Kurt Hitke
Encyclopedia
Kurt Hitke was an American
racecar driver.
, Germany
, and worked from an early age in a blacksmith shop. During the outbreak of World War I, Kurt was working on a German merchant ship which was in Western Hemisphere waters. Consequently Kurt stayed in the United States as it was impossible for the ship to return to Germany due to British naval superiority. Kurt became one of the two best known racing drivers in the country, being second only to Eddie Rickenbacher who later became America's leading World War I
ace and still after headed the Eastern Airlines. In addition to Kurt's driving abilities, he was an outstanding automobile mechanic and is credited with inventing the first straight eight motor which later was used very successfully by the Packard Motor Company and others. Kurt's interest was largely in racing automobiles and both the Roamer and the Kenilworth, which he designed, were considered outstanding in the early Twenties.
A naturalised American by the time of his racing days, Kurt later ran an insurance company in Illinois.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
racecar driver.
Biography
Kurt Hitke was born in LeipzigLeipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and worked from an early age in a blacksmith shop. During the outbreak of World War I, Kurt was working on a German merchant ship which was in Western Hemisphere waters. Consequently Kurt stayed in the United States as it was impossible for the ship to return to Germany due to British naval superiority. Kurt became one of the two best known racing drivers in the country, being second only to Eddie Rickenbacher who later became America's leading World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
ace and still after headed the Eastern Airlines. In addition to Kurt's driving abilities, he was an outstanding automobile mechanic and is credited with inventing the first straight eight motor which later was used very successfully by the Packard Motor Company and others. Kurt's interest was largely in racing automobiles and both the Roamer and the Kenilworth, which he designed, were considered outstanding in the early Twenties.
A naturalised American by the time of his racing days, Kurt later ran an insurance company in Illinois.
Indy 500 results
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