| Fatalities - May 1933 |
| Bob Hurst - mechanic Mark Billman - driver Lester Spangler - driver G.L Gordon - mechanic |
Changes for the 1933 race include:
The field increasing to 42 cars, the most ever. The field would be limited to the current number,
33, the following year.
Qualifying increased from 4 Laps to 10 laps.
Cars had to come equipped with starters and fuel is limited to 15 gallons - previously cars held
40 gallons.
This race was also the first time the winner drank milk in victory lane.
1933 proved to be the most dangerous month of May at the Speedway.
The field increasing to 42 cars, the most ever. The field would be limited to the current number,
33, the following year.
Qualifying increased from 4 Laps to 10 laps.
Cars had to come equipped with starters and fuel is limited to 15 gallons - previously cars held
40 gallons.
This race was also the first time the winner drank milk in victory lane.
1933 proved to be the most dangerous month of May at the Speedway.
| Denver's Indy Record |
| Lester Spangler & G.L. "Monk" Jordan |
Year Car No. Car Laps Completed Start Finish
1933 15 Miller 132 - Wrecked T1, died 7 26
1933 15 Miller 132 - Wrecked T1, died 7 26
Lester Spangler, unmarried, was from Los Angeles,
where he had lived for the past two years; but his family
lived in Brook, Indiana where Lester was born. He left
Brook and was reared in Canada and the Dakotas.
Spangler first raced in 1929 on the Roby track in Chicago.
He had watched five Indy 500-mile races before this race
and this race was the first time he had entered.In 1932 he
finished second in the Pacific Cost Driving Championship.
G.L. Jordan, 27, had served as a mechanic in three
previous Indy races. The owner of a paint shop in
Lafayette IN, he rode at Indy simply because he enjoyed
the excitement of auto racing.
where he had lived for the past two years; but his family
lived in Brook, Indiana where Lester was born. He left
Brook and was reared in Canada and the Dakotas.
Spangler first raced in 1929 on the Roby track in Chicago.
He had watched five Indy 500-mile races before this race
and this race was the first time he had entered.In 1932 he
finished second in the Pacific Cost Driving Championship.
G.L. Jordan, 27, had served as a mechanic in three
previous Indy races. The owner of a paint shop in
Lafayette IN, he rode at Indy simply because he enjoyed
the excitement of auto racing.
Spangler's Miller Special was behind Malcomb Fox in his
race and had an excellent chance to finish in the money.
Fox said he tried to avoid a skidding car in front of him in
the first turn by going toward the outside retaining wall.
Spangler, in an effort to slip between Fox and the wall,
hit one of Fox's rear wheels, jumped over Fox's car, and
landed astride the outside wall. Fox was unable to regain
control, spun several times, and dashed to the outside
wall where the car dangled on the wall until a wrecking
crew removed it. Fox and his mechanic, Bert Cook,
suffered only minor bruises. Both Spangler and G.L.
Jordan were thrown from their car and landed on the
brick track. They were badly bruised and both had skull
fractures. Spangler died right after the race was over,
and Jordan died shortly after.
Lester Spangler was survived by his parents,two sisters
and a brother.
race and had an excellent chance to finish in the money.
Fox said he tried to avoid a skidding car in front of him in
the first turn by going toward the outside retaining wall.
Spangler, in an effort to slip between Fox and the wall,
hit one of Fox's rear wheels, jumped over Fox's car, and
landed astride the outside wall. Fox was unable to regain
control, spun several times, and dashed to the outside
wall where the car dangled on the wall until a wrecking
crew removed it. Fox and his mechanic, Bert Cook,
suffered only minor bruises. Both Spangler and G.L.
Jordan were thrown from their car and landed on the
brick track. They were badly bruised and both had skull
fractures. Spangler died right after the race was over,
and Jordan died shortly after.
Lester Spangler was survived by his parents,two sisters
and a brother.
THE ACCIDENT
Bill Denver was a resident of Audubon PA and had
moved there from Akron Ohio. He changed his name
from Eura Denver Orem and raced under the name Bill
Denver on the dirt tracks in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Denver was an experienced driver and
competed in the 1930 Indy 500, which had 42 drivers
start it. He won the 1931 Independence Day races at
Altoona PA.
Bob Hurst was from Indianapolis and had been racing
for three years. His life had been filled with adventures
ever since he quit school at age 14 to join the Marines
in WWI, where he was cited for bravery in Argonne,
France.
He joined Denver as his riding mechanic for the 1933
Indy 500. His wife Happy Hurst refused to attend.
They went out to qualify on the last day of time trials.
They were using the car that Al Aspen had wrecked the
previous Monday. The team worked all week and into
the weekend to repair the car for today.
After a warm-up lap, Denver began his first qualifying
lap. His speed was estimated at 105 mph as he exited
the third turn. He lost control and the car spun and leaped
the wall, landing 20 feet below, smashing into a tree.
The two were thrown clear as the car burst into flames,
however some gas spilled on them and their clothes were
on fire. Some garage men quickly dragged them clear
and removed their burning clothing. Neither of the two
were badly burned.
Denver died on the way to the hospital and Hurst died just
after being admitted.
Denver was 32, Hurst 31. Each were married.
moved there from Akron Ohio. He changed his name
from Eura Denver Orem and raced under the name Bill
Denver on the dirt tracks in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Denver was an experienced driver and
competed in the 1930 Indy 500, which had 42 drivers
start it. He won the 1931 Independence Day races at
Altoona PA.
