Barney Oldfield

Barney Oldfield loved to go fast.

He started by racing bicycles. He even worked to buy his first bike.

Later, he began racing cars. He drove a car called No. 999.

He won many big races with it.

Barney was a very famous driver. He was called the "speed king." He drove a fast car named the Blitzen Benz.

He also raced against pilots in planes. This was a fun show for people to see.

Barney helped make racing cars safer too. He wanted to protect the drivers. He was a true star of the road.

Barney Oldfield was a famous racing driver.

He was known for his great speed. Before he drove cars, he was a bicycle racer. He worked hard to buy his first bike. He even rode a bike at night from a hotel basement.

In 1902, Barney began racing cars. He bought a car called No. 999 from Henry Ford.

He won a big race with this car. People began to know his name. Barney was a true star. He was the first person to drive 60 miles per hour on a circular track.

He also drove a fast car called the Blitzen Benz. In 1910, he set a world speed record at Daytona Beach. He drove 131.724 miles per hour. This earned him the name "speed king."

Barney also raced against a pilot named Lincoln Beachey.

They raced cars against planes in many shows. Barney also worked to make racing safer. He helped design a car with a roll bar. He called this car the "Golden Submarine."

Barney Oldfield was a famous American racing driver.

He was a pioneer in the early days of cars. His name meant speed to many people in the early 1900s. He was a true star of the racing world. Oldfield was the first man to drive 60 miles per hour on a circular track. He also won the first AAA National Championship in 1905. People loved watching him because he was a great showman.

Before he drove cars, Barney was a very fast bicycle racer. He worked many jobs to pay for his first bike. He worked as a waterboy and a newspaper seller. He even worked at a hotel as a bellhop. He used his tips to buy an "Advance Traveller" bicycle with pneumatic tires. In 1894, he began serious racing for the "Dauntless" bicycle factory. This led him to join a professional team in New York. He learned how to handle speed on two wheels first.

Barney's career in cars started with a meeting with Henry Ford.

In 1902, Oldfield bought two test cars from Ford for $800. One of these cars was named "No. 999." He drove this car in a big race against Alexander Winton. Oldfield won the five-mile race by a half mile. He drove by sliding through corners like a motorcycle racer. This big win made both Oldfield and Henry Ford famous.

Oldfield set many records during his long racing career. He drove a very fast car called the "Blitzen Benz." In 1910, he set a world speed record at Daytona Beach. He reached a speed of 131.724 miles per hour there. This earned him the nickname "speed king." He also raced against an aviator named Lincoln Beachey. They had a "Championship of the Universe" where cars raced against biplanes. They traveled the country to perform these exciting shows.

Barney Oldfield also cared about making racing safer for everyone. After a friend died in a crash, he worked on new designs. He helped build a car called the "Golden Submarine."

This car had a roll bar and a special compartment to protect the driver. He also helped start the Fisher Automobile Company. Oldfield even appeared in movies about his life and racing. He was later put into many famous halls of fame. He died in 1946 after a long life of adventure.

Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was a pioneering American racing driver.

During the first two decades of the 20th century, his name was synonymous with speed. He was a true celebrity of the early automotive era. Oldfield was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on a circular track. He also won the inaugural AAA National Championship in 1905. His career was defined by daring skill and a natural talent for showmanship.

Oldfield's journey to the driver's seat began with bicycles. Born in 1878 in Ohio, he worked several jobs to fund his interests. He worked as a waterboy and a newspaper seller. He later worked as a bellhop at a downtown hotel. He used his tips to purchase an "Advance Traveller" bicycle with pneumatic tires. By 1894, he was racing seriously for the "Dauntless" bicycle factory. This experience on two wheels prepared him for the high speeds of motor racing.

His transition to automobiles happened through a chance meeting with Henry Ford. In 1902, Oldfield and a fellow racer named Tom Cooper bought two test vehicles from Ford for $800. One of these cars was named "No. 999." Oldfield drove "No. 999" in a five-mile race against the champion Alexander Winton. Instead of braking, Oldfield slid through corners like a motorcycle racer. He won the race by a half mile. This victory brought national fame to both Oldfield and Ford.

Oldfield became known for setting incredible speed records. In 1903, he became the first driver to run a mile track in exactly one minute. He later drove one mile in 55.8 seconds in New York. In 1910, he drove a car called the "Blitzen Benz." At Daytona Beach, Florida, he set a world speed record of 131.724 mph. This achievement earned him the nickname "speed king." He also became the first person to lap the Indianapolis Speedway at more than 100 mph.

As a showman, Oldfield created exciting spectacles for the public. In 1914, his agent staged the "Championship of the Universe." This event pitted Oldfield's Fiat car against the biplanes of aviator Lincoln Beachey. They competed in at least 35 matches across the country. These exhibitions were very successful and earned them more than $250,000. Oldfield also enjoyed adding drama to his match races. He would often win the first match by a nose and lose the second to keep fans interested.

Oldfield was also a leader in racing safety. After his friend Bob Burman died in a racing wreck, Oldfield sought better protection. He worked with engine builder Harry Arminius Miller to design safer cars. They created the "Golden Submarine," which featured a roll cage and a streamlined compartment. This design was meant to enclose and protect the driver during an accident. He also helped found the Fisher Automobile Company, which was the first automobile dealership in the United States.

Beyond the track, Oldfield was a figure in popular culture. He starred in the Broadway musical "The Vanderbilt Cup" in 1906. He also appeared in several silent films, such as "Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life" in 1913. He served as a technical advisor for films and appeared as himself in many productions. His legacy is honored in several institutions. He has been inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. He died of a heart attack on October 4, 1946.