Wheeler-Schebler Trophy Race
Encyclopedia
The Wheeler-Schebler Trophy Race was an automobile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
in each of the two years prior to the first Indianapolis 500
. The trophy was sponsored by the Wheeler-Schebler Carburetor Company. Frank Wheeler, one of the four co-founders of the Speedway
, was also the president and co-founder of Wheeler-Schebler. The 1909 race was originally scheduled for 300 miles, but was ended at 235 miles due to deteriorating track conditions.
became the owner of the trophy in 1930 as the original rules in 1909 stipulated that the trophy became the permanent possession of the man to win it three times.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
in each of the two years prior to the first Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
. The trophy was sponsored by the Wheeler-Schebler Carburetor Company. Frank Wheeler, one of the four co-founders of the Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
, was also the president and co-founder of Wheeler-Schebler. The 1909 race was originally scheduled for 300 miles, but was ended at 235 miles due to deteriorating track conditions.
Race results
| Year | Date | Winning Driver | Car | Race Distance | Time of Race | Winning Speed | Starting Cars |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | |||||||
| 1909 1909 AAA Championship Car season The 1909 AAA Championship Car season consisted of 24 races, beginning in Portland, Oregon on June 12 and concluding with a point-to-point race from Los Angeles, California to Phoenix, Arizona on November 6. There were three events sanctioned by the Automobile Club of America in Lowell, Massachusetts... |
Aug 21 |  Leigh LynchLeigh Lynch Leigh Lynch was an American racecar driver, who was active in the years 1906-1910.-Racing Career:Lynch won the 1909 Wheeler-Schebler Trophy Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This race which was shorted to 235 miles from its originally-planned 300, due to deteriorating track conditions... |
Jackson | 235 | 94 | 04:13:31.40 | 57.907 mph | 19 |
| 1910 1910 AAA Championship Car season The 1910 AAA Championship Car season consisted of 19 races, beginning in Atlanta, Georgia on May 5 and concluding in Long Island, New York on October 1. The de facto National Champion as poled by the American automobile journal Motor Age was Ray Harroun. Points were not awarded by the AAA Contest... |
May 28 | Ray Harroun Ray Harroun Ray Harroun was an American racecar driver, born in Spartansburg, Pennsylvania.-Early driving:As noted in the Columbia Car webpages, Harroun participated in the original setting of the record from Chicago to New York in 1903, and the re-taking of that record in 1904... |
Marmon Marmon Marmon Motor Car Company was an automobile manufacturer founded by Howard Marmon and owned by Nordyke Marmon & Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. It was established in 1902 and was merged and renamed in 1933. They produced cars under the Marmon brand. It was succeeded by Marmon-Herrington and... |
200 | 80 | 02:46:31.00 | 72.065 mph | 19 |
Wheeler-Schebler Trophy in later years
In 1911, when the Indianapolis Motor Speedway abandoned a season of racing in favor of one race, the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, this race was discontinued. However, in 1914 the trophy reappeared, with its possession for the year going to the owner of the car leading at 400 miles, or 160 laps, in the subsequent Indianapolis 500-Mile Races. Car owner Harry HartzHarry Hartz
Harry Hartz was an American auto mechanic and race car driver.-Career:Harry Hartz was born in Pomona, California, and grew up in the Los Angeles area. At age eighteen, he began to drive in support events for the car races of the time...
became the owner of the trophy in 1930 as the original rules in 1909 stipulated that the trophy became the permanent possession of the man to win it three times.
Sources
- Scott, D. Bruce; INDY: Racing Before the 500; Indiana Reflections; 2005; ISBN 0-9766149-0-1.
- Galpin, Darren; A Record of Motorsport Racing Before World War I.
- http://www.motorsport.com/stats/champ/byyear.asp?Y=1909
- http://www.motorsport.com/stats/champ/byyear.asp?Y=1910
- http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1909.htm
- http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1910.htm