Eddie Kuzma
Eddie Kuzma | |
|---|---|
 1957 Kuzma-constructed Indy car | |
| Born | Edward Leo Kuzma September 18, 1911 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | October 12, 1996 (aged 85) Tigard, Oregon, U.S. |
| Occupation | Auto racing builder |
Edward Leo Kuzma (September 18, 1911 – October 12, 1996) was an American race car builder.[1][2][3] He constructed Troy Ruttman's winning car for the 1952 Indianapolis 500.
Biography
[edit]Kuzma was born in Portland, Oregon, where he was raised on a farm.[4] He moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he established an automobile repair shop.[5] In the 1930s, Kuzma had seen midget race cars at the Jantzen Beach Amusement Park, and had built and raced his own car.[4] A second car was fitted with a four-cylinder Offenhauser engine, making it faster than other local competitors.[4] He served in the United States Navy during World War II.[5] After he was discharged from the service, sold his car and moved to Los Angeles, California. [4]
In California he continued to build midget race cars.[4] He was hired by J. C. Agajanian to build the Agajanian Special,[4] which won the 1952 Indianapolis 500, driven by Troy Ruttman.[6] A. J. Foyt won the Indianapolis 500 twice driving Kuzma's cars,[4] and Mario Andretti won in one of his cars in 1969.[4][5][7] Kuzma also rebuilt race cars.[8] In 1968, he bought a farm along with his wife Edna.[4]
Kuzma died in October 1996 of kidney failure in Tigard, Oregon, at the age of 85.[5] In 2003, he was posthumously honored in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.[9]
Select Indianapolis 500 results
[edit]Kuzma cars competed in the FIA World Championship (Indianapolis 500 only) from 1951 to 1960. They won the 1952 Indianapolis 500 with Troy Ruttman.[10]
Note: all cars were fitted with Offenhauser engines.
References
[edit]- ^ "Automobile Quarterly: Volume 36, Issue 2", University of Virginia, Automobile Quarterly, p. 111, 1997
- ^ Newman, Claude (May 25, 1957). "Car Builder Works A Miracle". Valley Times. North Hollywood, California. p. 14. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Don Brown Builds, Drives IMCA Cars". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. September 25, 1964. p. 41. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Easterling, Jerry (October 26, 1986). "Builder on track with cars". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. p. 59. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Associated Press (October 17, 1996). "Edward Kuzma, 85, Builder of Race Cars". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- ^ Curnow, Jack (May 26, 1953). "Indianapolis Drivers Hit 136.435 Average". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 63. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Simmons, Bill (November 9, 1969). "Andretti Reaches Crossroad". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 85. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Eddie Kuzma Builds Racers". The Kokomo Tribune. Kokomo, Indiana. May 26, 1964. p. 47. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Eddie Kuzma". Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- ^ "Driver Troy Ruttman 1952 Formula One Results". www.racing-reference.info. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- 1911 births
- 1996 deaths
- American Championship racing cars
- American racecar constructors
- Auto racing people
- Deaths from kidney failure in the United States
- Formula One constructors (Indianapolis only)
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees
- People from Tigard, Oregon
- Sportspeople from Portland, Oregon