Biography:Louis H. Schwitzer
Louis H. Schwitzer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bielitz, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | May 9, 1967 (aged 87) |
Louis H Schwitzer (February 29, 1880 – May 9, 1967) was born in Bielitz, Austria-Hungary, and emigrated to United States before World War I.
As an engineer, Schwitzer was influential in designing hydraulics for use in bus transportation.[citation needed] He also pioneered improvements in automotive cooling fans, water pumps and oil pumps, and the turbocharger.[1] Schwitzer made a fortune in business and became a philanthropist.[2] The Student Center at the University of Indianapolis bears his name, as does a women's dormitory at nearby Butler University.
As an automobile race driver, Schwitzer won the first automobile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), a five-mile race on August 19, 1909.[3] He is known to have started five races at IMS in 1909 and 1910.[3][4] He also drove relief, for Harry Cobe, in the first Indianapolis 500.[5][6] Schwitzer served on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Technical Committee from 1912 through 1945.[1]
In recognition of Schwitzer's contributions to the early developmental history of American motorsports, the Louis H. Schwitzer Award for Design Innovation is presented annually after each running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.
In 1970, Schwitzer was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.[7]
He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kollins, Michael J.; "Louis Schwitzer performance pioneer had a hand in many Indianapolis automotive firms;" Wheels-Journal of the National Automotive History Collection; Winter/Spring 1998; Detroit Public Library. Article reprint posted at "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1999-02-08. https://web.archive.org/web/19990208223625/http://www.cruise-in.com/resource/cismar03.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ↑ Higgins, Will; "Indy racing pioneer's Louis Schwitzer's Art Deco decor to be sold Saturday;" Indianapolis Star; October 4, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Scott, D. Bruce; INDY: Racing Before the 500; Indiana Reflections; 2005; ISBN:0-9766149-0-1.
- ↑ Galpin, Darren; A Record of Motorsport Racing Before World War I.
- ↑ http://www.champcarstats.com/
- ↑ http://www.motorsport.com/stats/champ/byyear
- ↑ "Louis Schwitzer Sr. (Automotive Hall of Fame)". https://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/louis-schwitzer-sr/.
- ↑ "Indianapolis Auto greats". Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery (Crown Hill Cemetery). 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20120913203018/http://crownhillhf.org/docs/IndianapolisAutoGreatsHandout.pdf. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/sites/default/files/Indianapolis_Speedway_William_Borque.pdf http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/05/20/461933.html
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