31 Oct 1902 He died on October 30, 1954 in near Decatur, Indiana, USA. The photos are a great visual record of the era. I read this book in seventh grade and instantly became a Wilbur Shaw fan. Source: The Indianapolis Times May 28, 1955. As a reward for his efforts to revive the Speedway, Shaw was appointed as its president, where he would have complete day-to-day control over the track. SHAW was identified by a credit card and a private pilot's license. He was married and had one son, WARREN WILBUR SHAW, JR. Only a few weeks ago, SHAW asserted he would be willing to drive the powerful Novi Special in an attempt on a new closed course record at Chrysler's proving ground track at Chelsea, Mich. The chapters about Bill were authored by Bob Gates, author of Vukovich. All rights reserved | Privacy policy | About us | Image policy. Shaw's legacy at the Speedway is unique in that he was one of the most successful drivers ever to grace the track, and he, alongside Anton "Tony" Hulman, was a key figure in guiding the Speedway from the brink of extinction to growing international prominence and financial vibrancy in the years following World War II. When a plane crash ended Shaw's life in 1952, AAA official James H. Lamb wrote: In the racing world, Wilbur Shaw was a champion, and in the universal definition of the sports world, he was a true and great competitor. Page 1 of 3 - Racings air crash victims - posted in The Nostalgia Forum: A thread in the RC forum mentions a NASCAR family lost in a crash at the weekend. However, his dedication to restoring America's most notable racetrack helped preserve an important piece of Indiana's motorcycle and racing history. When the United States entered World War II, ending racing at Indianapolis and elsewhere for the duration, Rickenbacker padlocked the gates and let the race course slowly begin to disintegrate. In the 1941 race, Shaw was injured when his car crashed; it was later discovered that a defective wheel had been placed on his car. Language:Materials are entirely in: EnglishAlternate Formats:MicrofilmRelated Holdings:Collection Notes: Find Services and Collections available at the State Library, Find the hours of operation and address of the State Library. Despite what Hulman saw amongst the weeds and deterioration when Shaw took him to Indianapolis, he purchased the Speedway from Rickenbacker in November 1945 for the sum of $750,000. Despite what Hulman saw amongst the weeds and deterioration when Shaw took him to Indianapolis, he purchased the Speedway from Rickenbacker in November 1945 for the sum of $750,000. Indianapolis 500 fans have the opportunity to view one-of-a-kind trophies and other memorabilia from the collection of three-time Indy winner Wilbur Shaw, thanks to a new exhibit opening at the IMS Hall of Fame Museum this weekend. scans, digital photographs) cannot exceed 25% of a COLLECTION or FOLDER within a collection. /* Crittenden Library Topic Box 300x250 */ Shaw then met Terre Haute businessman Tony Hulman who had inherited his family's business, Hulman & Company, a wholesale grocer and producer of coffee and baking powder, Clabber Girl. Shaw was president and general manager until his untimely death. Greenfield, As the automotive test evaluator Shaw's articles were superior to those of his contemporaries in that they gave consistently accurate reports without relying on Popular Science's lead in the marketplace over competitors such as Mechanix Illustrated. Shaw's highly regarded autobiography, "Gentlemen, Start your Engines," was published in 1955, and covers events through 1953. He was previously married to Cathleen "Boots" Stearns and Beatrice Patrick. Shaw was the automotive test evaluator for Popular Science magazine. He remains the last Hoosier to win the Indianapolis 500. This flight, conducted on Kill Devil Hill just outside of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, was the very first flight by a manned, controlled, heavier-than-air aircraft that flew under its own . Once one gives ground to another, the other fellow will be the boss forever after that. Source:The Indianapolis Times May 28, 1955. Yes, he was the first driver to win back-to-back runnings of the Indianapolis 500, and the second to win it three times. It appeared there would be a drivers strike for the 1947 500. A fierce, cocky little guy in his early days, he set out deliberately to polish himself and he did it with the thoroughness he used grooming a race car. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Wilbur ShawS3318, OBE101940 19561 folder, 1 os folder, Manuscripts & Rare Books DivisionIndiana State Library, Return to the Alphabetical List of All Online Finding Aids, Processed by: Brent Abercrombie, August 2012. In 1941, in his last Memorial Day race, he hit the wall and spent the summer in a vast with three smashed vertebrae. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Wilbur Shaw wasn't just an early racing folk hero. Track tours are available when the track is not in use for the same price. Shaw was returning from a race car demonstration in Michigan at the Chrysler test track. