Sam Collier | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 14, 1912[1] |
| Died | September 23, 1950 (aged 38) |
Samuel Carnes Collier (May 14, 1912 – September 23, 1950) was an American entrepreneur and auto racer.
Family edit
Collier was the son of Barron Gift Collier and Juliet Gordon Carnes. He had two brothers, Cowles "Miles" Collier and Baron Collier Junior. Collier's father Barron was a businessman who had made his fortune in streetcar advertising, and later made substantial purchases of real estate.
Raced around property. ref???
As a teenager Collier completed three seasons as a designer, proprietor, and manager of the Overlook Theatre, in Pocantico Hills, New York.[2]
He attended Yale, where he was a member of Skull and Bones. He graduated in 1935.[1] He served in World War II as a Navy pilot.[3]
Was a member of the Whiffenpoofs. https://www.whiffalumni.com/whiffs/person.php?personID=201
He was one of the founders of the Automobile Racing Club of America.[4] https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/mgs-fords-bugattis-austins-willys-maserati-early-photos-american-car-racing
He competed in the 1939 Alpine Trial.[4] (Note: No Alpine Trial was held in 1939.)
Collier was the founder of Motor Sport, Inc., which became the sole American importers of M.G. cars.[4]
Collier married Dixie Thompson from Honolulu in 1936.[5] The couple had three children: Samuel Carnes Collier Jr., Terry Collier and Richard Collier.[1]
Racing career edit
Cunningham began racing internationally in 1930 with brothers Cowles "Miles" Collier and Sam Collier. These college friends of Cunningham's established the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) in 1933, which became the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in 1944. Cunningham took part in the first ever SCCA race.[6]
In 1949 Collier finished third overall, and first in Class E, in the Seneca Cup Race, at Watkins Glen, New York, driving a supercharged MG.[7]
Collier drove in the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans: "Of the two Cadillacs entered by Briggs Cunningham, the strictly stock saloon, driven by the brothers Miles and Sam Collier, which had been nicknamed 'Clumsy Pup', had come in tenth at an average of 81.398 m.p.h."[8]
The first was a stock-appearing Cadillac Series 61 that the French dubbed "Petit Pataud"; possibly a reference to a puppy in a French children's book from the 1930s.[9][10] Changes to the car were minimal, and included a dual-carburetor intake manifold, brake cooling ducts, a second fuel tank, and extra lights.[11]
The Collier brothers partnered to drive "Petit Pataud", and finished in tenth place.[12]
Death edit
Samuel was killed while leading the (September 23) 1950 Watkins Glen Grand Prix, held on public roads in and around the village of Watkins Glen, New York, when the Ferrari 166 SC that he was driving left the road.[13] He died at 6:30 pm in Montour Falls. The accident received front-page coverage in the New York press.[14]
Legacy edit
A memorial stone was placed at the spot where Collier left the road to honor both Sam and his brother Miles.https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-2002/77/watkins-glen https://mgvr.org/pr_archive/2004/2004_08_19.html
He was honored in 1995 in front of the Court House at that year's Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival.
First race held ad Sebring track. ref???
In 1954 the Collier Cup Race was established to commemorate Collier.[15] https://svra.com/race-results/u-s-vintage-grand-prix-september-8-11-2011/
Walk of fame. http://grandprixfestival.com/walkfame.html
Carnestown, Florida was named for both Collier and his mother, Juliet Gordon Carnes Collier. https://evergladesrogg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Fall-2017-Newsletter.pdf
References edit
- ^ a b c "Bulletin of Yale University: Obituary Record of Graduates of the Undergraduate Schools Deceased During the Year Ending July 1, 1951" (PDF). New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University. 1 January 1952: 95. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "At 16, S.C. Collier runs own theatre", Special to The New York Times, September 16, 1928, Page 36.
- ^ Quarter-century record. Yale Class of 1935, Yale publication.
- ^ a b c "Obituary". Motor Sport. November 1950. p. 578.
- ^ New York Times: Troth announced of Dixie Thompson, May 7, 1936
- ^ "Briggs Cunningham". Sports Car Club of America.
- ^ Motor Sport, November 1949, Pages 451-452.
- ^ Fraichard, Georges (1956). The Le Mans Story. The Sportsman's Book Club.
- ^ "1950 Cadillac — Serial No. 506111399". Revs Institute.
- ^ Shea, Terry (November 2018). "Briggs Swift Cunningham II". Hemmings Classic Car. pp. 82–85.
- ^ Lamm, John (8 December 2017). "The Monster of Le Mans". Revs Institute.
- ^ "The lessons of Le Mans". Motor Sport. August 1950. p. 389.
- ^ New York Times, September 24, 1950, Page S2.
- ^ Gene M. Burnett, Florida's Past, Volume 3, Pineapple Press, Sarasota, Florida, 1991
- ^ Vandyk, Edward (October 2020). "Sherman Decker" (PDF). MG Vintage Racer's Newsletter. Vol. 38, no. 6. pp. 27–34.
Further reading edit
- The Evening Independent Sep. 17, 1984
- "Paid Notice: Deaths: Caulkins, Dixie Thompson". The New York Times. New York, New York. 9 November 2000. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- "Collier Cup Trophy issue" (PDF). MG Vintage Racer's Newsletter. Vol. 39, no. 5. June 2021.
- Rueter, John C. (1 January 1963). American Road Racing. New York, NY: A. S. Barnes and Co.
External links edit
Category:1912 births
Category:1950 deaths
Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
Category:American marketing people
Category:American motorsport people
Category:American racing drivers
Category:Racing drivers who died while racing
Category:Sports deaths in New York (state)
Category:MG Motor
Category:Yale College alumni