Harry Hartz
Encyclopedia
Harry Hartz was an American
auto mechanic
and race car
driver.
, 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. He was a mechanic, but sought to be a race car driver and signed on with the Duesenberg
brothers after World War I
. Hartz made his debut at the 1921 Indianapolis 500
race as Eddie Hearne
's riding mechanic.
The following year, Hartz was behind the wheel of the Duesenberg and finished in second place. In 1923, he finished in second place again in a Cliff Durant Special, and placed in fourth position next year. In 1925, he brought his own 121 cu in (2 l) Miller and finished fourth, and returned the next year with his 90 cu in (1.5 l) Miller Special to capture second place. His car had a mechanical failure in 1927. He is the only driver to come in second in the Indianapolis 500 three times, but never to win the race in his six attempts.
Hartz was successful in board track racing
. He finished in the top five positions 46 times out of the 69 major events he started, and won seven championship events.
Hartz was badly burned and injured in a crash in 1927 at the Rockingham Speedway in Salem, New Hampshire
, requiring him to spend the next two years in hospitals. The stock market crash
of 1929 also inflicted heavy financial loses for him. He retired from racing to become a team owner and chief mechanic. Hartz bought a used 1927 Miller 91 front-drive race car, and built the car for the junk-formula by widening the chassis and installing a bored-out Miller 122 (151 cu in). Together with Billy Arnold
as driver, the combination was successful, and they won the 1930 Indy 500 race and also took the national championship for the year.
Hartz appeared in the racing sequences for the 1932 movie The Crowd Roars
.
Hartz worked for Studebaker
for many years. Chrysler
began using auto racing as a promotional tool to sell its cars. In 1933, DeSoto
recruited Hartz for a publicity stunt by driving a car backwards across the country. During mid-August 1934, he set 72 new AAA
stock car records at the Bonneville Salt Flats course in Utah in a Chrysler Imperial
Airflow
coupe. At the end of the month, Hartz drove the same car from Los Angeles to New York City and set an economy record of 18.1 miles per US gallon, and without having to add water at any time during all of these performance runs. Another source credits him with driving the newly introduced DeSoto Airflow 3114 miles (5,011 km) from New York to San Francisco, and averaging 21.4 miles per US gallon, with total fuel bill of US$
33.06 for the run.
After having much success, he retired in 1940. Later, Hartz had a serious automobile accident from which he never fully recovered. He died in Indianapolis, Indiana
at age 78.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
auto mechanic
Auto mechanic
An auto mechanic is a mechanic with a variety of car makes or either in a specific area or in a specific make of car. In repairing cars, their main role is to diagnose the problem accurately and quickly...
and race car
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver.
Career
Harry Hartz was born in Pomona, CaliforniaPomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
, and grew up in the Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
area. At age eighteen, he began to drive in support events for the car races of the time. He was a mechanic, but sought to be a race car driver and signed on with the Duesenberg
Duesenberg
Duesenberg was an Auburn, Indiana based American luxury automobile company active in various forms from 1913 to 1937, most famous for its high-quality passenger cars and record-breaking racing cars.-History:...
brothers after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Hartz made his debut at the 1921 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...
race as Eddie Hearne
Eddie Hearne
Eddie Hearne Eddie Hearne Eddie Hearne (March 1, 1887 - February 9, 1955 was an American racecar driver from Kansas City, Kansas who was active in the formative years of auto racing. He participated in the inaugural Indianapolis 500. He later was a long-time Duesenberg factory-backed driver...
's riding mechanic.
The following year, Hartz was behind the wheel of the Duesenberg and finished in second place. In 1923, he finished in second place again in a Cliff Durant Special, and placed in fourth position next year. In 1925, he brought his own 121 cu in (2 l) Miller and finished fourth, and returned the next year with his 90 cu in (1.5 l) Miller Special to capture second place. His car had a mechanical failure in 1927. He is the only driver to come in second in the Indianapolis 500 three times, but never to win the race in his six attempts.
Hartz was successful in board track racing
Board track racing
Board track, or motordrome, racing was a type of motorsport popular in the United States between the second and third decades of the 20th century. Competition was conducted on oval race courses with surfaces composed of wooden planks...
. He finished in the top five positions 46 times out of the 69 major events he started, and won seven championship events.
Hartz was badly burned and injured in a crash in 1927 at the Rockingham Speedway in Salem, New Hampshire
Salem, New Hampshire
Salem is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 28,776 at the 2010 census. Salem is a marketing and distributing center north of Boston, with a major amusement attraction, Canobie Lake Park, and a large shopping mall, the Mall at Rockingham Park.- History :The...
, requiring him to spend the next two years in hospitals. The stock market crash
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
of 1929 also inflicted heavy financial loses for him. He retired from racing to become a team owner and chief mechanic. Hartz bought a used 1927 Miller 91 front-drive race car, and built the car for the junk-formula by widening the chassis and installing a bored-out Miller 122 (151 cu in). Together with Billy Arnold
Billy Arnold
For the professional baseball player & manager, see Billy Arnold Richard William Arnold won the 1930 Indianapolis 500 after leading all but first two laps of the race, the most ever by a winner of the race. He won by a margin of 7 minutes and 17 seconds. He was 24 years old at the time...
as driver, the combination was successful, and they won the 1930 Indy 500 race and also took the national championship for the year.
Hartz appeared in the racing sequences for the 1932 movie The Crowd Roars
The Crowd Roars
The Crowd Roars is a 1932 film directed by Howard Hawks starring James Cagney and featuring Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak, Eric Linden, Guy Kibbee, and Frank McHugh....
.
Hartz worked for Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
for many years. Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
began using auto racing as a promotional tool to sell its cars. In 1933, DeSoto
DeSoto (automobile)
The DeSoto was a brand of automobile based in the United States, manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. The DeSoto logo featured a stylized image of Hernando de Soto...
recruited Hartz for a publicity stunt by driving a car backwards across the country. During mid-August 1934, he set 72 new AAA
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
stock car records at the Bonneville Salt Flats course in Utah in a Chrysler Imperial
Chrysler Imperial
The Chrysler Imperial, introduced in 1926, was the company's top of the range vehicle for much of its history. Models were produced with the Chrysler name until 1954, and again from 1990 to 1993. The company tried to position the cars as a prestige marque that would rival Cadillac and Lincoln...
Airflow
Chrysler Airflow
The Chrysler Airflow is an automobile produced by the Chrysler Corporation from 1934-1937. The Airflow was the first full-size American production car to use streamlining as a basis for building a sleeker automobile, one less susceptible to air resistance...
coupe. At the end of the month, Hartz drove the same car from Los Angeles to New York City and set an economy record of 18.1 miles per US gallon, and without having to add water at any time during all of these performance runs. Another source credits him with driving the newly introduced DeSoto Airflow 3114 miles (5,011 km) from New York to San Francisco, and averaging 21.4 miles per US gallon, with total fuel bill of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
33.06 for the run.
After having much success, he retired in 1940. Later, Hartz had a serious automobile accident from which he never fully recovered. He died in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
at age 78.
Award
- 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 1998.
Indy 500 results
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