Eddie Kuzma

Edward Leo Kuzma (September 18, 1911 – October 12, 1996)[2] was an American racing car builder.[3][4] He was the founder of the racing car constructor Kuzma.

Eddie Kuzma
Kuzma-built 1957 sprint car
Born
Edward Leo Kuzma

(1911-09-18)September 18, 1911
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
DiedOctober 12, 1996(1996-10-12) (aged 85)
Tigard, Oregon, U.S.
OccupationAuto racing builder
SpouseEdna Kuzma[1]
Children4[1]

Biography

Kuzma was born in Portland, Oregon, where he was raised on a farm.[5] He moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he established an automobile repair shop.[1] In the 1930s, Kuzma had seen midget race cars at the Jantzen Beach Amusement Park, and had built and raced his own car.[5] A second car was fitted with a four-cylinder Offenhauser engine, making it faster than other local competitors.[5] He served in the United States Navy during World War II.[1] After he was discharged from the service, sold his car and moved to Los Angeles, California. [5]

In California he continued to build midget race cars.[5] He was hired by J. C. Agajanian to build the Agajanian Special,[5] which won the 1952 Indianapolis 500, driven by Troy Ruttman.[6] A. J. Foyt won the Indianapolis 500 twice driving Kuzma's cars,[5] and Mario Andretti won in one of his cars in 1969.[5][1][7] Kuzma also rebuilt race cars.[8] In 1968, he bought a farm along with his wife Edna.[5]

Kuzma died in October 1996 of kidney failure in Tigard, Oregon, at the age of 85.[1] In 2003, he was posthumously honored in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.[9]

References
  1. Associated Press (October 17, 1996). "Edward Kuzma, 85, Builder of Race Cars". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  2. "Automobile Quarterly: Volume 36, Issue 2", University of Virginia, Automobile Quarterly, p. 111, 1997
  3. Newman, Claude (May 25, 1957). "Car Builder Works A Miracle". Valley Times. North Hollywood, California. p. 14. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Don Brown Builds, Drives IMCA Cars". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. September 25, 1964. p. 41. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Easterling, Jerry (October 26, 1986). "Builder on track with cars". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. p. 59. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Curnow, Jack (May 26, 1953). "Indianapolis Drivers Hit 136.435 Average". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 63. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Simmons, Bill (November 9, 1969). "Andretti Reaches Crossroad". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 85. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Eddie Kuzma Builds Racers". The Kokomo Tribune. Kokomo, Indiana. May 26, 1964. p. 47. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Eddie Kuzma". Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
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