| Fatality - May, 28 1937 |
| Albert Opalko - riding mechanic |
Frank 'Wildman' McGurk and his riding mechanic, Albert
Opalko, went out to qualify at 6:30pm.
McGurk, in his Belanger-Miller special, was the first car of
the day to make a qualifying attempt.
He did four laps at better than 119 mph.
As the car entered turn 1, a connecting rod cracked.
The car careened to the inside safety apron, then into the
infield. The car threw a wheel and both men were hurled
clear as the car pitched end over end into the infield.
McGurk suffered a broken arm and head lacerations.
Opalko, though, was killed instantly.
Opalko was 26, married and from Gary Indiana.
McGurk was from Los Angeles and had competed in the
1926 Indy 500.
Opalko, went out to qualify at 6:30pm.
McGurk, in his Belanger-Miller special, was the first car of
the day to make a qualifying attempt.
He did four laps at better than 119 mph.
As the car entered turn 1, a connecting rod cracked.
The car careened to the inside safety apron, then into the
infield. The car threw a wheel and both men were hurled
clear as the car pitched end over end into the infield.
McGurk suffered a broken arm and head lacerations.
Opalko, though, was killed instantly.
Opalko was 26, married and from Gary Indiana.
McGurk was from Los Angeles and had competed in the
1926 Indy 500.
| Albert Opalko |
| The wreck of Frank McGurk and Albert Opalko |
| The Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| INDY 500 MEMORIAL - 1937 |
Copyright © 2024 IndySpeedway.com All Rights Reserved
Earlier in the day, two men died and three were injured in a separate accident.
You can read about that at 1937 - Other Fatalities.
You can read about that at 1937 - Other Fatalities.
| Frank McGurk and Albert Opalko |