Joe Jagersberger

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One Dead and Many Injured

Joe Jagersberger (14 February 1884 or 1885 Wiener Neustadt, Austria – 5 October 1952 Racine, Wisconsin) was an Austrian racecar driver.

1 Background
2 Racing and car designer
- 2.1 1911 Indianapolis 500
3 Career ending accident
4 Motor company
5 Career awards
6 Indy 500 results
7 References

[edit] Background

Jagersberger immigrated to the United States in 1902, and settled in Racine, Wisconsin. He married Amanda Olle in 1919. He started working at Case Corporation in Racine to develop a car racing program.

[edit] Racing and car designer

[edit] 1911 Indianapolis 500

He started eighth in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 in a Case chassis. The steering knuckle on his car broke and he had to bow out of the race after 87 laps, and finished 31st.^[1] The spinning car veered back and forth across the track, down the pit lane, and back on the track. It hit the judges stand, and the judges fleed their posts. Jagerberger's riding mechanic flew out of the car and on the track. The next driver on the scene had to avoid the riding mechanic. Several cars were taken out in the melee, including Harry Knight, Herber Lytle, and Eddie Hearne. Knight's riding mechanic was the only person who suffered an injury, but his back fully recovered. The leaders of the race safely navigated through the wrecked cars. The judges milled around the accident scene and did not score. Around this time Ray Harroun did a driver exchange. The incident caused a controversy about if Harroun actually won the race.^[2]

[edit] Career ending accident

He continued to race and in November 1911, in Columbia, South Carolina, he hit the wall rather than hit a car full of tourists traveling from the infield across the track. He was in the hospital for several months, and his left leg was amputated, which ended his racing career.

[edit] Motor company

He continued to design cylinder heads and peripheral equipment and he started his own company, RAJO Motors, several years later.

[edit] Career awards

In June 2006, he was inducted into the Model T Ford Club Speedster and Racer Hall of Fame, in San Jose, California.
In April 2007, he will be inducted into the Chevy Sprints Association.
Jagersberger will be inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in June 2007 as an engine builder and manufacturer.