Bob Hurst was from Indianapolis and had been racing
for three years. His life had been filled with adventures
ever since he quit school at age 14 to join the Marines
in WWI, where he was cited for bravery in Argonne,
France.
He joined Denver as his riding mechanic for the 1933
Indy 500. His wife Happy Hurst refused to attend.
They went out to qualify on the last day of time trials.
They were using the car that Al Aspen had wrecked the
previous Monday. The team worked all week and into
the weekend to repair the car for today.
After a warm-up lap, Denver began his first qualifying
lap. His speed was estimated at 105 mph as he exited
the third turn. He lost control and the car spun and leaped
the wall, landing 20 feet below, smashing into a tree.
The two were thrown clear as the car burst into flames,
however some gas spilled on them and their clothes were
on fire. Some garage men quickly dragged them clear
and removed their burning clothing. Neither of the two
were badly burned.
Denver died on the way to the hospital and Hurst died just
after being admitted.
Denver was 32, Hurst 31. Each were married.
| Bill Denver ~ Hugh "Bob" Hurst |
| Spangler's Indy Record |
Year Car No. Car Laps Completed Start Finish
1930 44 Nardi 41 - connecting rod 35 22
1931 42 Brady & Nardi DNQ
1931 72 Alberti Relieved Al Aspen
1933 42 Brady & Nardi died in qualifying T3
1930 44 Nardi 41 - connecting rod 35 22
1931 42 Brady & Nardi DNQ
1931 72 Alberti Relieved Al Aspen
1933 42 Brady & Nardi died in qualifying T3
Mark Billman was from Indianapolis. He attended
St. Anthony's Catholic School. As soon as he
finished the eighth grade at Our Lady of Lourdes
Catholic School, he went to work for the Ford
Motor Company plant in Indianapolis.
When he was 18 years old, he drove in his first
race at the old Hoosier Speedway, a 1/2 mile dirt
track on Pendleton Pike.
After several years on dirt tracks, he raced the
board track in Altoona PA and the Oakland track
in California. He won 10 races in 1932, for a total
of more than 50 in his career.
His dream to race in the Indy 500 came true in 1933.
Two friends, James Mannix and Jimmy Kemp
obtained a Duesenberg and chose Billman to drive
it. He qualifed the Kemp-Mannix Special at 112.410
mph.
In the race, Billman drove 79 masterful laps. But on
the 80th lap, something went wrong. He skidded in
the 2nd turn, hit the inside wall tail-first and then
veered across to strike the outer wall with terrific
force. The car ripped out a V-shaped piece of the
concrete wall and hurtled high in the air.
Billman's mechanic, Elmer Lombard, fell into the
grass about 150 feet outside the track when the car
turned upside down. Bill fell on the inside track and
the car bounced down on him and up again to
straddle the wall.
For about 20 minutes. rescuers worked to free
Billman, pinned between the concrete wall and the
left front wheel of the car. His mangled left arm
was amputated and he was given blood transfusions .
Bleeding profusely, he lived less than an hour.
Lombard was treated for burns and lacerations and
recovered.
Billman was a natural born driver and couldn't give
up racing if he'd wanted to. Billman had been in
many crashes, but only one other serious one -
when he broke his hip in 1928 at Winchester.
Unmarried, Mark Billman , 27, was survived by his
parents, two brothers and three sisters.
St. Anthony's Catholic School. As soon as he
finished the eighth grade at Our Lady of Lourdes
Catholic School, he went to work for the Ford
Motor Company plant in Indianapolis.
When he was 18 years old, he drove in his first
race at the old Hoosier Speedway, a 1/2 mile dirt
track on Pendleton Pike.
After several years on dirt tracks, he raced the
board track in Altoona PA and the Oakland track
in California. He won 10 races in 1932, for a total
of more than 50 in his career.
His dream to race in the Indy 500 came true in 1933.
Two friends, James Mannix and Jimmy Kemp
obtained a Duesenberg and chose Billman to drive
it. He qualifed the Kemp-Mannix Special at 112.410
mph.
In the race, Billman drove 79 masterful laps. But on
the 80th lap, something went wrong. He skidded in
the 2nd turn, hit the inside wall tail-first and then
veered across to strike the outer wall with terrific
force. The car ripped out a V-shaped piece of the
concrete wall and hurtled high in the air.
Billman's mechanic, Elmer Lombard, fell into the
grass about 150 feet outside the track when the car
turned upside down. Bill fell on the inside track and
the car bounced down on him and up again to
straddle the wall.
For about 20 minutes. rescuers worked to free
Billman, pinned between the concrete wall and the
left front wheel of the car. His mangled left arm
was amputated and he was given blood transfusions .
Bleeding profusely, he lived less than an hour.
Lombard was treated for burns and lacerations and
recovered.
Billman was a natural born driver and couldn't give
up racing if he'd wanted to. Billman had been in
many crashes, but only one other serious one -
when he broke his hip in 1928 at Winchester.
Unmarried, Mark Billman , 27, was survived by his
parents, two brothers and three sisters.
| Billman's Indy Record |
Year Car No. Car Laps Completed Start Finish
1933 64 Kemp-Mannix 79 - T2 crash, died 22 30
1933 64 Kemp-Mannix 79 - T2 crash, died 22 30
| Mark Billman |
1930 Indy 500 - Bill Denver with riding mechanic Chuck Wise
| Bill Denver (1901-1933) |
| Bob Hurst |
| Ravenswood Cemetery Ravenswood, WV |
| Lester Spangler |
| Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN |
| Goodland Cemetery, Goodland IN |
| The Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| INDY 500 MEMORIAL - 1933 |
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