- Joe Jagersberger
Joe Jagersberger (
14 February 1884 Wiener Neustadt, Austria –5 October 1952 Racine, Wisconsin ) was anAustrian-American racecar driver .Background
Jagersberger immigrated to the United States in 1902, and settled in
Racine, Wisconsin . He married Amanda Olle in 1919. He started working atCase Corporation in Racine to develop a car racing program.Racing and car designer
1911 Indianapolis 500
He started eighth in the first
Indianapolis 500 in 1911 in a Case chassis. The steering knuckle on his car broke and he had to bow out of the race after 87 laps, and finished 31st. [ [http://www.indy500.com/stats/drivers.php?drivername=Joe%20Jagersberger Joe Jagerberger at indy500.com] , RetrievedFebruary 8 2007 ] The spinning car veered back and forth across the track, down the pit lane, and back on the track. It hit the judges stand, and the judges fleed their posts. Jagerberger's riding mechanic flew out of the car and on the track. The next driver on the scene had to avoid the riding mechanic. Several cars were taken out in the melee, includingHarry Knight ,Herber Lytle , andEddie Hearne . Knight's riding mechanic was the only person who suffered an injury, but his back fully recovered. The leaders of the race safely navigated through the wrecked cars. The judges milled around the accident scene and did not score. Around this timeRay Harroun did a driver exchange. The incident caused a controversy about if Harroun actually won the race. [ [http://www.na-motorsports.com/Journal/1997/1/RussellJ.html Who Really Won The First Indy 500?] ; Russell Jaslow; North American Motorsports Journal; RetrievedFebruary 8 2007 ]Career ending accident
He continued to race and in November 1911, in
Columbia, South Carolina , he hit the wall rather than hit a car full of tourists traveling from the infield across the track. He was in the hospital for several months, and his left leg was amputated, which ended his racing career.Motor company
He continued to design
cylinder head s and peripheral equipment and he started his own company,Rajo Motor and Manufacturing , several years later.Career awards
*In June 2006, he was inducted into the Model T Ford Club Speedster and Racer Hall of Fame, in
San Jose, California .
*In April 2007, he will be inducted into the Chevy Sprints Association.
*Jagersberger was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in June 2007 as an engine builder and manufacturer.Indy 500 results
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
