I recently came across this photo of Frank Lockhart and the incredible Stutz Black Hawk record car. I had never seen this one before, but it really shows the sleek beauty of the car as well as its comparatively diminutive size. Lockhart was only 26 when he died, having won the Indy 500 in his first attempt, set numerous speed records and having designed and built this incredibly sophisticated record car with no formal engineering education. If he had had the sponsorship money to use higher quality tires, he might have lived a long life filled with many more brilliant accomplishments.
For a fuller history on this car, check out my previous story HERE
My buddy Syed over at the IEDEI blog made mention of the Mercedes C111-3 prototype, and noted its similarity to the Silver Arrows of the 1930s. In particular, I was struck by the commonalities between the winged version of the C111 (above) and the Mercedes T-80 (below). Few people know that the T-80 was actually engineered by Ferdinand Porsche -- despite designing grand prix cars for Auto Union, he was also secretly working closely with driver Hans Stuck and the highest echelons of the German government on this Mercedes record-breaker. In the end, this 2-engined behemoth was never run in anger.
There was no straight road large enough in Germany to handle the T-80's intended speeds, and German officials realized that a trip to the Bonneville salt flats was a tricky proposition given the political climate of the time (there had been anti-Nazi protests when the German cars showed up for the Vanderbilt Cup, but Bernd Rosemeyer won it anyway). Add to all this the fact that John Cobb's Railton Special broke the 350 mph barrier in late 1938 during the construction of the T-80, surpassing all the targeted specifications of the Mercedes. Finally, as they scrambled to redesign the car to break Cobb's record, the outbreak of the War sealed its fate. The much smaller C111 (above) was created in the more peaceful 1970s, and was never aimed at the outright Land Speed Record, but it did break several records for Diesel powered vehicles.
Frank Lockhart is a name that has faded into relative obscurity, but in the mid 1920s he was one of the finest racing drivers in North America. After winning the Indianapolis 500 on his rookie attempt, in 1926, Lockhart and his Miller racing car went from track to track winning races and breaking records on the great wooden board-paved speedways that were common to the era.
With dashing looks and speed to match, Lockhart was a youthful success: He had just turned 23 when he won Indy. But even more impressive than his bravery and skill behind the wheel was Lockhart's innate engineering ability. He began modifying his Miller racing car to make speed runs in California on dry lakes, achieving new records in 1927. This success attracted the attention of the Stutz automotive company in Indiana, who financially backed Lockhart as he designed and constructed a purpose-built car for an all-out assault on the world land speed record at Daytona Beach in 1928.
Aside from its breathtaking beauty and gorgeous streamlined shape, the Stutz Black Hawk bristled with innovative design features. In an era when Malcom Campbell's Bluebird record cars weighed thousands of pounds and were powered by enormous aero engines of massive displacement, Lockhart's design was a tiny white and silver dart in comparison. Not much larger than a Miller Indy car, the Black Hawk was dwarfed by most contemporary record cars, and featured a compact 16 cylinder engine, which was essentially 2 straight eights mated together. The body and undercarriage were completely faired in, with low frontal area. Suspension and wheels were enclosed in sleek aluminum spats for even greater drag reduction. Because the car was intended only for record runs, the spats remained fixed and did not turn with the wheels, which had only a few degrees of lock. Instead of radiators that would increase drag, cooling was achieved using an internal ice container!
(Click the image above to enlarge)
Lockhart's first runs in the car in February of 1928 were disappointing, but it was soon discovered that overzealous streamlining was robbing the car's engine of air. Modifications were made and the car gained in speed. Unfortunately during a subsequent run, Lockhart hit a nasty bump in the hard-packed beach sand, causing his car to be tossed into the sea with him trapped inside. Thanks to intrepid spectators, the hapless driver's head was kept above the surf until he could be extracted, saving him from drowning. He was otherwise not seriously injured.
The car, however, was seriously damaged and required a rebuild at the Stutz factory. This mishap represents a turning point Lockhart's fortunes. Because of the unexpected cost of rebuilding the car and staging a second record attempt, Lockhart's funds were in serious trouble. He had been using race-proven Firestone tires up to this point, but in order to scrounge up more sponsorship money, he switched to Mason Tires, which was a less reputable brand.
By April, Lockhart was back in Daytona with a freshly rebuilt car running on Mason Tires. At this point in the season, the beach was not in optimal condition, but with his money running out Lockhart knew it was his last chance to break the record. His third run, against a headwind, saw him top 200mph. The record to beat was 207mph. Feeling that victory was within his grasp, Lockhart quickly had the car turned around to make his 4th run, which would hopefully break the record. In his haste to complete the final run before high tide came in upon the beach, Lockhart did only a cursory inspection of his tires, and failed to note that a seashell had damaged one of his tires on the previous run.
So it came to pass that on April 25, 1928, Frank Lockhart made his fateful final run in the Stutz Black Hawk. At approximately 225mph, his damaged tire exploded, causing him to completely lose control of the car. The vehicle overturned multiple times, throwing Lockhart from the car and killing him instantly. Legend has it that Lockhart's lifeless body landed not far from where his wife was watching in horror. He was only 26 years old.
Below is an "accident report" that diagrams the path of the car in its final moments.
I have been fascinated by this tragic story since boyhood, but only this week did I learn that there is actual newsreel footage of the fatal accident. You can see Lockhart's body being ejected as the car makes its final gruesome somersault. A warning: Though the footage is grainy Black and White, sensitive viewers may still find it disturbing.
Monday, December 23, 2013 at 2:20PM ;)
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