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Ralph Mulford

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American racing driver (1884–1973)
Ralph Mulford
Mulford, circa 1911
BornRalph Kirkman Mulford
(1884-12-28)December 28, 1884
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 23, 1973(1973-10-23) (aged 88)
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Championship titles
Major victories
Vanderbilt Cup (1911)
Champ Car career
87 races run over 15 years
Best finish8th (1920)
First race1910 Elgin National Trophy (Elgin)
Last race1922 Kansas City 300 (Kansas City)
First win1910 Elgin National Trophy (Elgin)
Last win1919 40-mile Race (Tacoma)
Wins Podiums Poles
19 42 0

Ralph Kirkman Mulford (December 28, 1884 – October 23, 1973) was an American racing driver who participated in the 1911 Indianapolis 500. In 1911 he won the Vanderbilt Cup in Savannah, Georgia.

Biography

Mulford was born on December 28, 1884, in Brooklyn, New York. He once served as a Sunday school teacher.

Mulford won the Elgin Trophy on August 26, 1910. He then finished second in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 1911. While contemporary newspaper accounts and substantiated research, including by Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian Donald Davidson, have produced no credible evidence to support a claim to the contrary, there is an urban myth that Mulford, driving a Lozier, was the actual winner over Ray Harroun. However, Mulford himself never supported such a claim.

Mulford at the Tacoma Speedway in 1922

Mulford was retroactively declared the National Driving Champion for 1911 and 1918. He retired from racing on tracks after 1922, but continued to compete for several more years in hill climbs, and – at one time – held the record for both the Mount Washington and Pikes Peak climbs.

Mulford died on October 23, 1973, in Worcester, Massachusetts. At the time of his death, he was the last surviving participant of the inaugural, 1911 Indianapolis 500.

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1911 33 29 — — 2 200 10 Running
1912 19 16 87.880 2 10 200 0 Running
1913 29 22 80.790 17 7 200 0 Running
1914 23 6 88.210 18 11 200 0 Running
1915 22 18 82.720 18 16 124 0 Rod
1916 10 20 91.090 10 3 120 0 Running
1919 2 15 100.500 5 29 37 0 Driveshaft
1920 33 23 — — 9 200 0 Running
1921 8 21 91.700 12 9 177 0 Flagged
1922 5 5 99.200 5 19 161 0 Rod
Totals 1619 10
Starts 10
Poles 0
Front Row 0
Wins 0
Top 5 2
Top 10 6
Retired 3

References

  1. "Ralph Mulford In Lozier Wins Vanderbilt Trophy". Christian Science Monitor. November 28, 1911. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved 2012-09-21. Motor enthusiasts who are now in this city are looking forward to the running of the big grand prize automobile race over the local course here Thanksgiving day with much interest, following the opening of the big road meet Monday when the Vanderbilt, Tiedeman and Savannah...
  2. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 18, 2010. WFNI.
  3. "Elgin National Road Races History". kalracing.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  4. The Talk of Gasoline Alley. July 27, 2008. WFNI.
  5. "The History of the 500 – Episode 10 (Mythbusters)", WIBC 93.1, April 14, 2013
  6. The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 25, 2011. WFNI.
  7. Jaslow, Russell (1997). "Who Really Won The First Indy 500?". The North American Motorsports Journal. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.

External links

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