Eddie Kuzma | |
---|---|
Born | Edward Leo Kuzma September 18, 1911
Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
Died | October 12, 1996
Tigard, Oregon, U.S. | (aged 85)
Occupation | Auto racing builder |
Edward Leo Kuzma (September 18, 1911 – October 12, 1996) was an American race car builder. [1] [2] [3] He constructed Troy Ruttman's winning car for the 1952 Indianapolis 500.
Kuzma was born in Portland, Oregon, where he was raised on a farm. [4] He moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he established an automobile repair shop. [5] In the 1930s, Kuzma had seen midget race cars at the Jantzen Beach Amusement Park, and had built and raced his own car. [4] A second car was fitted with a four-cylinder Offenhauser engine, making it faster than other local competitors. [4] He served in the United States Navy during World War II. [5] After he was discharged from the service, sold his car and moved to Los Angeles, California. [4]
In California he continued to build midget race cars. [4] He was hired by J. C. Agajanian to build the Agajanian Special, [4] which won the 1952 Indianapolis 500, driven by Troy Ruttman. [6] A. J. Foyt won the Indianapolis 500 twice driving Kuzma's cars, [4] and Mario Andretti won in one of his cars in 1969. [4] [5] [7] Kuzma also rebuilt race cars. [8] In 1968, he bought a farm along with his wife Edna. [4]
Kuzma died in October 1996 of kidney failure in Tigard, Oregon, at the age of 85. [5] In 2003, he was posthumously honored in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. [9]
Kuzma cars competed in the FIA World Championship ( Indianapolis 500 only) from 1951 to 1960. They won the 1952 Indianapolis 500 with Troy Ruttman. [10]
Note: all cars were fitted with Offenhauser engines.