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David Bruce–Brown

DAVID BRUCE-BROWN first attracted attention in 1908, while attending Yale University, by winning several free-for-all hill-climb events. His short career continued with his domination of important hill climbs in 1910 and new records in speed trials at Jamaica, New York, and Ormond Beach, Florida. Bruce-Brown also defeated the outstanding drivers of the United States and Europe in the 415-mile International Grand Prix at Savannah, Georgia. He won the Savannah Grand Prix again in 1911 (breaking his own record) and finished third in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 race after leading the field for 81 laps. In the 1912 French Grand Prix, he led the nearest of his 46 rivals by two minutes at the completion of the first day of the two-day event and was the early leader the following day, but was disqualified when he replenished his fuel supply from an unauthorized source. He suffered fatal injuries during practice for the American Grand Prize road race in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in October 1912.

YEAR INDUCTED: 1980

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