Joe Jagersberger
Encyclopedia
Joe Jagersberger was an Austrian-American
racecar driver.
. He married Amanda Olle in 1919. He started working at Case Corporation
in Racine to develop a car racing program.
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. 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 fled 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.
, 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.
s and peripheral equipment and he started his own company, Rajo Motor and Manufacturing
, several years later.
Austrian-American
Austrian Americans are Americans of Austrian descent. According to the 2000 US census, there are 735,128, or 0.3% Americans of full or partial Austrian descent. The states with the largest Austrian American populations are New York , California , Pennsylvania , Florida and New Jersey...
racecar driver.
Background
Jagersberger immigrated to the United States in 1902, and settled in Racine, WisconsinRacine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
. He married Amanda Olle in 1919. He started working at Case Corporation
Case Corporation
Case Corporation was a manufacturer of construction and agricultural equipment. In 1999 it merged with New Holland to form CNH Global, a Fiat Group division...
in Racine to develop a car racing program.
1911 Indianapolis 500
He started eighth in the first Indianapolis 500Indianapolis 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...
in 1911
1911 Indianapolis 500
The 1911 Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, or International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 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. 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 fled 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
Harry Knight
Harry Knight was an American racecar driver. He drove in the first two Indianapolis 500 races as well as two "pre-500 era" races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1910, finishing second in a 100 mile race...
, Herber Lytle, and 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...
. 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
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...
did a driver exchange. The incident caused a controversy about if Harroun actually won the race.
Career ending accident
He continued to race and in November 1911, in Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, 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.
Motor company
He continued to design cylinder headCylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
s and peripheral equipment and he started his own company, Rajo Motor and Manufacturing
Rajo Motor and Manufacturing
Rajo Motor and Manufacturing was a manufacturing company based in Racine, Wisconsin in the twentieth century. The company built performance enhancing cylinder heads for Model T cars that were designed by Joe Jagersberger . The company was named by combining the "RA" from Racine and the "JO" from...
, several years later.
Career awards
- In June 2006, he was inducted into the Model T Ford Club Speedster and Racer Hall of Fame, in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. - In April 2007, he will be inducted into the Chevy Sprints Association.
- Jagersberger 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 June 2007 as an engine builder and manufacturer.
Indy 500 results
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||