Louis H. Schwitzer

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Louis H. Schwitzer
Born(1880-02-29)February 29, 1880
Bielitz, Austria-Hungary
DiedMay 9, 1967(1967-05-09) (aged 87)
Door from the House of Louis H. Schwitzer in Indianapolis, 1939 ca.

Louis H Schwitzer ((1880-02-29)February 29, 1880 – (1967-05-09)May 9, 1967) was born in Bielitz, Austria-Hungary, and emigrated to America before World War I.

As an engineer, Schwitzer was influential in designing hydraulics for use in bus transportation.[citation needed] He also pioneered improvements in automotive cooling fans, water pumps and oil pumps, and the turbocharger.[1] Schwitzer made a fortune in business and became a philanthropist.[2] The Student Center at the University of Indianapolis bears his name, as does a women's dormitory at nearby Butler University.

As an automobile race driver, Schwitzer won the first automobile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), a five-mile race on August 19, 1909.[3] He is known to have started five races at IMS in 1909 and 1910.[3][4] He also drove relief, for Harry Cobe, in the first Indianapolis 500.[5][6] Schwitzer served on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Technical Committee from 1912 through 1945.[1]

In recognition of Schwitzer's contributions to the early developmental history of American motorsports, the Louis H. Schwitzer Award for Design Innovation is presented annually after each running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

In 1970, Schwitzer was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.[7]

He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Kollins, Michael J.; "Louis Schwitzer performance pioneer had a hand in many Indianapolis automotive firms;" Wheels-Journal of the National Automotive History Collection; Winter/Spring 1998; Detroit Public Library. Article reprint posted at "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1999-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ Higgins, Will; "Indy racing pioneer's Louis Schwitzer's Art Deco decor to be sold Saturday;" Indianapolis Star; October 4, 2013
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Scott, D. Bruce; INDY: Racing Before the 500; Indiana Reflections; 2005; ISBN 0-9766149-0-1.
  4. ^ Galpin, Darren; A Record of Motorsport Racing Before World War I.
  5. ^ http://www.champcarstats.com/
  6. ^ "Home | Motorsport Stats".
  7. ^ "Louis Schwitzer Sr. (Automotive Hall of Fame)". Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  8. ^ "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-10.

http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/sites/default/files/Indianapolis_Speedway_William_Borque.pdf http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/05/20/461933.html

External links[]

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