Barney Oldfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barney Oldfield |
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| Nationality | American |
| Born | Berna Eli Oldfield January 29, 1878 near Wauseon, Ohio, US |
| Died | October 4, 1946 (aged 68) Holy Cross Cemetery Culver City, California, US |
| Retired | 1918 |
| AAA Contest Board | |
| Years active | 1905, 1909–1918 |
| Starts | 49 |
| Wins | 8 |
| Poles | 7 |
| Best finish | 1st in 1905 |
Barney Oldfield (born January 29, 1878 – died October 4, 1946) was a super famous American car racer. People often said his name meant "speed" in the early 1900s!
He started as a successful bicycle racer. Then, in 1902, he switched to car racing. He raced until he retired in 1918. Barney was the very first person to drive a car at 60 miles per hour (96 km/h) on a circular track.
Contents
Barney Oldfield's Life Story
His Early Years
Barney Oldfield was born Berna Eli Oldfield on January 29, 1878. He was born in Ohio, near the town of Wauseon. His dad, Henry Clay Oldfield, worked as a laborer.
When Barney was about 11, his family moved to Toledo. His dad got a job there. In the summer of 1891, Barney worked as a waterboy. He saved his money to buy his first bicycle. He also sold newspapers after school.
Barney left school after the eighth grade in 1892. He started working with his dad at a mental asylum. But he liked working as a bellhop at a hotel better. The bell captain supposedly changed his name from "Berna" to "Barney." Barney was known for being friendly and got many tips. He used these tips to buy his first good bike.
From Bicycles to Cars
Barney started serious bicycle racing in 1894. He was asked to race for the Ohio state championship. Even though he came in second, it was a big moment for him. He was hired to sell parts for the Stearns bicycle factory. There, he met Beatrice Lovetta Oatis, who later became his wife in 1896.
By 1896, Stearns paid Barney to race on their team. He was a professional bicycle racer!
Barney soon got a chance to try a gasoline-powered car. He met Henry Ford, who was just starting to build cars. Ford asked Barney to test one of his racing cars in Michigan. Barney had never driven a car before!
Even though the cars didn't start at first, Barney and another racer bought them from Ford for $800. One of these cars was called "No. 999." It's now in the Henry Ford Museum.
Barney agreed to race "No. 999" against the champion, Alexander Winton. People say Barney learned how to drive the car on the morning of the race! He won the five-mile (8 km) race by a lot. He slid through turns like a motorcycle racer instead of braking. This win made both Barney Oldfield and Henry Ford famous across the country.
On June 20, 1903, Barney became the first driver to complete a mile track in exactly one minute. This meant he was going 60 miles per hour (97 km/h)! A couple of months later, he drove a mile in an even faster 55.8 seconds.
A car company called Winton hired Barney as a professional driver. Barney, his manager, and his agent traveled all over the United States. He became known as a great showman. Barney was the first American to become famous just for being a skilled, fast, and daring car driver. He loved to make races exciting!
In 1910, Barney bought a Benz car. He called it the "Blitzen Benz" (which means "Lightning Benz"). He reached an amazing speed of 131.25 mph (211.23 km/h) in this car. On March 16, 1910, at Daytona Beach, he set a world speed record of 131.724 mph. This earned him the nickname "speed king."
Racing Challenges and Comebacks
Barney was suspended from racing by the American Automobile Association (AAA) for a while. This was because he raced in "outlaw" events that weren't approved. So, he made money by setting speed records and doing special races and shows.
In 1914, Barney's agent set up a "Championship of the Universe." Barney raced his Fiat car against an aviator named Lincoln Beachey and his biplanes. They raced in at least 35 matches all over the country. They even raced at county fair horse tracks! This championship was very successful. Both Barney and Lincoln earned a lot of money.
After being allowed to race again by the AAA, Barney competed in the Indianapolis 500 race in 1914 and 1916. He finished fifth in both races. He was the first person to drive a lap at over 100 miles per hour! In 1914, he was the highest-finishing American car driver in the Indy 500.
In November 1914, he won the Los Angeles-to-Phoenix Cactus Derby Race. He was called the "Master Driver of the World." In 1915, he won the Venice, California 300 road race.
In June 1917, Barney used his special car, the Golden Submarine, to beat another racing legend, Ralph DePalma. The Golden Submarine had a roll cage to protect the driver.
Barney retired from racing in 1918. But he still toured and made movies. He tried to race again in 1932 with a new car, but he couldn't find anyone to pay for it.
Barney Oldfield passed away on October 4, 1946, from a heart attack. He was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Beyond the Race Track
Movie Star and Performer
Barney Oldfield even starred as himself in a Broadway musical called The Vanderbilt Cup in 1906.
He also appeared in movies. In the silent film Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life (1913), he raced a train to save a heroine! He was also in The First Auto (1927), which was about early car history. He even helped with the racing scenes in the movie Back Street (1941).
Making Racing Safer
Bob Burman, one of Barney's friends and rivals, died in a race crash. After this, Barney and Harry Arminius Miller, a famous engine builder, worked together. They wanted to design a racecar that was not only fast but also safe for the driver.
They built the "Golden Submarine." This car had a roll cage inside a special driver's area that completely covered the driver. It was a big step for racing safety!
Business Ideas
Barney also helped his friend and fellow racer Carl G. Fisher start the Fisher Automobile Company. This is thought to be the very first car dealership in the United States.
He also helped develop a special tire called the "Oldfield tire" for the Firestone company. Firestone used a famous slogan: "Firestone Tires are my only life insurance," quoting Barney himself!
Awards and Honors
Barney Oldfield received many awards for his amazing career:
- The Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio, holds a race named after him every year.
- In 1946, he was added to the Automotive Hall of Fame.
- In 1953, he was one of the first ten people put into Auto Racing's Hall of Fame in Detroit.
- In 1989, he was part of the first group of people added to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
- In 1990, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
- Also in 1990, Oldfield was named to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
Indy 500 Race Results
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Images for kids
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Barney Oldfield in his Blitzen Benz car.
See also
In Spanish: Barney Oldfield para niños
