Charlie Wiggins
Charles Edwin Wiggins (15 July 1897 – 11 March 1979) was an auto racing driver and mechanic from the United States, who won the prestigious, annual, Gold and Glory Sweepstakes race four times between 1926 and 1935. As an African-American competing in the Midwest during the inter-war years, he was barred from participating in white-only events – including the Indianapolis 500 – but was a leading light in the parallel Colored Speedway Association (CSA) championships. His dominance during this period was such that the popular media dubbed him the Negro Speed King. His career was ended when he was caught up in a serious accident at the 1936 Gold and Glory event, as a consequence of which he lost his right leg and eye. Early life Born on 15 July 1897 in Evansville, Indiana, Charlie Wiggins was the son of a coal miner.Drinnon (2015) His mother died when he was only nine years old, and he left school at 11 to earn money as a shoeshine boy, to support his father and two younger sibli ...
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Auto Racing
Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organised, with the first recorded as early as 1867. Many of the earliest events were effectively Classic trials, reliability trials, aimed at proving these new machines were a practical mode of transport, but soon became an important way for automobile makers to demonstrate their machines. By the 1930s, specialist racing cars had developed. There are now numerous different categories, each with different rules and regulations. History The first prearranged match race of two self-powered road vehicles over a prescribed route occurred at 4:30 A.M. on August 30, 1867, between Ashton-under-Lyne and Old Trafford, a distance of eight miles. It was won by the carriage of Isaac Watt Boulton. Internal combustion auto racing events began soon after ...
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