| Fatality - May 1947 |
| Shorty Cantlon - driver |
Before Shorty Cantlon first appeared in Indianapolis
in 1928 as a relief driver, he had spent six years on
dirt tracks. He was an accomplished race car driver
familiar to racing fans, who especially admired the
grit of this plucky little man of 5' 4.5" and 145 lbs.
He set an official world's record with a super-
charged car of 144.89 mph on a straightaway on a
dry lake in California.
In 1930 Cantlon finished 2nd in the AAA driving
championship.
In 1932, he missed racing at Indy because he'd
broken his leg in a race on the West Coast.
In 1947, Cantlon was racing in his 12th Indy 500
and felt he was going to win it.
His car, the Automobile Shippers Special was
owned by Louis Rassey. The 16-cylinder engine
was the last designed and built by Harry Miller,
and this was its first appearance at the 500.
Cantlon qualified at 121.462 mph, but felt he'd be
able to coax 130 out of it. Only 24 drivers qualified
for the race.
Cantlon's first problem in the race was a slow start.
The rest of the drivers had already completed the
first lap when Cantlon, whose car had stalled twice,
finally got off.
He drove hard and was catching up, but on the 41st
lap he swerved to avoid Bill Holland's spinning car in
turn 1. Cantlon's car spun four times and bounced
more than once against the retaining wall, crushing
his chest. He also had a compound leg fracture
and other injuries. Immediately after being carried
from the track, Shorty Cantlon died.
Bill Holland went on to lead the race. At the end,
he thought he was a lap up on his teammate,
Mauri Rose. He saw a sign from the pits to take it
easy, so he waved Rose around him! Rose was
not a lap behind and he won the race and Bill
Holland was relegated to 2nd place.
in 1928 as a relief driver, he had spent six years on
dirt tracks. He was an accomplished race car driver
familiar to racing fans, who especially admired the
grit of this plucky little man of 5' 4.5" and 145 lbs.
He set an official world's record with a super-
charged car of 144.89 mph on a straightaway on a
dry lake in California.
In 1930 Cantlon finished 2nd in the AAA driving
championship.
In 1932, he missed racing at Indy because he'd
broken his leg in a race on the West Coast.
In 1947, Cantlon was racing in his 12th Indy 500
and felt he was going to win it.
His car, the Automobile Shippers Special was
owned by Louis Rassey. The 16-cylinder engine
was the last designed and built by Harry Miller,
and this was its first appearance at the 500.
Cantlon qualified at 121.462 mph, but felt he'd be
able to coax 130 out of it. Only 24 drivers qualified
for the race.
Cantlon's first problem in the race was a slow start.
The rest of the drivers had already completed the
first lap when Cantlon, whose car had stalled twice,
finally got off.
He drove hard and was catching up, but on the 41st
lap he swerved to avoid Bill Holland's spinning car in
turn 1. Cantlon's car spun four times and bounced
more than once against the retaining wall, crushing
his chest. He also had a compound leg fracture
and other injuries. Immediately after being carried
from the track, Shorty Cantlon died.
Bill Holland went on to lead the race. At the end,
he thought he was a lap up on his teammate,
Mauri Rose. He saw a sign from the pits to take it
easy, so he waved Rose around him! Rose was
not a lap behind and he won the race and Bill
Holland was relegated to 2nd place.
| Cantlon's Indy Record |
| William 'Shorty' Cantlon |
Laps Completed
Did not arrive
Relieved Henry Kohlert
200
88 - Rod
50 - Rod
Relieved Chet Miller
76 - Crankshaft
200
194 - Out of gas
182 - Flagged
13 - Supercharger
15 - Main bearing
Qualified for Stapp
28 - Clutch
40 - Fatal Crash T1
Did not arrive
Relieved Henry Kohlert
200
88 - Rod
50 - Rod
Relieved Chet Miller
76 - Crankshaft
200
194 - Out of gas
182 - Flagged
13 - Supercharger
15 - Main bearing
Qualified for Stapp
28 - Clutch
40 - Fatal Crash T1
Start
3
26
13
15
19
10
25
20
7
20
5
3
26
13
15
19
10
25
20
7
20
5
Finish
2
27
34
20
6
14
16
33
32
28
23
2
27
34
20
6
14
16
33
32
28
23
Car
Bugatti
Elgin Piston Pin
Miller-Schofield
Harry Miller
Sullivan & O'Brien
Marr
Sullivan & O'Brien
Sullivan & O'Brien
Hamilton-Harris
Bowes Seal FAst
Kamm's
Automotive Serv.
Surber
H-3
Automobile Shippers
Bugatti
Elgin Piston Pin
Miller-Schofield
Harry Miller
Sullivan & O'Brien
Marr
Sullivan & O'Brien
Sullivan & O'Brien
Hamilton-Harris
Bowes Seal FAst
Kamm's
Automotive Serv.
Surber
H-3
Automobile Shippers
Car #
36
29
16
2
25
28
15
9
7
34
47
47
24
64
24
36
29
16
2
25
28
15
9
7
34
47
47
24
64
24
Year
1928
1928
1930
1931
1933
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1946
1947
1928
1928
1930
1931
1933
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1946
1947
Speedway Closed 1942-1945 For World War II
| Mount Olivet Cemetery, Detroit MI |
| 1904-1947 |
| Shorty's 1947 race car and crew |
| Cantlon's wrecked racer - 1947 |
| Fatalities - May 1940 |
| The Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| INDY 500 MEMORIAL - 1947 |
Shorty, a bachelor, was originally from Paris, IL
and had lived in Detroit. He had spent the last
12 years in Indianapolis, working as a used car
dealer. He was well known in Indy and well
liked.
He was survived by three sisters.
and had lived in Detroit. He had spent the last
12 years in Indianapolis, working as a used car
dealer. He was well known in Indy and well
liked.
He was survived by three sisters.
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