Bob Burman

Robert R. Burman (23 April 1884 8 April 1916) was an American racecar driver who participated in the 1911 Indianapolis 500.

Bob Burman
Burman in 1911
NationalityAmerican
BornRobert R. Burman
(1884-04-23)April 23, 1884
Imlay City, Michigan, U.S.
DiedApril 8, 1916(1916-04-08) (aged 31)
Riverside, California, U.S.
Cause of deathInjuries from racing accident

Biography

Burman was born in Imlay City, Michigan on April 23, 1884. He was the winner of the Prest-O-Lite Trophy Race in 1909. He competed at the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911. Racing for racing promoter Ernest Moross, Burman set world records in his 200-horsepower Blitzen Benz racecar on the sands of Daytona Beach and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1911.[1]

Death

Bob Burman was killed in a road race in Corona, California on April 8, 1916 along with his riding mechanic Erick Schrader and a policeman on duty, when he rolled over in his open-cockpit Peugeot car.[2] Three spectators were also killed, and five others were seriously injured.[3] His death caused his friends Barney Oldfield and Harry Arminius Miller to join forces to build a race car that incorporated a roll cage inside a streamlined driver's compartment that completely enclosed the driver. It was called the Golden Submarine.

Awards

He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2011.[4]

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1911 4539191260Flagged
1912 151284.1107121570Crash T2
1913 42184.17071118841Flagged
1914 172290.4101224470Rod
1915 8792.400762000Running
Totals71841
Starts 5
Poles 0
Front Row 0
Wins 0
Top 5 0
Top 10 1
Retired 2

Images

References

  1. "Bob Burman's Crown". First Super Speedway. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  2. "'Bob' Burman Killed in California Race. His Mechanician and a Track Guard Also Die When Machine Overturns". The New York Times. April 9, 1916. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Bob Burman of Detroit, noted automobile racer; his mechanician, Eric Schroeder of Chicago, and a track guard are dead tonight as a result of the overturning of Burman's car in the Corona road race here today. Five spectators were injured, several seriously.
  3. "'Wild Bob' Burman and Chicago Boy Die in Auto Crash. Corona Guard also Killed When Demon Plunges into Crowd; 5 Hurt". Chicago Tribune. April 9, 1916. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. 'Wild Bob' Burman of Detroit, Mechanician Eric Schrader of Chicago, and Track Policeman W. H. Speer, dead, and five spectators injured three of whom may die ...
  4. "13 Inductees set as Class of 2011 for National Sprint Car Hall of Fame". National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
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