Frank Kurtis
Encyclopedia
Frank Kurtis was an American racing car designer. He designed and built midget cars
, quarter-midgets, sports cars, sprint cars
, Indy cars
, and Formula One
cars. He was the founder of Kurtis-Kraft.
Kurtis was born in Crested Butte, Colorado
. He began working with fabrication when he was hired by Willet Brown and Tommy Lee to rework Don Lee Racing Team's midget car bodies.
Kurtis started Kurtis-Kraft when he built his own midget car
chassis in the late 1930s.
He built some very low glass-fibre bodied two-seaters sports cars under his own name in Glendale
, California
between 1949 and 1955. Ford
(US) running gear was used. About 36 cars had been made when the licence was sold to Madman Muntz
who built the Muntz Jet. In 1954 and 1955, road versions of his Indianapolis racers were offered.
Kurtis-Kraft created over 550 ready-to-run midget cars
, and 600 kits. The Kurtis-Kraft chassis midget car featured a smaller version of the Offenhauser
motor. The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
describes the combination as "virtually unbeatable for over twenty years." Kurtis-Kraft created 120 Indianapolis 500 cars, including five winners.
Kurtis sold his midget car business to Johnny Pawl in the late 1950s, and his quarter midget business to Ralph Potter in 1962. Kurtis died in February 1987.
He was Bill Kurtis
' cousin.
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
, quarter-midgets, sports cars, sprint cars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
, Indy cars
American Championship Car Racing
Since 1916 there has been a recognized United States national automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level, single-seat open wheel race cars. The championship has been under the auspices of several different sanctioning bodies since 1909. Since 1911, the Indianapolis...
, and Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
cars. He was the founder of Kurtis-Kraft.
Kurtis was born in Crested Butte, Colorado
Crested Butte, Colorado
Crested Butte is a Home Rule Municipality in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. A former coal mining town now called "the last great Colorado ski town," Crested Butte is a destination for skiing, mountain biking, and a variety of other outdoor activities...
. He began working with fabrication when he was hired by Willet Brown and Tommy Lee to rework Don Lee Racing Team's midget car bodies.
Kurtis started Kurtis-Kraft when he built his own midget car
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
chassis in the late 1930s.
He built some very low glass-fibre bodied two-seaters sports cars under his own name in Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
between 1949 and 1955. Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
(US) running gear was used. About 36 cars had been made when the licence was sold to Madman Muntz
Madman Muntz
Earl William "Madman" Muntz was an American businessman and engineer who sold and promoted cars and consumer electronics in the United States from the 1930s until his death in 1987. He was a pioneer in television commercials with his oddball "Madman" persona – an alter ego who generated publicity...
who built the Muntz Jet. In 1954 and 1955, road versions of his Indianapolis racers were offered.
Kurtis-Kraft created over 550 ready-to-run midget cars
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
, and 600 kits. The Kurtis-Kraft chassis midget car featured a smaller version of the Offenhauser
Offenhauser
Offenhauser was an American racing engine manufacturer that operated from 1933 to 1983.The Offenhauser engine, familiarly known as the "Offy", was developed by Fred Offenhauser and his employer Harry Arminius Miller, after maintaining and repairing a 1913 Peugeot Grand Prix car of the type which...
motor. The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame and museum for midget cars. The Hall of Fame is located at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and can be accessed during weekly Sunday races during the summer.-A-C:...
describes the combination as "virtually unbeatable for over twenty years." Kurtis-Kraft created 120 Indianapolis 500 cars, including five winners.
Kurtis sold his midget car business to Johnny Pawl in the late 1950s, and his quarter midget business to Ralph Potter in 1962. Kurtis died in February 1987.
Origins
His father Francika Andrew Kuretic was born in Razdrto, Slovenia in 1884. Francika's father, a jeweler, was from Severica, Central Croatia. Francika became a blacksmith in Brod Moravic. He followed his brother Mijo to America in 1902, where he married Appolonia Mary Kuretich April 22, 1907 in Utah.He was Bill Kurtis
Bill Kurtis
Bill Kurtis is an American television journalist, producer, narrator, and news anchor. He is also the current host of A&E crime and news documentary shows, including Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files...
' cousin.
Awards
- He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of FameNational Sprint Car Hall of Fame & MuseumThe National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum is a Hall of Fame and museum for sprint car drivers, owners, mechanics, builders, manufacturers, promoters, sanctioning officials and media members....
in 1994. - He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaMotorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaThe Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum for American motorsports legends. It was originally located in Novi, Michigan and it moved to the Detroit Science Center in 2009.-Museum:...
in 1999. - He was the first non-driver to be inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of FameNational Midget Auto Racing Hall of FameThe National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame and museum for midget cars. The Hall of Fame is located at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and can be accessed during weekly Sunday races during the summer.-A-C:...
at his 1986 induction.