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MOTOR AGE Vol. XXII, No.14, October 3, 1912
Bruce-Brown Meets Death at Milwaukee
Fiat Driver Dies Following Accident in Grand Prix Practice
MILWAUKEE, Wis., Oct. 1 – David, Loney Bruce-Brown, racing driver, died this afternoon at the Trinity hospital here from a basal skull fracture as a result of the ditching of his Fiat car in which he was speeding at the rate of about 82 miles per hour on the Wauwatosa course while in practice for the grand prix which is to be run Saturday. His mechanician, Anthony Schudelare, whose skull also was fractured, lies at the point of death and his recovery is doubtful.
The accident occurred on the back stretch shortly before 1 p.m., when the entrants were at the height of the day’s practice. While speeding at the remarkable rate of about 82 miles an hour, one of the rear tires of the big Fiat exploded, causing the car to lurch into the ditch. In a vain attempt to right the machine, Brown jerked the wheel in the other direction, causing the car to jump to the other side of the road. Both driver and mechanician were pitched out and the car, turning completely over, crashed through a fence.
Brown and his mechanician were picked up unconscious by farmers who had witnessed the accident. Word was immediately conveyed to the officials, and both men were rushed to the Trinity hospital, where they were operated upon. Brown never regained consciousness.
The accident occurred on the lap following that in which Brown had made the circuit in 5:53.82, unofficially establishing a new world’s road record. This was an average speed of 80.2 miles per hour.
The first inkling of the disaster reached the grandstand and officials when Tetzlaff, Bruce-Brown’s teammate in another Fiat, drew up before the stand to inquire where Brown was.
David Bruce-Brown was born in New York in 1887 and began racing in 1907. His first appearance was in an Oldsmobile at the Empire City track, where he won his first race. In 1908 he acted as mechanician for the late Cedrino at Ormond beach. Later he created several straight- away beach records. His two most brilliant victories were the grand prize races at Savannah in 1910 and 1911, the latter in the same Fiat which he was driving today. In the French grand prix this year he won the first leg of the 2-day event and finished third, but was disqualified for taking on gasoline outside a regular station, which was against the rules.
Photo. THE LATE D. BRUCE-BROWN