Cliff Durant
Encyclopedia
Russell "Cliff" Durant was an American
racecar driver. He was the son of William C. Durant
, the founder of General Motors
. His wife Adelaide Frost was a singing star who later married Eddie Rickenbacker
. Durant had four wives: Pearl, Adelaide Frost, Lea Gapsky, and Charlotte Phillips.
He was a co-owner and president of the Beverly Hills Speedway (1920–1924), a board track located where the Beverly Wilshire Hotel is today. Jack Prince designed the track; Cecil B. DeMille was another co-owner. In its day it rivaled the Indianapolis Speedway.
In May 1923 Durant shattered eight world speed records for events 75 miles (120.7 km) and under at the Beverly Hills Board Track.
In 1919 he was named the “Pacific Coast Champion”, winning the Santa Monica Road Race.
He competed at many tracks and events around the country, including Elgin, Tacoma, Cactus Derby, Corona, and the Indy 500 from 1919 to 1932.
In 1923 Cliff had the largest fleet of cars (6) to ever participate in the Indy 500 until modern times. He came in 7th that year.
Cliff Durant was the financial backer of the famous Harry Miller racing engines which dominated the racing world in the 1920s–30s.
His old car the “Detroit Special” which was designed by Tommy Milton and Harry Miller, which cost $250.000, was later bought by Harry Hartz who installed a new Miller engine. Durant was to drive the car in the 1932 Indy 500 race, but Fred Frame drove it to victory instead.
Cliff had his own flight school, airplanes for sale, and 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) field, “Durant Field” in Oakland, California\in 1919. It was located at 80th Ave., 83rd Ave., and Snell Streets. He also had Air Mail contracts for mail delivery with the government.
He had a large estate in Roscommon, Michigan, on the South Branch of the Au Sable River, where “The Castle”, a 54-room mansion, burned to the ground Feb. 6, 1931. On the estate was his own private air strip, with several planes.
The community airport in Roscommon, MI was named Durant Field, in his honor, July 16, 1933.
At various times in his career he was also President of Durant Motors, and Vice President of Sales for Chevrolet in Oakland, CA.
Cliff was an accomplished musician as well, playing the violin; he owned the Guernari del Jesu violin, and played the piano and trumpet.
In addition to being a businessman, race car driver, aviator and musician, he was also a yachtsman who owned the sailing yacht Aurora.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
racecar driver. He was the son of William C. Durant
William C. Durant
William Crapo "Billy" Durant was a leading pioneer of the United States automobile industry, the founder of General Motors and Chevrolet who created the system of multi-brand holding companies with different lines of cars....
, the founder of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. His wife Adelaide Frost was a singing star who later married Eddie Rickenbacker
Eddie Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.-Early...
. Durant had four wives: Pearl, Adelaide Frost, Lea Gapsky, and Charlotte Phillips.
He was a co-owner and president of the Beverly Hills Speedway (1920–1924), a board track located where the Beverly Wilshire Hotel is today. Jack Prince designed the track; Cecil B. DeMille was another co-owner. In its day it rivaled the Indianapolis Speedway.
In May 1923 Durant shattered eight world speed records for events 75 miles (120.7 km) and under at the Beverly Hills Board Track.
In 1919 he was named the “Pacific Coast Champion”, winning the Santa Monica Road Race.
He competed at many tracks and events around the country, including Elgin, Tacoma, Cactus Derby, Corona, and the Indy 500 from 1919 to 1932.
In 1923 Cliff had the largest fleet of cars (6) to ever participate in the Indy 500 until modern times. He came in 7th that year.
Cliff Durant was the financial backer of the famous Harry Miller racing engines which dominated the racing world in the 1920s–30s.
His old car the “Detroit Special” which was designed by Tommy Milton and Harry Miller, which cost $250.000, was later bought by Harry Hartz who installed a new Miller engine. Durant was to drive the car in the 1932 Indy 500 race, but Fred Frame drove it to victory instead.
Cliff had his own flight school, airplanes for sale, and 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) field, “Durant Field” in Oakland, California\in 1919. It was located at 80th Ave., 83rd Ave., and Snell Streets. He also had Air Mail contracts for mail delivery with the government.
He had a large estate in Roscommon, Michigan, on the South Branch of the Au Sable River, where “The Castle”, a 54-room mansion, burned to the ground Feb. 6, 1931. On the estate was his own private air strip, with several planes.
The community airport in Roscommon, MI was named Durant Field, in his honor, July 16, 1933.
At various times in his career he was also President of Durant Motors, and Vice President of Sales for Chevrolet in Oakland, CA.
Cliff was an accomplished musician as well, playing the violin; he owned the Guernari del Jesu violin, and played the piano and trumpet.
In addition to being a businessman, race car driver, aviator and musician, he was also a yachtsman who owned the sailing yacht Aurora.
Indy 500 results
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