Caleb Bragg
Caleb Bragg | |||||||
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![]() Bragg at the1912 Indianapolis 500 | |||||||
Born | Caleb Smith Bragg November 23, 1885 Cincinnati, Ohio,U.S. | ||||||
Died | October 24, 1943 Manhattan, New York,U.S. | (aged 57)||||||
Champ Carcareer | |||||||
7 races run over 5 years | |||||||
First race | 1911Indianapolis 500(Indianapolis) | ||||||
Last race | 1915Vanderbilt Cup(Panama–Pacific) | ||||||
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Caleb Smith Bragg(November 23, 1885 – October 24, 1943) was an Americanracing driver,speedboat racer, aviation pioneer, and automotive inventor.[1]He participated in the 1911, 1913 and 1914Indianapolis 500.In speedboat racing, Caleb won three consecutiveAPBA Challenge Cupraces in Detroit from 1923 to 1925.[2]He was a co-inventor of theBragg-Kliesrath brake.[1]
Early life
[edit]Bragg was born on November 23, 1885, inCincinnati, Ohio,to Cais C. Bragg and Eugenia Hofer who were wealthy.[3]
Education
[edit]While atYale University,Bragg became interested in automobile racing.[3]Bragg graduated from Yale in 1908 and took apost-graduateengineering course atMassachusetts Institute of Technologyin 1909.[1]
Racing career
[edit]On October 5, 1912, Bragg driving a 14 literF.I.A.T. S74took 1st place at the1912 American Grand Prizerace, the seventh and final race of the 1912 Grand Prix season. It was held at the Wauwatosa Road Race Course near Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was sanctioned by the Automobile Club of America.[4]Caleb Bragg won by over 15 minutes over Erwin Bergdoll and his 9.5 liter 37/90 hp Benz. Bragg's average speed was 68.397 mph (110.074 km/h).[5]
Later career
[edit]DuringWorld War IBragg became interested in flying airplanes and in 1916 he flew his first solo flight; he later set airplane records for speed andaltitude.[3]
Bragg developed a braking system withVictor William Kliesrathcalled theBragg-Kliesrath brake.They formed a company in 1920 andEthel Mermanwas his personal secretary before she became famous.[3]They sold the company toBendix Corporationin the late 1920s.[6]
In speedboat racing, Bragg won three consecutiveAPBA Challenge Cupraces in Detroit from 1923 to 1925, in 1923 with Packard Chriscraft and the 1924-1925 races withBaby Bootlegger,the 29-foot mahogany wooden speedboat designed for him in 1924 by George Crouch and built by Henry Nevins.
Personal life
[edit]Bragg died on 24 October 1943 inNew York City, New York.[1]
Motorsports career results
[edit]Indianapolis 500 results
[edit]
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Gallery
[edit]-
Bragg in hisMercer
References
[edit]- ^abcd"Caleb Smith Bragg, Dies. Flier, Auto Racer, Pioneer in Automotive Field. Also Noted as an Inventor and Speedboat Pilot".The New York Times.October 25, 1943. Archived fromthe originalon November 8, 2017.Retrieved2011-04-23.
- ^"Caleb Smith Bragg".Early Aviators.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-11-08.Retrieved2011-04-23.
- ^abcdKellow, Brian (2008).Ethel Merman: a life.New York: Penguin Books.ISBN9780143114208.
- ^Ward, Harry (October 6, 1912). "Young millionaire racing driver is winner of classic". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2018-07-31.
- ^"American Grand Prize". ChampCarStats. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
- ^Schoneberger, L.A. "Pat" Hyland; edited by W.A. (1993).Call me Pat: the autobiography of the man Howard Hughes chose to lead Hughes Aircraft.Virginia Beach, VA: Donning Co./Publishers. p. 147.ISBN9780898658736.
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- 1885 births
- 1943 deaths
- American motorboat racers
- APBA Challenge Cup
- Indianapolis 500 drivers
- Indianapolis 500 polesitters
- H1 Unlimited
- Members of the Early Birds of Aviation
- Racing drivers from Ohio
- Sportspeople from Cincinnati
- Yale University alumni
- MIT School of Engineering alumni
- American aviation record holders