Wikipedia

Howdy Wilcox

Not to be confused with Howdy Wilcox II.

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.

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

Formative years and family

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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

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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

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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

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Indianapolis 500 results

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References

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  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.
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Preceded by Indianapolis 500 Winner
1919 		Succeeded by
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