Eddie Rickenbacker
America's Ace of Aces and Vanderbilt Cup Participant (1906 American Elimination Trial, 1915 & 1916)
Nationality: American
Born: October 8,1890 Columbus, Ohio
Died: July 23, 1973 Zurich, Switzerland
Prior to becoming America’s World War I “Ace of Aces”, an aviation industry pioneer, owner of the Indianapolis Speedway and before changing his last name to Rickenbaker, Eddie was one of the leading race drivers in the country.
Related Posts
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Nov 18
2019
Mystery Racers: The 1914 Indy 500 Race
In the second of the Mystery Saturday Auto series, Steve Ludwiski forwarded these amazing photos discovered in a scrapbook from Dr. Frederick Stengel.
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Oct 05
2019
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Engines of the 1906 American Elimination Trial Racers
In another VanderbiltCupRaces.com exclusive, below are never-before-published photos of the engines for several racers that were entered in the 1906 American Elimination Trial. The photos were formerly from the Don C. Boulton Collection.
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Jan 11
2016
Mystery Foto #2 Solved: Edwin Ross (E.R.) Thomas and Charles Andrew (C.A.) Coey at Krug’s Hotel
Our second Mystery Foto of 2016 was a real tough one!
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Oct 22
2014
Starting Lineup: The 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race in San Francisco, California Updated: 10/10/2016
The 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race was held in conjunction with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California.
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Jun 09
2014
Mystery Foto #71 Solved: A Bust of Louis Chevrolet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
This weekend's Mystery Foto was a real bust!
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Mar 25
2014
Images of Automobile Designer/Driver Lee Frayer For His Family
From Bud Frayer Abraham: "I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for your enthusiastic and knowledgeable participation in the AmeriCarna episode about the Vanderbilt Cup and the Black Beast race car. A very distant relative of mine, Lee Frayer, raced in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup and…
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Oct 21
2013
Mystery Foto #38 Solved: 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race Officials, Committee & Drivers in San Francisco
This week's Mystery Foto was a real challenge. Where in the world was the Vanderbilt Cup Trophy?
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Dec 26
2012
Profile of Driver Lee Frayer by his Great-Great Grandson
Lee Frayer was an automobile innovator, designer of one of the first air-cooled engines, and a driver in the 1906 American Elimination Trial and the 1911 Indy 500 Race. Scott Noteboom has provided this profile of Lee Frayer, his great-great-grandfather.
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Jul 14
2012
Race Profile: 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race in San Francisco, California
In 1915 both the Vanderbilt Cup Race and the American Grand Prize were held in conjunction with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California.
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Jul 06
2012
Race Profile: The 1906 American Elimination Trial
As in 1905, an American Elimination Trial determined the five racers to represent the United States in the Vanderbilt Cup Race. Of 16 entries, 12 cars survived the practice runs to race on Saturday, September 22, 1906.
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Jan 05
2012
Another Vanderbilt Cup Race Mystery: Was Eddie Rickenbacker the Mechanician in this 1906 Photo?
John Bayer wrote: "Not sure the guy in mechanician's seat in Frayer-Miller is Rickenbacker, even at 16. Rick's nose was much broader, and several of the Auburn pics you have posted show that...mystery".
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Aug 27
2011
A Tribute to the Mechanicians of the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Every race car that participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Races of 1904 to 1910 carried two men, the driver and a riding mechanic called a mechanician. The mechanician assisted with repairs, helped navigate the course, and, when needed, worked a hand pump to maintain fuel pressure. The mechanician was the…
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Nov 29
2010
Article “Rickenbacker-King Of the Dirt Track” by Damon Runyon and Walter Kiernan
In 1942, World War I "Ace of Aces" and veteran race car driver Eddie Rickenbacker was appointed by Secretary of War Henry Stimson to inspect air bases. During a late 1942 tour of bases in the Pacific, the B-17 Rickenbacker was flying in ran out of fuel. The crew…
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Nov 20
2009
Starting Lineup: The 1906 American Elimination Trial
As in 1905, an American Elimination Trial determined the five racers to represent the United States in the Vanderbilt Cup Race. Of 16 entries, 12 cars survived the practice runs to race on Saturday, September 22, 1906. Here are images and profiles of all 16 cars. (Remember to click…
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Nov 19
2009
The 1906 Air-Cooled Frayer-Millers
An innovative machine showcased in the 1906 American Elimination Trial was the unique, air-cooled Frayer-Miller entry with designer Lee Frayer at the wheel. The only car to place the driver on the left side, this entry (one of three Frayer-Millers entered in the American Elimination Trial) broke a radius rod…
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Jan 19
2009
Excellent Article on Eddie Rickenbacker
The website absolute astronomy.com has a new article on Eddie Rickenbacker.
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Aug 02
2008
Eddie Rickenbacker: America’s Ace of Aces and Vanderbilt Cup Participant
Prior to becoming America’s World War I “Ace of Aces”, an aviation industry pioneer, owner of the Indianapolis Speedway and before changing his last name to Rickenbaker, Eddie was one of the leading race drivers in the country. He participated in one American Elimination Trial for the Vanderbilt Cup Race…
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Mar 15
2008
1916 Vanderbilt Cup Race Video
Bob, the plates were purchased by members of the Wheatley Hills Golf Club and Links Golf Club. Both clubs had private…