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. The name Wilbur Shaw is synonymous with auto racing in Indianapolis. He and Tony were pals, and what better a working relationship than that? 2 Friends of Race Driver Also Killed He was seven years old. The plane was owned by the Muncie Aviation Corp. Gordon Lackey, manager of Sky Harbor Airport at Indianapolis, said the plane with three men left Indianapolis at 9:05 a. m. for Detroit. A system error has occurred. He was the leading money winner at the track, with a total of $91,300 in winnings, until Bill Vukovich won his second straight victory last May 31. "There is a sense of history (with the Speedway) that I have that is very personal. Predictions for F1 2023: Will Hamilton win again? //-->, The Milwaukee Sentinel31 October 1954 IDENTIFY ARTIST Rescuers gather at the site of a plane crash in Pokhara, Nepal on January 15, 2023. Geni requires JavaScript! The Indianapolis "500" of the late Forties and early Fifties was a very special event through the work of Hulman and Shaw, although Hulman was always sure to point out that it was Wilbur putting it all together. This was the car in which noted drivers RALPH HEPBURN and CHET MILLER were killed -- but SHAW wasn't afraid of anything. After racing, he became a sales manager for Firestone (for whom he tested tyres for) and president of the Indianapolis Speedway, for whom he effectively saved the site - and the race - forever by his involvement in pushing to make sure the speedway was bought and maintained, and most notably promoted properly after World War Two. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Oct 31 1902 - Shelbyville, Shelby, Indiana, United States, Oct 30 1954 - Decatur, Indiana, United States, Apr 1 1950 - 5th Ho Hussey Lane, Clay Township, Hamilton, Indiana, United States, ", Decatur, Columbia (Continued Od Page Six column "sj Sel, ") Funeral services were read today for, "of other stories. USA. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Today is the sixty-fourth anniversary of Wilbur Shaw's death in a plane crash near Decatur, Indiana. Email: donate@boyleracingteam.org. He has a Fine Art degree from Indiana University, a Masters in Historic Preservation from Ball State, and currently works with the State of Indiana to advocate for the adaptive reuse of Indiana's historic buildings into affordable housing. During World War II, Shaw was hired by the tire manufacturer Firestone Tire and Rubber Company to test a synthetic rubber automobile tire at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which had been closed due to the war. In 1923 he suffered a skull fracture at Paris, III., and he broke some ribs in two crackups at Ascot, Calif. Both his time as IMS president and life were cut short in a plane crash near Decatur, IN on October 30, 1954, one day before his fifty-second birthday. Shaw was the automotive test evaluator for Popular Science magazine. It presumably was returning to Indianapolis at the time of the crash. This browser does not support getting your location. The native Hoosier is one of the most pivotal individuals in the century-plus history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. found: Wikipedia, April 16, 2014: Wilbur Shaw (Warren Wilbur Shaw; born October 31, 1902, Shelbyville, Indiana; Died October 20, 1954, Decatur, Indiana in plane crash; American racing driver; won the Indianapolis 500 three times (1937, 1939, and 1940); during world war II was hired by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company to test rubber automobile tires at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; president of . Call (317) 492-6784 for more information. Sept. 20, . In May, 1952, he had recovered and could give the command, Gentleman, start Your Engines! to begin the 1952 Indianapolis 500. He was president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1945 until his death in 1954. Shaw actively sought investors to purchase the facility from then-owner Eddie Rickenbacker, who was focusing his energy on developing Eastern Airlines. Copyright Allen Brown 2000-2023. Hepburn sat out the 1947 race but entered the next year. From 1935-1940 Shaw won three times, had two second place finishes and a seventh place. Grab a cooler, lawn chairs and some friends and get there early to grab a good seat! Decatur, Indiana). DECATUR, Ind., Oct. 30(AP)Wilbur Shaw, 52, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as three-time winner of the 500-mile race, and two companions were killed in a plane crash near here late Saturday. A few of the more notable items include: All three of Shaw's Borg-Warner Trophy plaques from his "500" wins in 1937 and 1939-40. State police and Sheriff ROBERT W. Shaw was the automotive test evaluator for Popular Science magazine. World War II ended his career as a driver, but when Anton Hulman Jr of Terre Haute, Ind., bought the big two and one-half mile track in 1945 he have Shaw the job of running it. 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