Racer's Lounge - Happy Birthday Mr. Chevrolet

Gaston Chevrolet :angel:
Born on this day October 4th, 1892
Beaune, France

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae356/BowTieZee/Gaston.jpg
Winner of the 1920 Indianapolis 500

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae356/BowTieZee/GastonWinsIndy.jpg

Vive le Chevrolet!

:thumb:

Happy B-Day to the one who started a Legacy. :hail:

W0RD. Happy BDay Old man.

:thumb:

Happy B-Day to the one who started a Legacy. :hail:

The legacy was started by Gaston's older brother Louis, who designed and built the first Chevrolet passenger car, and who was one of the original stockholders of the Chevrolet Motor Company.

Gaston solidified the legacy by winning the Indy 500 in a car of Louis' design. Gaston was a talented driver, and in addition to winning the Brickyard he also won major races on the high-banked board tracks of Uniontown PA, Cincinnati OH, and Sheepshead Bay NY. Unfortunately not much is known about Gaston, he died 6-months after winning the 500.

According to his New York Times obituary Gaston had served in the U.S. Army during World War I. I have contacted the National Archives in regards to his military records, but they don't have them. Over 80% of the WWI records were destroyed in a fire at the St. Louis repository in 1973.

Here is a rare advertisement for the Monroe Automobile Company, which sponsored Gaston's car in 1920.

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae356/BowTieZee/1920MonroeAd.jpg

Wow today is my birthday too. I feel pretty special