Bus Wilbert

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Bus Wilbert
BornEdward Clifford Wilbert, Jr.
(1915-09-02)September 2, 1915
Narrowsburg, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 11, 1946(1946-08-11) (aged 30)
Winchester, Indiana, U.S.
Champ Car career
8+ races run over 1 year
Years active1946
Best finish(unknown) – 1946
First race1946 Winchester Race 1 (Winchester)
Last race1946 Winchester Race 3 (Winchester)
First win1946 Winchester Race 1 (Winchester)
Last win1946 Dayton Race 2 (Dayton)
Wins Podiums Poles
3 3 0

Edward Clifford "Bus" Wilbert, Jr.[1] (September 2, 1915 – August 11, 1946)[2] was an American racecar driver.[3] He was born in Brooklyn, New York,[4] and was killed at the age of 31 on August 11, 1946, while in the middle of a race in Indiana.

Career[edit]

He was a racecar driver of both big cars and midgets. His first dirt track racing competition was in 1941, while previous to that he raced midget auto races. In 1941 he joined the U.S. Navy as a test pilot and flight instructor.[5] He was a lieutenant and a combat pilot. He was a leading driver in the Consolidated Midget Racing Association and he won three AAA Championship races. He was part of the 1946 AAA Championship Car season.[3]

Death[edit]

On August 11, 1946, his car skidded on the shoulder of a turn at Funk's Speedway (later to be called Winchester Speedway)[6] in Winchester, New York.[5] the car struck that of Eddie Zalecki, who lived. He was married and had a daughter. [5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Bus Wilbert". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  2. ^ "Motorsport Memorial - Bus Wilbert". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Driver Bus Wilbert Career Statistics - Racing-Reference.info". www.racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  4. ^ "Bus Wilbert". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  5. ^ a b c "Death of race car driver Bus Wilbert". The Daily Reporter. 1946-08-12. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  6. ^ "IndyCar Drivers who Died Racing". indymotorspeedway.com. Retrieved 2020-05-13.