis dropped out. Lockhart nearly stretched out a two lap lead before the rains ended the race. Lockhart became the fourth rookie to win the Indianapolis 500.
Lockhart bought the car. He later bought a second Miller car, and he set track records almost everywhere he went. He won four more AAA championship events in 1926.
[edit] 1927
Lockhart's car was the first car equipped with an intercooler. The intercooler added 8 mph to his speed at his first race at Culver City in March.
Lockhart qualified on the pole for the 1927 Indianapolis 500 in his Perfect Circle Miller. Lockhart led the opening 81 laps, and a full 107, before he broke a connecting rod. He won five more AAA championship events in 1927.
[edit] Racing career summary
In his racing career he set the all-time qualifying speed record at Atlantic City, a record that was first exceeded at Indianapolis in 1960. He raced at 22 board events in his career, with eight wins and fourteen Top 5 finishes. Lockhart is 25th on the all-time lap leader board at Indianapolis
[edit] Indy 500 results
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[edit] Land speed record
Lockhart took one of his tiny 91 cubic inch Millers out at the Muroc Dry Lakes and set a land speed record of 174 mph.
On April 25, 1928, Lockhart combined two of his 91 cubic inch Miller motors to attempt a new land speed record in the 122-183 cubic inch category at Daytona Beach. Lockhart easily broke the world record with a speed of 198.29 mph in his first pass. On his return pass the Stutz Blackhawk Special cut a tire, went out of control and tumbled violently across the sand, killing Lockhart instantly.
[edit] Awards
- inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1999
- inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in the first class in 1990
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Peter DePaolo |
Indianapolis 500 Winner 1926 |
Succeeded by: George Souders |
