81 YEARS AGO
On April 7, 1922, Sigurd Olson “Sig” Haugdahl is the first person to reach a speed of 3 miles per minute, driving a custom-built Wisconsin Special racer to a land-speed record of 180 mph (290 km/h) at Daytona Beach, FL. Although 24 mph (39 km/h) faster than the previous top speed, it is not recognized as a world record because Haugdahl is not a member of the American Automobile Assn., the official U.S. sanctioning body for such events.
Instead, he belongs to the rival International Motor Contest Assn. (IMCA), where he had become a leading contender since joining the organization in 1915. The Norwegian immigrant, who settled in Albert Lea, MN, began his U.S. racing career in 1912 by piloting a specially equipped Indian motorcycle in ice races, reaching a top speed of 70 mph (113 km/h). A year later he switched to racing cars. The Wisconsin Special takes its name from the aluminum Wisconsin aircraft engine that powers it.
The 14L engine is coupled directly to the rear axle without a transmission or clutch. The 192-in. (488-cm) long car, designed by Haugdahl with an aerodynamic body, is (depending on historical sources) just 20 ins. (51 cm) to 30 ins. (76 cm) wide. Mechanical components that cannot be enclosed within the body are wrapped with tape to cut wind resistance, and it is believed to be the first race car with balanced wheels and tires. Later, Haugdahl claims the IMCA national championship for six consecutive years beginning in 1927.
64 YEARS AGO
Cincinnati, OH, entrepreneur Powell Crosley Jr., on April 28, 1939, enters the car business for the fifth time with the unveiling of his Crosley minicar at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After failing at three car-making ventures between 1907 and 1914, he amasses a fortune making automobile accessories, radios and refrigerators before again trying his hand in car production. Two 80-in. (203-cm) wheelbase '39 models are offered: a $325 convertible coupe and $350 convertible sedan.
Both are powered by a Waukesha air-cooled 2-cyl. engine. Output at plants in Cincinnati and Richmond, IN, totals just over 2,000 units in 1939. Initially, the cars are marketed through department stores, appliance dealers and hardware stores. The line is expanded to include a delivery model and a station wagon in 1940 with a “covered wagon” convertible station wagon and sedan-delivery added in 1941. Total pre-WWII output is 5,700 units. During the war, Crosley sells a variety of vehicles to the U.S. armed forces, including a 2-passenger mini-utility vehicle.
The updated 1946 car has a new stamped-steel, 0.7L SOHC 4-cyl. developing 26.5 hp. Crosley's peak year is 1948, with output of 27,700 cars, but the price of the least costly model rises to $850 against $1,017 for the cheapest Chevrolet. A more modern body style, a 2-passenger sports car, a cast-iron engine and 4-wheel disc brakes are introduced in 1949, but only 8,900 cars are built, 750 of them the Hot Shot sports car. A unique vehicle called Farm-O-Road appears in 1950, but after losing between $3 million and $4 million from 1949 to 1952, Crosley calls it quits in July 1952.
OTHER DATES IN HISTORY
April 12, 1888 — Cecil Kimber, founder of the MG (Morris Garages) marque, is born in Dulwich, England.
April 18, 1906 — A fire caused by the San Francisco earthquake wipes out the Sunset Automobile Co., although the company is not legally dissolved for three years.
April 20, 1931 — Matilda Dodge Wilson becomes the first woman on the board of directors of a major auto maker when she is elected to the board of Graham-Paige Motor Co.
April 29, 1959 — Ford Motor Co.'s 50 millionth car, a '59 Galaxie 4-door sedan, rolls off the line at the company's Dearborn assembly plant.
