Won First Indy

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31974, 29 April 1969, Page 19

Won First Indy

The Mannon “Wasp” turned off the Indianapolis bricks after winning the first "500” race in six hours 42 minutes, and mechanics and supporters crowded round to cheer the driver, Ray Harroun. "What's that, Ray,” said a by-stander, pointing to a mirror fixed above the top of the cowling. “That’s my own idea.” said Harroun. “It lets me keep track of the other fellows ...” Harroun had. in fact, installed the mirror after he had ; heard there could be a pro- : test because the Wasp was a • single-seater, and did not | carry a riding mechanic to i warn the driver of faster cars icoming up from behind.

I It was 1911. Ray Harroun I and his Marmon have been I forgotten by many, but the j ! driving mirror lives on. Which is rather unfair. The Marmon factory built some of; ; the most glamorous luxury ! cars ever to come out of America and the demise of the marque in 1932 is still. ; mourned by vintage enthui siasts. Howard C. Marmon was one , of the first pioneers of aluminium engine castings. His 16-cylinder 200 h.p. model had an engine only two-thirds of the weight of the orthodox cast-iron type. The car could accelerate from five to 60 m.p.h. in 20 seconds, and Marmon's publicity material claimed, “when the lights turn green, it leaves its neighbours far behind." The Marmon V-16 came in eight body styles ranging from a two-seater runabout to a limousine seating seven. Its brakes, steering and suspenI sion were Marmon's own design. Indeed, the steering was : hailed as the safest and surest : ever devised. It was ironic that the V-16 I won the American Society of' : Automotive Engineers' award ' for the best design in 1932—a ! few weeks after Mannon went •out of business.