1912 American Grand Prize

The 1912 American Grand Prize was the seventh and final race of the 1912 Grand Prix season. It was held at the Wauwatosa Road Race Course in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was sanctioned by the Automobile Club of America.[1] Caleb Bragg won by over 15 minutes over Erwin Bergdoll. Bragg's average speed was 68.397 mph (110.074 km/h).[2]

1912 American Grand Prize
Race details
Date October 5, 1912
Official name IV American Grand Prize
Location Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Course Public roads
Course length 12.68 km (7.88 miles)
Distance 52 laps, 659.36 km (409.76 miles)
Podium
First Fiat
Second Benz
Third Stutz

The event was marred by the deaths of two-time and defending winner David Bruce-Brown and his mechanician Tony Scudellari in a practice accident.[3][4] Bruce-Brown's car was repaired by Barney Oldfield and driven to a fourth-place finish.[1] Ralph DePalma and his mechanician Tom Alley were injured when DePalma's Mercedes touched the rear of Bragg's Fiat and overturned, ejecting its occupants.[5]

Classification

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The grid before the race
Pos No Driver Car Laps Time/Retired
1 41   Caleb Bragg Fiat 52 5:59:27.44
2 40   Erwin Bergdoll Benz 52 6:14:58.38
3 43   Gil Andersen Stutz-Wisconsin 52 6:15:22.47
4 44   Barney Oldfield Fiat 52 6:19:54.69
5 39   George Clark Mercedes 50 +2 Laps
6 42   Joe Horan Benz 47 +5 Laps
7 35   Ralph DePalma Mercedes 51 Crashed
8 33   Teddy Tetzlaff Fiat 30 Broken Radius Rod
9 32   Louis Fountaine Lozier 21 Steering knuckle
10 34   Hughie Hughes Mercer 16 Broken fuel line
11 36   Spencer Wishart Mercedes 3 Drive shaft
12 31   Bob Burman Benz 2 Broken piston
DNS 47   Ralph Mulford Knox 0 Ignition

References

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  1. ^ a b Ward, Harry (October 6, 1912). "Young millionaire racing driver is winner of classic". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018.
  2. ^ "American Grand Prize". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  3. ^ "Auto racer is killed during speed trial". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. October 2, 1912.
  4. ^ "Tony Scudellari yields to death". The Chicago Daily Tribune. October 9, 1912.
  5. ^ "Caleb Bragg wins Grand Prize race" (PDF). The New York Times. October 6, 1912. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 1, 2018.


Grand Prix Race
1912 Grand Prix season
Previous race:
1911 American Grand Prize
United States Grand Prix Next race:
1914 American Grand Prize