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Level of description
Item
Title
BOLAND-B2014
Date(s)
- 1919-07 (Creation)
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Louis Chevrolet is pictured behind the wheel of his Monroe Frontenac with his mechanic K.W. Goodson riding beside him. This photograph was taken in the days preceding the July 4th, 1919 Racing Classic. Chevrolet would finish first in the 80 mile and 60 mile races and come in third in the 40 mile race, winning a purse of $6,500. Although he averaged out at 105 mph during the trials, his top speed in the races was 98.5 mph. The veteran racer was born December 25, 1878 and came to North American from Switzerland in 1900. He met William Durant, the founder of General Motors, in 1907, who hired him to design and race cars as part of a Buick team. In 1911, Durant founded the Chevrolet Motor Co., named after the driver, and hired Louis Chevrolet as its chief engineer. Durant wanted a car designed to compete with Ford and Chevrolet designed and engineered the first model that bore his name. Unable to agree on the direction the vehicle would take, the two split and Chevrolet founded the Frontenac Motor Corporation. The company was later bought out by Monroe Motor Co. and Chevrolet was retained as designer. Louis was the most successful of the three racing brothers, Arthur, Gaston and Louis, and won over 27 major racing events. He died in 1941. (TDL 7/2/1919, pg 8-9; 7/5/19, pg. 1; www. cruise-in.com; www.motorsportshalloffame.com) G51.1-127; Speedway-035, TPL-094
Chevrolet, Louis; Goodson, K.W.; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;